Nike EYBL DMV City Series: 17U Guard Observations

This weekend was a special one in the DMV, as the EYBL circuit made its way to town for the first ever 'City Series.' In a four-team pod sort of setting, [program_tooltip program_id='2078457' first='Team' last='Durant'], [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'], [program_tooltip program_id='2076999' first='Team' last='Melo'] and [program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'] (15s, 16s, 17s) gathered for Friday and Saturday games at Suitland High School to play in games that would count in league play.   We'll use this week to highlight observations from different age levels and positional groups.    If there was an MVP of S1 for each age group, Jones would've had a strong argument for the 17U level. Melo finished 2-1 on the weekend and Jones reminded everyone why he's one of the more explosive scoring guards in the DMV, but it was his playmaking for others that left the bigger impression. He averaged over five assists per game and whether it was his end-to-end speed putting pressure on the defense or him getting to his left hand coming off ball screens, Jones' vision covers the entire floor and he has the ability to whip one-handed dimes on a rope to weakside shooter, rollers to the rim or to his bigs popping out beyond the arc following the action. Scoring wise, he needs little space coming off DHO's to get his shot off. He uses the gravity that his outside shot presents to mix things up with an effective change-of-pace approach in space where he can establish a downhill advantage and finish through contact if necessary.   Jones averaged and impressive 21PPG, 5.5APG, 3.5RPG and 3.0SPG on the weekend.     The 6-foot-5 rising junior was one of the best players on the 17U stage this weekend and it was the precision of his three-point shot that caught my attention the most. There weren't any extreme changes or adjustments made in his shooting mechanics, but the confidence and overall fluidity that the ball left his hands with were the best I've seen from Skipworth to date. On his 24 total attempts from downtown, he converted over 45 percent of them.   Playing off his teammates' penetration, Skipworth quickly slid to open spots on the wing or faded to the corners for quick catch-and-shoot opportunities that he knocked down with supreme confidence. His weekend started on a high note in the comeback victory against Melo when Takeover trailed by double-digits with four minutes remaining. His shot-making prowess and decision-making on the ball shined bright in crunch time.   The top-ranked 2028 prospect sported a 22 point per game average in the three contests.     Really good weekend for Hargrove despite Final leaving the DMV with an 0-3 showing. They're missing [player_tooltip player_id='2206834' first='Caleb' last='Lundy'], who remains out with injury, which left much of the on-ball responsibilities to be handled by the New Jersey product. He was consistent with his deep ball off the dribble operating in pick-and-rolls against drop coverage. When the ball found its way inside, he was smart about finding windows around the arc to make himself available for kick-outs where he canned triples. This was especially the case in his last game against [program_tooltip program_id='2076999' first='Team' last='Melo']. He didn't allow pressure to rush him or limit his vision as a playmaker, especially once he established an edge and kept his defender in jail.     McKnight was an electrical factory this weekend. He's the type of point guard that's suited perfectly for this Durant team that's full oh mobile, high flying forwards to throw a variety of lobs to in transition. In his first two seasons of high school, it was safe to say that McKnight's first instinct was to score, but he seems to be reading the floor as a table-setter at an extremely high level. Whenever a fastbreak opportunity presents, he uses his blazing end-to-end speed to put pressure on the rim before dumping it off to one of his teammates to finish the job emphatically. When he didn't have an advantage in getting all the way to the cup, McKnight slowed the pace to create the necessary space to throw perfect lobs above the rim for guys like [player_tooltip player_id='2353561' first='Brandon' last='Woodard'], Beau Daniels and [player_tooltip player_id='2353558' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'] to slam home.   This weekend he embraced his command on the ball and ability to dictate the defense with his eyes. Once he shared the sugar with the rest of his team and they were rolling on all cylinders, he'd tap into his mid-range shooting or cupping the ball on drives as if he were a running back at the goal line where he maintained body control and concentration through finishes.   McKnight averaged 14.7PPG, 5.7APG, 3.7RPG and 1.7SPG as Durant finished 2-1.     There isn't a ton of flash to Veney's game, and that's perfectly fine. At this stage of his development, you want to see him score it in a manner that translates to a college floor, which consists of straight-line drives, minimizing dribbles to get to spots quickly before stopping on a dime to rise up and making quick decisions with the ball off the catch. Much of his scoring comes off the catch and rip or playing out of the triple-threat where he an use a lengthy first step to expose driving lanes. He's an active mover without the ball and in transition, ran the lanes wide and with purpose.   Veney converted 20 of his 31 attempts from the field, good enough for 64.5 percent, converted 12-of-13 from the charity stripe and was good for a single three on the weekend, with only three attempts from deep.     It was the first weekend for fans to see Lyons with his new grassroots team in [program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'] and there will certainly be an adjustment period for the top-ranked 2027 prospect. The structure and flow that Takeover has prided themselves in over the years is new for Lyons, but if he's able to blend in while allowing his elite tools to flash and impact winning, his value will rise even more. After a rough three quarters in Friday's game against Melo, he was key down the stretch in fueling the double-digit comeback victory. When Lyons is aggressively looking to get downhill, his unique athleticism comes to light. His length and twitch at the point of attack makes it tough for defenders to keep him in front for consecutive possessions. When things weren't going well for him this weekend, it was because he'd settle for three's. While he's not incapable of hitting them whatsoever, when he's off, it can result in a rough percentage and letting the defense off the hook.   I expect Lyons to turn the corner with this group and unlock another layer of instincts and reading the game at a high level. The first concern will be cutting down his turnover margin, which should come with time as he adjusts to the level that EYBL offers.   He boasted averages of 10.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 4.7 APG.     Robertson was fun to watch due to his productive, two-way presence as a guard that brings length athleticism and has a knack for making big plays in big moments. This Final team was without [player_tooltip player_id='2206834' first='Caleb' last='Lundy'], a major part of their backcourt rotation, which meant Robertson had to take on more of a playmaking role. If he maintains the level of production when Lundy returns, it'll make for a formidable tandem moving forward. Robertson finished tough shots in the paint from difficult angles as he can contort his body just enough to get the ball to a spot where opposing shot blockers can't reach. He brings a playground sort of feel when he gets downhill in that he adds some creativity to step-throughs, ball fakes or other actions that help rotating defenders freeze long enough quickly scoop a layup off the glass.   He was efficient, despite taking on a heavier on-ball presence and his defensive tools were loud as indicated by his 2.5 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. The 6-foot-3 combo guard scored 12 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists to add to a busy stat line.     Fisk had his moments of dynamic playmaking as well as dependable shot making that helped contribute to his breakout season at St. Frances this past season. The 6-foot-2 combo guard has built in chemistry with Terence Jones on this Melo squad, so hunting open corners to plant his feet in as Jones maneuvers his way to the paint is good for consistent skip passes where he can tee off open catch-and-shoots. Where his own playmaking acumen comes to light is attacking closeouts or in the open floor where he can draw attention and fling no-look heaters to bigs around the rim or cutters on the weakside.   One aspect of his game that wasn't as prominent as it was during the high school season was his ability to get to the free throw line. There were a variety of reasons for this, but making it a staple of his attack moving forward will only add to the threat that he brings to opposing defenses in EYBL play.

This weekend was a special one in the DMV, as the EYBL circuit made its way to town for the first ever 'City Series.' In a four-team pod sort of setting, Team Durant , Team Final , Team Melo and Team Takeover (15s, 16s, 17s) gathered for Friday and Saturday games at Suitland High School to play in games that would count in league play.