Adidas 3SSB Shot Makers Ready To Take Over The Fall

The Adidas 3SSB Session III event in Bryan, Texas, was an enlightening experience for me. I witnessed the comparison of multiple prospects from across the country in a single gym with eight courts. In this article, I'll be discussing five shot makers I had the opportunity to evaluate during my time in Bryan and who are poised to make a significant impact this fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='2427227' first='MJ' last='Thompson'], a 6'3” and 190-pound guard, caught my attention early on at the Adidas 3SSB Session III in Bryan, Texas. His high-scoring ability is evident, as he consistently finds the basket. Offensively, he's a perimeter shooter who can exploit defenses with his perimeter shooting. When driving to the basket, he uses his speed and creativity to attack defenders off the bounce, making layups in various ways. Even when he doesn't have a clear scoring opportunity, he's a great connective passer, involving his teammates in the offensive flow. On the defensive end, he hustles and competes hard, making winning plays that generate stops. MJ's anticipation in passing lanes and willingness to play physical contribute to his defensive success.     [player_tooltip player_id='2212735' first='NJ' last='Gray'] is a very elite guard that is skilled in many areas of the game on both ends of the court. One thing offensively that I noticed instantly was his shooting as he likes to shoot in the mid-range pulling up off the dribble as he possesses the body control to convert them with bumps from opposing defenders. He has the ability to hit multiple standing three-pointers accurately from various spots on the floor. His ball handling and understanding of angles within opposing defenses were on a different level, finding a way to score in situations where it looked like he didn't have a good chance of converting the scoring opportunity. When going downhill, he finessed his way into finishing layups around or over opposing bigs protecting the paint. He excels in playing at a fast pace with the ball in his hands but has the capability of being able to impact when the game slows down. With the ball, he garners a lot of attention where he was able to take advantage of setting his teammates up for open shots on all three levels. As a defender, he is very active in putting pressure on the ball, making opposing ball handlers uncomfortable, picking apart passing lanes and is a willing rebounder.     [player_tooltip player_id='2212733' first='Siincere' last='Hudson'] is a 6'2 guard that possesses a shifty handle to create opportunities on all three levels, where he was able to get to his spots offensively. He thrived in getting to the basket using his strong frame to finish plays through contact on multiple occasions through my evaluation. When controlling the ball, it's evident that he is aware of where his teammates are at all times, being able to set them up with scoring opportunities. Defensively, he is very alert on the ball, putting pressure on opposing guards and keeping them in front of him. Siincere has the ability to generate steals, which turn into transition opportunities for his team. The elite guard has many tools that contribute to his team's success on both ends of the floor.     I learned quickly during my evaluation of Cooper Zachery that he was a very good shooter on the move and off the dribble. You can put Cooper anywhere along the perimeter; he has the ability to knock down shots at an elite clip. At times during my evaluation, it seemed like Cooper couldn't miss a perimeter shot. Looking over stats at the Adidas 3SSB in Bryan, Texas, Cooper is someone that can hit a good deal of three-pointers on high-efficiency shooting multiple attempts. Outside of his shooting, Cooper was a big factor in the playmaking category for the Midwest Basketball Club within the offensive flow. Recently, Cooper committed to Florida Gulf Coast University, where I'm confident he will continue playing at a high level.     Brian Cal Jr. is a 6'1” guard that plays for the Arkansas Hawks 3SSB. He's an effective downhill scorer who can easily cut through defenses with his ball-handling skills. As a guard who excels in going downhill, he's capable of scoring on all three levels. As the team's lead guard, he sets his teammates up in great scoring positions in various offensive situations, which kept the offense flowing. In the pick-and-roll, he used it effectively to create scoring opportunities and keep the defense on its toes. Brian's defense was also impressive, as he applied pressure on ball handlers and showed quick hands that resulted in multiple steals. In a game against the Mass Rivals 16U, he had a standout performance, scoring 27 points with an impressive 55% shooting percentage from within the perimeter. He also made 4 out of 4 free throws and added 4 steals to his stat line, earning a 37 player efficiency rating.

The Adidas 3SSB Session III event in Bryan, Texas, was an enlightening experience for me. I witnessed the comparison of multiple prospects from across the country in a single gym with eight courts. In this article, I'll be discussing five shot makers I had the opportunity to evaluate during my time in Bryan and who are poised to make a significant impact this fall.