Guro Lind, Waddey and Breakout Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='3572840' first='Guro' last='Lind']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breaking out is springy Grace Christian forward [player_tooltip player_id='3572840' first='Guro' last='Lind'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3572840' first='Guro' last='Lind']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='2857828' first='Tennessee' last='United'] Orange 16u) backed up Mr. Basketball Finalist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2779428' first='Segond' last='Sompa']</strong> this past winter, so you can be forgiven for not noticing him prior. I forgive myself for this reason. Guro's footwork around the paint is pretty good. He makes small adjustments when he finds himself denied a launchpad and does most of it quickly. Where he needs to improve is simply capitalizing forcefully when he gets that slight spatial advantage. Rise and dunk. Lind is able to get up above the rim, but often he finishes with a layup in traffic. Two points equals two points, but I fear taller defenders will recover and be able to deny as opposed to many of Lind's AAU defenders failing to challenge meaningfully at the crucial height.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking this point about dunking more often further...Lind is long-armed and absolutely will get whacked constantly even more than he already does. Fine. Take the foul. Accumulating fouls on a defense puts them under pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lind projects as an NAIA "4" with the proper exposure. To date Lind is putting together some impressive film, but 6-foot-6 is always going to be difficult to sell as a big. Realize though Lind's footwork is better than most 17u forwards and he just might be able to defend a college wing at an NAIA program thanks to his agility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BlakeHead12/status/2036444450923102303?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BlakeHead12/status/2036444450923102303?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2575799' first='Walker' last='Redding']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='2076136' first='Clarksville' last='Crossovers'] 17u-1) plays four times this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catch him on Court 23 Friday at 9:15 AM against Road Runners.<br>He gets back at it Friday night (7pm) vs. FYN on Court 8. <br>Saturday Walker and the Crossovers play at 5:45 PM on Court 14 against Colorado H2G and wrap Sunday at 12:20 PM on Court 14 again against West Texas One.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recognizing that Walker is not a breakout player in that he started early and thrived for a very good Cookeville team. He is known throughout middle Tennessee for quality hooping. And yet Redding took another noticeable step in the last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2575799' first='Walker' last='Redding'] extended his shooting range to 18' within the last 12 months and continues to get slightly lighter on his feet. The combo forward Walker shoots high and effectively off of the catch. A plus rebounder Redding can work with his back to the basket some, but AAU hoop does not lend itself to that style. When he gets a defender on the block, Redding is pretty clever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3636361' first='Briggs' last='Waddey'] </strong>(STARS Premier 15u) and his squad sit pretty at 12-4 after yet another winning weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He understands floor spacing very well. The entire organization spaces the floor as the modern game dictates. Most impressively, Waddey gets a good, powerful low push on block outs and "nudge-ins." He understands leverage and really works on it. Waddey is already embracing the weight room aspect basketball development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fantastic lower body balance. Briggs can already guard the 2-4 spots for 15u and I'd be comfortable asking him to guard a varsity wing in the winter of 2026-2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->