EYBL Vegas: Standout G Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I spent this past week in Las Vegas watching the final live weekend before Peach Jam, zeroing on local prospects but also checking out several national names on different teams. In this article, we'll break down some of the top backcourt players that stood out from the local AAU teams over the course of the week. Some were more physically imposing while others impressed with their skill level. Let's dive into some observations from watching their games live this week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2453417"],"_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-6a5436d2e411e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19p 6a 4r 4s (8/15 FG) vs the Family</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Sometimes it's not about how you start, it's how you finish. And Washington had all the answers to close out a tough win over The Family. In the last three minutes alone he hit his matchup with a double crossover to get downhill and hit the lefty off the window then ripped his matchup at halfcourt and scored it at the other end on the next possession, hit shooters with crosscourt skip passes, and blew up ball screens at the end of the game to force his matchup to pick up his dribble and find a teammate. Love the way that he takes command of the game down the stretch but want to see that--especially vocally-- from him throughout the whole game as the maestro for a team that really needs the play-making and paint touches that he generates on a nightly basis. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2974117"],"_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-6a5436d2e41c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">13p 6r 6a 5s vs Bates Fundamentals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The physicality from the football field really translates well to the hardwood as Higginbotham doles out contact on both guards and bigs alike to get the bump needed to create space to score at the rim in transition. His vision as a playmaker in the halfcourt to find cutters and shooters off the bounce makes him a difficult cover because he can also shoot the ball and score with nice touch in the key. He hit two big 3s late and had two steals and assists for transition buckets to put the game away for TTO in a hard-fought win over Bates</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2327613"],"_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-6a5436d2e4253"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Averi 20p 6r 2a 1s vs FL Rebels</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Knight looked good in new threads with Durant after competing on the P32 circuit, using a dynamic first step to blow past his matchup and score at the rim. Love the pace that he plays with attacking closeouts from the wing and he showed a variety of different euro steps, pro hops, and spin moves to the lay the ball in off the backboard. As he continues to prove his value as a paint touch maven that fills it up efficiently with a steady cascade of layups in the key, I want to see him hit the near side corner and bigs on drag screens to force the help to stay home and score at an even more efficient clip in the halfcourt with decreased help side digs to block his trips to the rim. Loved B2B plays from him midway through the 2H with a gorgeous lob in transition to a streaking teammate at the rim for a 2-handed dunk and a sprint back into the play to swat away a layup attempt from behind at the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194788"],"_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":3693470,"_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-6a5436d2e42dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18p 4r (7/13 FG) vs Nightrydas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Skipworth's pace and poise down the stretch were key in TTO securing a win that ensured a spot in the play-in game for Peach Jam. Skipworth grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a short turn-around jumper on the baseline, dribbled to space to burn precious seconds off the clock and hit his FTs, and played well in space to catch perimeter passes and drive to gaps in the defense before making the extra pass to a teammate to shift the defense. His ability to scale up or down defensively in the rotation makes him an invaluable piece for this team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2139297"],"_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-6a5436d2e4366"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11p 7a 5r 2s vs Nightrydas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Lyons did a great job of weaving through traffic to blow past his matchup and create easy catch n finish opportunities for his bigs around the rim throughout the game both in transition and in the halfcourt. Aided by a dynamic first step, Lyons showed his ability to see the floor when he looked past the cutter in the short roll to skip to the opposite corner to create easy looks for his shooters on the perimeter. His pace in transition was key in creating easy opportunities in a defensive battle as his TTO group matched up with some high-level athletes in the frontcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->