EBA Warmup: Intriguing Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I drove out to Pikesville to check out the Sunday slate of games at EBA's Warmup event in between the two scholastic live periods. The schedule featured some high-level games between both public and private schools in all 3 states in the DMV. In this article I will breakdown the top forward prospects that stood out to me this weekend for a variety of reasons. Some showed high level athletic flashes, others a nice shooting touch, others were heavy contributors on the defensive end of the floor. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3041578"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3676196,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a387b6f903dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">28p 4r 2s (58% FG) vs JFK</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Came away very impressed with the shooting touch and decisive reads made by Hill in a narrow loss to JFK. Hill uses his pivot well around the basket to create easy finishing angles and has a soft touch from in front of the rim all the way out to the 3 point line. He knocked down C+S 3s in transition, scored as both a pick n pop and PnR forward, hit a spinning layup off the glass, had a back door cut with a pro hop to maneuver through two defenders to score at the rim, and came up with some tough catches in traffic. Hill is especially effective as a trail big that can make good decisions in DHOs and reads the helper well to either pop or roll to the rim to give his PG a high percentage option. Loved how quickly he got into his moves to shoot, drive, or get into a drop step or spin move to create the requisite airspace to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3664870"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a387b6f909ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">13p 5r 1b vs Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-This weekend was my first time seeing the incoming freshman and he has the athletic tools and skillbase to be very successful long-term as a dynamic 3/4 tweener. Hopkins scored off an AND1 floater high off the glass in transition, knocked down a midrange jumper off the catch, attacked a closeout from the corner to hit a short floater, and was an effective dump-off finisher around the basket with a series of step through of 2-foot floater finishes. Loved the way that he served as a roving connector that lifted from the elbow to block or vice versa to hit wing shooters to collect hockey assists in the halfcourt. He moves exceptionally well for his size and is a good leaper that projects to be a switchable 3-5 defender once he has added weight to his frame. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3676213"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a387b6f90bd8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">8p 4r 2a 1b vs Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-McCarthy stood out more in the second game of the day as he made the adjustment to get into his move more quickly on catch and finish opportunities in the paint against a swarming Carroll defense. McCarthy froze his defender with a euro step to score the layup in transition, stepped through two defenders after he snagged a tough chest pass in traffic to hit a hook shot off the window, scored off his back foot on a reverse pivot bucket at the rim, and served as a great passer to cutters and shooters alike from the high post. Love the way that he does his work early on the glass to push his opponent out of the way with his lower body to position himself for rebounds around the basket and he flashed a pretty reliable set of hands whether the entry pass was above his head or below his midriff. Intriguing skilled four prospect to track in the 2027 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3246145"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a399e4fbc313"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4p 3r 1s 2b vs Friends</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Wasn't the best matchup to flash the offensive skillset as Huntingtown matched up with a swarming Friends' defense that doubled down on the block to contest both his catches and shot around the basket. But I like the motor and physical brand of basketball that Adesanya brought to the game as an athletic leaper, rebounder, and shot-blocker in the key. If he can improve his positional awareness to feel backdoor cutters or screens being set at the defensive end, I think it will unlock some potential to serve as a roving forward prospect capable of walling up to force tough shots and grab the ensuing rebound to initiate the fastbreak for his team going the other direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2992094"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a399e4fbc36e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Intriguing forward prospect in the '28 class that should be a mainstay in a Palotti rotation that has a ton of guard depth. The lefty forward is a good finisher that uses his frame to create space to score through double teams or when he has to catch a drop-off pass in a vulnerable position under the basket. Nice flashes of skill as a pick n pop big capable of knocking down open midrange jumpers. Want to see him face up and use a series of jabs or ball fakes to get his defender going one direction so that he can get downhill in a dribble or two to either score or get fouled at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->