Puma: Friday 2027 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I made my way down to Richmond Virginia for the Puma summer live period session and in this article I'll break down my 2027 standouts from Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2784055"],"_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-6a51bb337b9f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was impressed with Spalding who had a big second half as Kentucky Basketball club rolled past their opponents to cruise to an easy win in my first game of the afternoon. Spalding took advantage of a carefree style of play from their opponents, making some easy interceptions and helping Kentucky Basketball Club push in transition and find success. Getting better as the game went on, Kentucky Basketball Club went on their biggest run of the game when Spalding got going downhill to the rim and had a couple drop off assists to his bigs. A multi-sport athlete, Spalding's athleticism from the gridiron transferred over well in the open court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2046736"],"_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-6a51bb337ba82"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maybe the most underrecruited player in Kentucky right now, I'm struggling to understand why Eastern Illinois is the only Division I school to offer Rickard in the last two years. Rickard was once again productive as the big man crashes the offensive glass hard with his wide frame and soft hands. Able to finish in the paint, Rickard doesn't get pushed off his spot when he catches it in the paint and turns to score. Rickard also does a nice job of staying straight up when contesting shots and doesn't foul often at the rim. I'd be shocked if Rickard ends July with no more new offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1883193"],"_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-6a51bb337baf2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kentuc[program_tooltip program_id='2345418' first='Ky' last='Future Elite'] was the last game I saw on Friday and Helton stood out with his flashy passing ability and deep shooting skill. Against a zone defense, Helton was picking it apart with no-look dimes to teammates and his ability to stretch the zone out well beyond where the college 3-point line would be helped his team rack up points in a hurry. Expect Helton to put up big offensive numbers as a senior for Scott County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2960464"],"_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-6a51bb337bb5c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marsh had a nice game for [program_tooltip program_id='2345418' first='Ky' last='Future Elite'] as I was most impressed with his ability to crash the glass and play strong in the paint. The ball seemed to find Marsh as he collected a handful of offensive rebounds over taller players and did a nice job moving without the ball to get easy looks. Basketball can be a simple game and when you move into the right spaces on the court, the ball can reward you with easy opportunities to help your team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2026057"],"_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-6a51bb337bbc6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The top ranked prospect in Oregon, Gaines had a big game for a Select Basketball squad that had an impressive performance in a win over BTI. Gaines holds a trio of Division I offers with Montana and Idaho offering in the last month. Gaines is a throwback style point guard as he excels at advancing the ball up the court and doesn't let the ball stick to his hands. With a compact frame, Gaines gets low to the ground on drives and uses his football physicality and explosiveness to get to the rim. Expect more regional Division I programs to take a look at Gaines as he's producing for a team with a lot of college talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2170478"],"_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-6a51bb337bc2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was so impressed with the culture that YGC showed on Friday evening in a showdown against CPSA in a battle of two of the top teams on the PRO16 circuit. Williams took multiple charges in the win for YGC as selfless plays like those can be the difference between winning and losing. Williams also knocked down a couple of set jumpers and had a breakaway dunk to show off his open court athleticism. Williams was named to the breakout player, clutch player and sharpshooter awards from the PRO16 League, showing his skillset and elite mentality to make plays in the biggest moments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3691880,"_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-6a51bb337bc98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carlson went off on Friday with 25 points to help Select get a marquee win over BTI in one of the biggest games of the day on the PRO16 circuit. Carlson is a stretch big who knocks down shots at a high level with his feet set. Carlson did a nice job relocating off the basketball to get himself free to fire away from long distance and maybe his best play of the game came on a pump fake from the top of the key where his defender flew by him and allowed him to take a free throw line jumper. Picking up seven Division I offers since March, Carlson is trending upwards at the right time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2499763"],"_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-6a51bb337bd00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A forward who did the dirty work for YGC, Seale had some impressive finishes at the rim in the flat out war against CPSA that saw Seale's team come out victorious. Seale likes to play above the rim on cuts and drives to the basket and for good reason, he has the athleticism to throw it down on your head. Seale's length also allows him to extend for rebounds over taller players and contest shots in the paint as he found himself playing the five in some smaller lineups that YGC ran on Friday. A versatile forward who has picked up a couple offers in June and keeps preforming at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2353599"],"_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-6a51bb337bd67"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There aren't maybe any teams as imposing in the layup lines on the PRO16 Circuit as TME is with their depth of size, length and athleticism. None more so than Nyok, who had a monster game in a win over a top NXTPRO team from Nevada. Nyok had a massive height advantage in the paint and took full advantage of it early and often with dunks off offensive rebounds and extension finishes off catches deep in the paint. When Nyok adds weight and muscle to his frame, his upside is unbelievable as a legit 7-footer who can block shots and move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->