CREI: Elite Slashers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I traveled to Kansas City this weekend to check out the Crossroads Elite Invitational event at the Home Field facility. The game had an interesting structure, with two full days of games followed by a final alignment that saw only the top 80 prospects to advance to the championship day as teams were re-assigned to compete in win-and-advance tournament style competition. With the blend of drill work in the fundamentals on day 1 and the competitive atmosphere spurred on by the top-80 concept, it was a really intriguing field to evaluate from within. I like to shine a light on players that put pressure on the rim to impact the game with their slashing ability, often opening up either post-up opportunities for their bigs or open shots for their shooters. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2630771"],"_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-6a7bad83a384f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Allen left his imprint on every game that he played in throughout the week as a dynamic 2/3 tweener that impacts the game with his physicality and athleticism. Allen served as an ultra effective defender and rebounder throughout the weekend, scaling up or down in the lineups without experiencing a drop-off as a guy that meets his opponent at his spots and simply overpowers them. Allen also applied a ton of pressure on the rim and showed an ability to score through contact with a series of stride step, pivot step through, and euro step finishes to use his defender's momentum against them to put them on their heels to both draw fouls and score effectively in the paint. The combination of strength to finish through contact, explosive left-leg leaping in transition, and the patience to hit defenders with pump fakes and wait that extra half beat before laying the ball in on the now-open rim as the defenders flew out of the frame.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3669293"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3721298,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a7bad83a3900"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Easily the most explosive prospect in the camp as a super dynamic leaper that really impressed with several crazy athletic flashes throughout the weekend. Kingsby impacted the game on the offensive glass by both chasing down long rebounds and banging amongst the trees in the paint to come up with rebounds in traffic. His motor especially stood out on second and third efforts on his slashes to the rim after snagging the offensive board to serve as a scoring threat in the key. The balance and touch on short jumpers in the key continues to improve to make him a well-rounded player and accentuate his rebounding ability as a guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2916369"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3721300,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a7bad83a397c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Smith was very effective scoring the basketball both in the halfcourt and in transition as arguably the top prospect in the camp. Smith utilized superb leaping ability to dominate the offensive glass and played well through contact with either hand to clean up misses around the basket. The improved fluidity of his short jumpers in the paint and the touch on his turn-around jumpers really stood out throughout the weekend as he led his team to a semifinal finish. I think Smith projects as a super effective switchable defender that can play either the 2 or the 3 while serving as an effective secondary creator for his team due to the fact that he is always a threat to turn the corner and get downhill in a hurry. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3613593"],"_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-6a7bad83a39df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Wilson was an intriguing watch throughout the week as a physical guard prospect that plays a winning brand of basketball. Team-first guys don't always showcase well in showcase settings, but Wilson proved effective as a slashing guard prospect that can guard several different positions thanks to an advanced physical frame and good positional size. Wilson bullied his way to the rim with ease, forced turnovers and dribble pickups throughout the week to disrupt opponent's offensive flow, and finished well around the rim. His understanding of when to 3/4 front and when to deny the ball stood out as a defender whose calculated gambles paid off throughout the week. Really intrigued to see how he is used within Sunrise's defense-first system that typically values his skillset as a high-IQ defender, slasher, and rebounder. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553901"],"_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-6a7bad83a3a3b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-There may not be a player in the camp that played harder or played to win more than Rogers did en route to a semifinal finish in the camp tournament. Rogers showed an ability to turn some sharp downhill driving angles to attack his matchup with or without a ball screen to get to the paint to serve as a threat to score or pass for his team. Rogers flew around defensively, was really difficult to screen in the halfcourt, and showed active hands to come up with steals both on or off the ball that injected life into his team's transition offense. Love the reads that he makes in space as a player that can pass his teammates open or simply draw two before making a timely read. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->