Thursday's Summer Draft League Playoffs: First-Team

On Thursday, July 30th, I attended round 1 of the elite division playoffs for the Summer Draft League at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.   I watched two consolation games and two playoff games. Below is my first-team from the games.    Carlson was pretty easily the best shooter I saw Thursday night. The 5-foot-9 combo-guard has as pretty of a release as you'll see for a rising freshman, and he can shoot the ball off the dribble or off the catch, with range, and even under duress. He also has a tight handle and can drive closeouts once defenders realize he's a lethal shooter—his finishing at the rim is really solid for his size, too. He's going to be one of the best shooters on Thayer's team this season, and he's ready to play at that level offensively. It's his activity on defense—both on and off the ball—that'll probably dictate whether he gets serious playing time this coming season. Regardless, Carlson has a super bright future ahead.     Bogart was one of the most physically imposing and athletically dominant players I saw on Thursday. The 6-foot rising freshman used his size and length to pound the offensive boards, and he was able to do so because of his elite motor and really solid hands. Once he got rebounds, he showcased solid finishing ability with both hands and the ability to fight through contact effectively. Defensively, the Xaverian product has awesome timing on blocks and is a good rim protector as a result. Bogart is going to continue to improve as he gets taller, stronger, and improves his shot-making from the perimeter, but he has a bright future ahead and is already learning to use his physical tools to dominate.       Thursday wasn't the most efficient shooting night for Fernandez, but he's brimming with talent and I can tell he really understands how to play. The 5-foot-9 guard has a beautiful shot for his age and can get his looks off in a variety of situations, and even though he wasn't hitting last night, it's clear he can stroke it. He also has nice ball-handling moves and is a really solid decision-maker once he touches the paint—he can pass from all angles and has major feel for the game. For only a rising 8th grader, Fernandez has an intriguing blend of skill, athleticism, and IQ. He's at Fessenden right now, but it'll be interesting to see where he ends up in a couple of years.      McNeil is so fun to watch. The 5-foot-5 guard is obviously super undersized, but he almost uses his proximity to the ground as an advantage. He dribbles close to the ground and is able to get through tiny spaces, and he's lightning quick at the point of attack. Once he gets a paint touch, he has a knack for making passes with both hands and always chooses correctly. He also has a pretty release from three and a nice floater game when the defense doesn't collapse on him at the cup. Defensively, he beats everybody to the spot and has super quick hands. Once he grows and gets stronger (which will inevitably happen to some degree), he's going to be a problem.     Landers was totally dominant with his combination of size, athleticism, and skill. The 6-foot-3 guard was the tallest player on the floor but also the most athletic, so he was lethal as a downhill attacker and finisher through contact at the rim. The incoming Austin Prep freshman was an and-one machine in the paint and completely bulldozed his way through the defense on numerous occasions—my favorite play of his was a spin to his left hand for a high finish off the glass. But he can also make shots from the perimeter and is a well-rounded player both with and without the ball. Landers could get some time on a really good Austin Prep squad this year, but he'll definitely be a big part of their future moving forward regardless of how much burn he gets this season.

On Thursday, July 30th, I attended round 1 of the elite division playoffs for the Summer Draft League at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.