Naptown Pirates City Showdown 2nd team 14u

This is the 2nd team of players who came to play at a high level Sunday morning.    Kortez is a competitor! He's a hard worker who does whatever it takes to help the team win. Throughout the game Kortez used a quick first-step to beat defenders off the dribble and attack the paint. Some of those drives led to tough scores through contact. He converted multiple three-point play conversions in the game. There was a moment where he threw a nice bounce pass that perfectly led his teammate to an easy score. I was thoroughly impressed by his mentality to stay in “attack mode” throughout the game. Kortez has a nice package of acrobatic finishes in the paint. He also showed the ability to rebound and knock down short perimeter jump-shots. Kortez played fearlessly in the game against Hoopgeeks Supreme. Defensively he used his length to block a shot and force turnovers. Kortez kept constant pressure on his opponent by not giving them space to operate. He's an excellent two-way player who could become greater as he grows and matures as a player. Keep working Kortez!!     Bryson continues to be the same “glue guy” kind of teammate who does it all. When I watched him play AAU last season, he excelled at scoring, rebounding and defending. During Sunday morning's game, his scoring took a back seat to all the other intangibles. Bryson is an excellent rebounder who dominated the glass on both ends of the court. The majority of his points came off hustle plays in the game. When his teammates missed shots, Bryson was there to easily convert them. He sets screens and does all the dirty work for Hoop Dreams. Those strong screens often led to high percentage shots for his teammates. On numerous occasions, he scored tough baskets on pick and roll plays. Defensively is where Bryson always shined. He's an excellent low post defender who used his strength to make scoring in the paint difficult for the opposition. Bryson will be a valuable addition to the Franklin Central basketball team. I expect him to be a difference maker for years to come.     Tyrice continues to be a solid combo guard who scores from all areas of the court. In Sunday's game against Be Legendary Hoops, he knocked down two shots from deep. I remember the first time I watched him play, Tyrice was a big-time slasher who attacked the basket at will. Well, that hasn't changed. He continues to use great ball handling skills to get into the paint. Tyrice had no problems beating defenders and finishing with acrobatic lay-ups. Defensively, he was great at forcing turnovers. Those mistakes often led to fast-break opportunities for himself and other Hoopgeeks Supreme players. The amount of pressure he put on opposing guards allowed him to finish with numerous steals. Tyrice is a great two-way player who has a chance of being even greater in the high school ranks.     This is my second write up of Ramone. The last time I watched him play was during the Middle School basketball season. He played like a combo guard with the skills to be a scorer or facilitator. The player I saw Sunday had a growth spurt and played more like a point guard. Ramone has grown in stature but has improved his skills as a "floor general." He continues to beat opponents off the dribble, attack the basket, knock down perimeter shots and find teammates with pin-point passing. Ramone showed the type of leadership that's vital to playing the lead guard position. A majority of his assists led to positive outcomes for his teammates. The biggest difference I saw in his game, was the ability to rebound. With his improved guard skills, I can picture Ramon easily adjusting to the grind of playing high school basketball.     Derion was the “glue guy” for the Krackens. He literally did everything for the team. If they needed scoring, Derion attacked the paint and finished around the basket. When they needed a rebound he battled and fought for it. If they needed a defensive stop, Derion forced a turnover. He's an awesome player who's skilled in every facet of the game. There were moments where he made great plays that led to positive outcomes. In one sequence he attacked the glass, grabbed the rebound and scored a put-back around the basket. Another saw him knock down a big-time three-pointer that closed the gap against Hoopgeeks Supreme. Defensively, he had multiple steals when he played the passing lanes. Coaches love players who have a “team first” mentality. Having this attitude will guarantee Derion a spot on any team.

This is the 2nd team of players who came to play at a high level Sunday morning.