Hoop Group New England Academic Elite Camp First-Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, I attended the Hoop Group New England Academic Elite Camp. Over 120 players competed in games across two days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, it's difficult to see everyone play all the time. With that being said, I watched everybody play at least once and tried to see everybody play twice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is my first-team from the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3713883,"_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-6a70c5a19e44f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grant was extremely impressive this weekend as a point of attack playmaker and scorer. The 6-foot guard effortlessly got into the paint by using his combination of speed, quickness, and vertical pop, and he showed the ability to finish quite effectively at the rim—on one play, he jumped off the wrong foot and finished a beautiful lefty finger roll with defenders on both sides of him. The rising Thayer Academy junior also shot the ball well from three, showcased solid passing vision, and was lethal as a cornerback in the passing lanes defensively. Grant had a wonderful spring with BABC National, and seeing him this weekend makes me think he'll have a breakout year for Thayer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3713910,"_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-6a70c5a19e4e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sullivan is a super well-rounded player who does a lot of things offensively. The 6-foot-4 rising junior can shoot it from three, and he had a field day getting to his spots and hitting shots from long range over the contests of various defenders. But he also has the speed and athleticism to get all the way to the cup and finish with both hands—if the defense collapses, he can make on-time and on-target passes, too, which are especially easy for him because of his size and coordination. Sullivan is another piece on a really talented Thayer Academy squad that is a bit underrated entering this coming season, in my opinion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2893338"],"_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-6a70c5a19e543"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's what's special about Finlayson: the nationally ranked recruit got an offer from Providence (VERY rare for a rising sophomore) a week ago, but he came into a gym with 99% D3 coaches (I spotted one D2 coach) and still played his behind off on both ends of the floor. He could've coasted and not played hard—after all, none of the schools at this event are going to be able to get him in a few years—but he stayed in a stance at all times and slid his feet with whoever he was guarding. He ran the floor aggressively, he fought for rebounds on both ends, and he shared the ball. For a kid of his age and notoriety, he didn't play or act like he was above anyone else. Oh, and he also dominated in the ways that he always does, like overpowering defenders in transition and using his explosiveness at the rim to overwhelm rim protection. Special kid who's always having fun.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3713931,"_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-6a70c5a19e597"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ryans is bafflingly intriguing. The 6-foot-9 forward looks at first like he won't be able to handle/catch the ball with his combination of length and size, but he has a surprisingly solid skillset and really impressed me on a number of plays. He handles it WAY better than you'd think, can make one-handed full-court passes accurately, and has good touch around the rim and from outside the paint. Defensively, he was the most impactful player I saw this weekend. He contested TONS of shots at the rim and was definitely the camp's leading shot blocker, but he also retrieved tons of boards and generally manned the paint effectively. Ryans has a wide range of college outcomes because of how much potential room he has for growth, but I would guess some scholarship schools will be intrigued by the rising junior who's transferring to Springfield Commonwealth Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2369854"],"_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-6a70c5a19e5ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reiner came all the way from Illinois, and he showed out. The 5-foot-11 guard didn't jump off the page initially, but when I watched him a couple times, I started to understand that he's supremely skilled with the basketball in his hands and can do it all offensively. He has a beautiful shot from three and a knack for getting to his pull-up in the mid-range, but he also has solid finishing chops and is quicker and shiftier than he seems. Most impressive, arguably, was Reiner's defense—he's ALWAYS in the passing lanes and has phenomenal hands. He definitely improved his stock with tons of D3 programs in attendance, and he was super fun to watch all weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->