King of Prussia: Frontcourt Standouts

New readers: Use code Proia30     I drove up to King of Prussia, PA to check out a regional session for the New Balance circuit featuring both P32 and E32 teams. I got a chance to see teams from all over the country in addition to a few teams from Canada compete to stack up wins in their respective leagues as we have reached the dog days of the AAU season. First, we'll break down some of the top frontcourt players that I saw today. Let's dive in!      -The effort and 2-way impact were both apparent throughout a balanced performance for the rising senior in a nice win over Northeast Revolt. Drayton blocked 5 shots in the 2H alone, (two 3s and three layup attempts) as a much more active defender in the halfcourt that has really improved his help side rotations to be there before the pass is thrown or the drive has begun from perimeter players. He timed the jump for a putback dunk perfectly in transition, caught an alley oop and hit a finger roll with his back to the basket, knocked down a 1 dribble fall-away elbow jumper, and collected a few driving paint touches to kick out to teammates on drives from the wing.     11p vs Assault    -Ezeamama is an intriguing forward prospect that has the commensurate tools and motor to be successful. The motor ran hot throughout the game regardless of score as Ezeamama threw his body at the rim to control the backboards for his team. His defensive activity also stood out on a closeout from the opposite block to swat away an elbow jumper, two deflected post entries that led to runouts for his team, and his ability to contest shots both on and off the ball. He makes the right stunts and help rotations on an island with guards whether he is above the break or cutting off a driving path along the baseline. The finishing touch around the rim seemed solid as he held his seal well to create good finishing angles once he received the pass.     -Got a chance to see a little bit of everything from the 4 man in new threads with Team HIM. Farrington uses a strong frame to serve as both a post entry and roll target, using his strength to carve out space for dump-offs or putbacks around the rim because he does his work early to make contact with opponents on the glass and hold his seal. Farrington scored on step-through extension layups in traffic, finished his short floater opportunities around the rim, and even knocked down a corner 3 off the catch. With a year of postgrad or juco seasoning, I think he could play his way into a scholarship.     16p vs MLE Philly    -Chadwick flashed some intriguing inside-out potential as a burly forward prospect that can muscle his way to the rim or step out to knock down perimeter jumpers. Loved his patience to wait for fly-by contests whether he was under the rim or on the perimeter, reading the defense well to get off a clean look. Loved his touch around the basket whether it was on a putback, hook, runner, or floater-- and in the modern era, it was great to see that range extend to beyond the 3 point line as Chadwick knocked down a pair of triples in the 2H.     -Dunbar is a throwback 3/4 tweener that plays a lot bigger than his size, carving out space for rebounds or on drives to the rim with a strong upper body. Dunbar joins a good DC Assault team and is a defensive menace off the bench that also puts pressure on the rim at the other end of the floor. Dunbar is an active off-ball defender that reads kick-outs on the baseline well (both on or off-ball) to generate turnovers/deflections in the halfcourt, moves off the ball well to serve as both a connector and play-finisher in the paint, and understands where the ball is coming off the rim to come up with some big rebounds in traffic. He scored off a two foot pro hop in lane and lay off window with left, stole the ball and threw down a 2-handed dunk in transition, then scored a runout 1-handed spike on the next possession.

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