May UAA/UA Rise Notebook: Elite Shot Makers

For the May live period we made the trip up to Hamilton, Ohio to check out UAA and UA Rise live in action where there was a ton of talent from North Carolina representing themselves well. We already put out something on the top glue guys but in this feature we're going to focus on some really high level shot makers that had their game on full display during the live period in Hamilton!    It wasn't a great weekend in the W/L column for TLBA but Watkins had his fair share of individual success including a 32 point performance vs Progeny on Friday Night. Watkins possesses deep range off the catch or bounce along with a super slick handle and solid positional size that make him a truly well rounded scoring threat. Watkins can play on or off the ball but his ability to make outside shots really creates the space for him to operate off the bounce. Watkins should see a recruiting uptick from his recent work as he can make shots on the move from either direction or when set at his size with legitimate on-ball ability. Watkins will look to help TLBA right the ship in July.     Montague had a great junior season at Cardinal Gibbons where he helped lead The Crusaders on a deep playoff run and he's been building off of that momentum with No Guts No Glory UA Rise 17u. Montague is a really high level floor general and his ability to shoot it in the mid-range plus from beyond the arc allows him to operate freely with the ball in his hands. Montague has an advanced feel for the game with deep range and great footwork when pulling up for his jumper. He's able to balance finding his own offense while being able to find offense for others with consistency and seamlessly. I fully expect Montague to garner real next level attention as he's been a really productive player in every single setting.     Young has been doing a fantastic job as a primary level scoring option for A Wigg Elite UAA 17u as his overall game was on full display at Spooky Nook. Young has that quick twitch ability to go with his deep range off the bounce, allowing him to operate as a really tough check far more often than not. Young also possesses the ability to be the primary initiator on the offensive end with his experience playing the point. His role on this team is more as a feature scorer alongside [player_tooltip player_id='2299646' first='Zeke' last='Battier'] and he finds a way to do it at a high level. He was consistently making shots in the half-court, plays at the rim in transition, and providing a ton of activity on the defensive end of the floor. Look for Young to really establish himself and earn some scholarship opportunities over the course of the next 10 months.     Portland id a super strong job for this [program_tooltip program_id='2375668' first='SW15H' last='Elite'] UA Rise 16u team as a shot ready guy on the perimeter who was efficient and capable of contributing to the game in other areas. For his team that went 3-1 on the weekend, Portland avereaged 8.8 Points and 1.0 Rebound per game while shooting 54% from the floor and 9/18 (50%) from deep in four games. To shoot with that efficiency on 4.5 attempts from distance per game is impressive especially with how many other talented players there are on this roster. Portland is lining himself up for a big season at Holly Springs next year as he continues to establish himself as a next level prospect.     Montgomery has been one of the best scorers on the UAA Circuit regardless of age group with his ability to make tough shots at a high rate of efficiency. For this 3-1 Top Shot UAA 16u group, Montgomery averaged 21.5 Points per game while shooting 49% from the floor and 47% from deep on 32 attempts in four games. He has been undeniably elite on the offensive end and this is all within the structure of the offense and the flow of the game. His ability to stop on a dime and raise up from distance is his premier ability while also being able to initiate offense and make plays for others out of ball screens. Montgomery's ability to make contested shots at the end of shot clocks also gives this group a quality bail out guy when plays break down. It's looking like Montgomery is checking all of the boxes for a small guard to play at a high level of college basketball and it has been fun watching him do his thing this travel ball season.     Evans is a highly skilled young guard in NC's 2029 class and has found himself in a key role with this Top Shot UAA 15u team as he had a really strong session in Hamilton this for the live period. Evans averaged 11.8 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, and 3.8 Assists per game while shooting 50% from deep. Evans is more than comfortable making shots off the catch from deep when not operating with the ball in his hands but is a great piece due to his versatility and ability to play either on or off the ball. He's got a quick first step and the ability to finish with either hand at the rim. He also does a great job making decisions with the ball in his hand, often giving up good shots for great ones. Look for Evans to continue to produce for this Top Shot 15u group as they look to win a UAA title in July.

For the May live period we made the trip up to Hamilton, Ohio to check out UAA and UA Rise live in action where there was a ton of talent from North Carolina representing themselves well. We already put out something on the top glue guys but in this feature we're going to focus on some really high level shot makers that had their game on full display during the live period in Hamilton!