Fresh Faces who emerged at Tune Up

You don't always leave an event talking about the players you expected. Sometimes it's the prospects you knew the least about that end up sticking with you the longest. That's where this group falls. I hadn't spent much time evaluating most of these players before the PH Tuneup, but they gave me plenty to think about over the week. They competed, played with confidence, and flashed enough ability to make me curious about what they look like with another year of development and a bigger role this winter.   Right now is the perfect time to lock in an annual pass and not just a month. We have a 50% off sale live through the weekend!     The code is Fourth50 (not case-sensitive) is good for 50% off the first billing cycle of all annual plans. It makes sense to get an annual pass with all that we have in store this season!     Carter is still putting the pieces together, but the upside is easy to see with him. At a legitimate 6-foot-7 with length and athleticism, he impacted the game in ways that don't always show up in the box score, but you need when you're on the floor. We saw him play on Friday at the event, and for a guy of that size, he attacks off the bounce. He kept plays alive with his rebounding, he grabbed misses and went right back up, and was looking to score. He also had offensive rebounds as well and earned trips to the line simply by playing through contact. Defensively, he covered ground well enough to switch onto the perimeter and consistently altered shots around the rim and came up with a few blocks. The tools are certainly there, and he is intriguing, and performances like this are why he's a player I'll continue tracking. He'll be on our watch list moving forward with just another showing or 2 before we stamp him in the rankings.     Lowery has the type of frame that immediately catches your attention, and he did that for me as soon as I walked in the gym. His long arms and frame already had me intrigued, but it was his activity that stood out throughout the weekend. He ran the floor every chance he got, played through two feet in traffic, and repeatedly forced the issue at the rim instead of settling. He had some tough finishes. That aggressive approach led to free throws and easy opportunities around the basket, but he was involved. On the other end, his length erased driving lanes and changed shots without needing to block everything. There's plenty left to develop, but for a 6-foot-7 prospect, the foundation is one worth investing in. He's firmly on the radar, and we want to see more.     The timing couldn't have worked out much better. We had just highlighted Lozano as one of the smaller-school prospects worth knowing, then got a chance to watch him back it up in person. His value comes from everything between the highlights. He's not this flashy, big-name player, and that is okay. He still makes his plays happen. He was able to keep Morgan Dawgs' offense flowing and was the spark that they desperately needed in games. He plays the right way and is one of their versatile players. He was making solid passes, passing and cutting for baskets, and doing everything to be involved in plays. When the ball found him, he stepped into shots with confidence and knocked them down, but he was even better as a connector. He's a player who I'm intrigued by as he stepped up in multiple games.     Collins was one of those players I wasn't expecting to spend much time writing about, but he kept giving me reasons to. He has intriguing size, moves comfortably in space, and showed flashes of a face-up game that opens up different ways to score. There are raw areas that still need polishing of course, but the physical tools stand out, and his feel is enough to keep you interested. Bigs with his kind of mobility and touch tend to figure things out with more reps, so just getting out and competing as much as possible is the way as he's a player I'll be checking back in on. Solid new name player who shows promise.     Castillo quietly put together one of my favorite performances on Day 2 because every big play for RTS Choice had him involved. He defended at a high level, rebounded, spaced the floor, and consistently found ways to create advantages without having to take too many shots to be the standout. That did not mean that he shied away from the moment of being the guy, as he still scored with relative ease. When he attacked, he played through contact and finished with confidence, and his understanding of spacing allowed him to make the right play over and over. He had a couple of big games at the event and showed that he's an intriguing player who should be on my radar.     Clay's versatility kept showing up, and he kept making plays no matter who they put on him. He attacked mismatches and executed when he got the one that he actually wanted. Clay made it a point to get to the rim, and he finished well around the basket. He also showed good footwork and gave his team another reliable option every time they needed a basket. He and Castillo fed off of one another in the game that I watched as he rebounded outside of his area, pushed the break after defensive boards, and finished through contact late to take RTS Choice home. I liked how engaged he looked as he continued to score and lead the way for his team, and by the end of the weekend, he ended up firmly in my notebook. He's a name to know.

You don't always leave an event talking about the players you expected. Sometimes it's the prospects you knew the least about that end up sticking with you the longest. That's where this group falls. I hadn't spent much time evaluating most of these players before the PH Tuneup, but they gave me plenty to think about over the week. They competed, played with confidence, and flashed enough ability to make me curious about what they look like with another year of development and a bigger role this winter.