Spencer’s Standouts-NLI Recap Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to cover the last live period in June at the Nevada Live Invitational. Time to take a look back at this outstanding event; here are some of the players that stood out to me:<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2146268' first='Brock' last='Knee'] <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2867224' first='Phoenix' last='United']</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sharpshooter from [program_tooltip program_id='2867224' first='Phoenix' last='United'] was showcasing his all-around game at Nevada Live. Brock was able to beat defenders off the bounce and convert finishes through contact in the paint. When he had a smaller defender, Brock was able to demand the ball and go into a fadeaway jumper. During this showcase, he was showing off his skills as a true guard by often getting others involved. He will continue to improve as an all-around player and be ready for a big senior year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2689934' first='Braden' last='Baldwin'] <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2867224' first='Phoenix' last='United']:</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braden was being super effective all weekend long. He uses his quick second jump to get a lot of offensive rebound opportunities; along with that, he rebounds on the defensive side of the ball extremely well. He can break defenders down and has super crafty finishes around the rim. Braden is a high flyer and has good timing on blocks. He has already been a stock riser this summer but will continue to get more recognition as the year progresses.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1956217' first='PJ' last='Nowlin Jr'] <strong>Canyon View:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PJ has continued to be a huge spark for this Canyon View team. He always provides great energy for his squad through his style of play. He is starting to stretch out to the perimeter and has a nice jab step into a 3-ball, which he is hitting consistently. Along with that, PJ is able to get downhill and finish through contact, drawing lots of and-1s. He has a high motor and rebounds well. He will be the engine for this Canyon View as they look to compete in 6A this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2146269' first='Daijon' last='Grayson'] <strong>Mesa:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daijon has stepped up big this summer for Mesa. With the news that [player_tooltip player_id='1651788' first='Jakyi' last='Miles'] was heading to Compass, there were some questions about who was going to score for them, and Daijon did just that. He is a quick-on-quick guard who is able to get by defenders with ease and finish around the basket. He forces tons of turnovers, which leads to him getting some ridiculous dunks. Daijon gets to the foul line at a high rate and converts. He is someone who will have a huge year in the AIA.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Conroy Jr <strong>Village Christian:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The strong-framed true PG put on a show. Will is able to score it with the best of them, and he puts that on display. He has an elite pull-up three, which then allows him to get into the midrange area. He uses his body extremely well, which enables him to create lots of separation for his jumpers. Besides scoring, he looks to get his teammates the ball often. He has so much gravity, which allows him to find open teammates and rack up assists. He is already top 25 in the country for 2029, but expect him to keep climbing as the years go on.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2646853' first='Deion' last='Lewis'] <strong>Village Christian:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another scoring guard for this Village Christian squad was putting in work. He is a quick-on-quick guard and uses his speed to get past defenders. Deion is extremely crafty around the rim with loads of different finishes in his bag. He looks to set up his teammates when he is attacking as well. He plays with toughness and forces a lot of turnovers, which leads to easy transition baskets for him. Deion will continue to gain attention as the year goes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->