Kansas City Bracket Finale: Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We break down some of the top performers we saw from the Kansas City Bracket Finale!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3592484"],"_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-6a5e55d77d461"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Miller is a 6'5 forward that led his team to a weekend championship in KC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In reviewing what we saw from Miller, the first thing that grabbed my attention was a quick releasing lefty stroke. As a lefty, Miller already had an advantage on closing defenders and his quick release makes him even tougher to close out to, plus Tatum is 6'5 so he looks over many guards and wings. When teams didn't transition to him quick enough, it was a corner three. When teams didn't close out to to Tatum, it was a corner or wing three in the halfcourt set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, Miller has some sneaky pop to him lifting to the rim. And at 200 pounds, Miller is strong when he goes to the cup so he can touch shots in around the rim on balance and when taking contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3698713,"_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-6a5e55d77d4e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'3 2028 shooting guard that has had a really good 16u season shooting the basketball for SSA White. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sharp has been honored for his defensive work this season and he's a double figure scoring shooter that has scored in high percentages. Type of shooter that can put numbers up quick but a good athlete - solid football player too - that uses that quickness and body control at the rim to complete pays. But what really stood out in watching film this weekend was the high percentage attempts. Talis is a smart passer and a smart shot taker to go with it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3695058"],"_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-6a5e55d77d545"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was another big weekend for Cooper, the 6'10 big man who helped SSA Black win the weekend championship at 17u. The biggest thing for Cooper is being so much more assertive than what people had seen, so much more physical with the finish. With the post touch, Cooper is setting up his post move with a physical bump getting the defense on their heels, and then the move is made. And when he gets touches near the rim, Schmidt is physically going at the finish with more aggression. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is same mentality has been brought to the defensive end where Schmidt's 6'10 frame is consistently in the way of the opposition finishing. He is getting to the right position that takes away high percentage attempts from the entire opposition (forcing teams to think twice about the full attack, and go to a lower percentage jumper). Add in the defensive rebounding ending possessions and you have a player really helping a team win a weekend championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2205720"],"_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-6a5e55d77d5a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The SSA twitter mentioned that Lincoln has made 27 threes over the past two live period weekends meaning 27 threes over seven or eight games which is a very impressive total. Elliott shot a very impressive 45 percent from the arc and was a key factor in big games making five threes in the quarters and another three triples in the semi-finals. Lincoln was another key factor in SSA Black winning the 17u division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What has really caught my attention is how Lincoln sets up his attempt using screens and moving off the ball. He gets his hands up and feet set quickly because his footwork around the screen is really good. This allows for a quicker release on the shot and the defense being in a bad spot trying to contest. Lincoln also gets solid lift on the shot and at a listed 6'5, getting lift on a jumper makes it tough to defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2401810"],"_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-6a5e55d77d629"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In watching Walker, who led his [program_tooltip program_id='3474252' first='Team' last='One of Us'] 16s championship this weekend, you can't help but notice his effort to be one step ahead of everybody on the court. Walker gets up the floor quicker, he gets to his spots on defense quicker, he pushes the ball quicker, he recognizes, quicker off his feet, and hits open lanes to the rim quicker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is that being alert? That Walker plays harder than others? Is he more consistent and and more aggressive? From what we can see, the answer is ALL OF THE ABOVE.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker is about 6'3 but also has length and he is a lefty and when he gets that angle Walker has been a high percentage finisher. Does a great job taking contact (with a shoulder, with hip, whatever) and then releasing from that contact and using length to complete the play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2828274"],"_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-6a5e55d77d685"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grady is a 6'4, high academic shooting guard/wing with length that helped the Spurs win four of the five games they played in KC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grady is another player from this region that really has good footwork as a shooter. The step back is good but even better is his ability to set up a shot and get to that release that has great length. Grady also has some range to him and at 6'4 and long already, he's already tough to contest. That length also comes in very handy as a defender because when defenders got a step on Grady, his recovery is made easier with that contesting/blocking length (both on closeouts to the arc, and getting to contests near the rim). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scored 14 points a game this weekend and hit 15 of 28 threes over the four games. A three and D guy for sure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->