Making Their Mark: Sophomore Showcase Difference Makers

There are plenty of ways to make an impact in a showcase setting, and scoring is only one of them. Getting out and competing gives prospects a chance to show where they can make a difference, especially when playing with unfamiliar teammates. This group made its mark in different ways, from physicality and rebounding to versatility, and playmaking. Let's take a look at some of the difference-makers.     Smith found most of his opportunities by working without the basketball altho his showcase. We've seen him have more of the ball for Pluto, so it was great to see him in a different setting. He did some of the little things, like making cuts to get baskets, getting a couple of rebounds off the glass, and going right back up and still staying engaged despite not being the usual focal point of the offense. Smith also did some useful work as a screener as he not only made contact but rolled to the open area after. He had a couple of layups and also a few mid-range jumpers on the pop off of the screen. I would've liked to see him pop a little more and make his presence felt more consistently at just wanting to be more aggressive, as we've seen him excel in that setting, but there was value in the role he played. He didn't need the ball in his hands to find ways to contribute. Solid look from him.     Chon is another player that we saw play a few times this summer, and we feel he will get some time this year as a guard with that size and feel you find minutes for. At the showcase, he grabbed boards and started the break himself. He pushed the pace and showed that he could run an offense. He also used his frame well around the basket as it's not just blow bys but finishes with footwork and a few back down baskets. He had a few second-chance opportunities that he finished on. I also like that he hits mid-range shots and had a few turnarounds where he shot over smaller guards defending him. He has a solid ceiling, and we saw glimpses of that at the showcase.     Shockley is a bigger wing who moved better than you might initially expect at the showcase. He showed some agility navigating the floor and used his frame to provide a presence around the paint defensively. I also liked that he wasn't always trying to make the scoring play himself but shifted and tried to overpower guys when he had the opportunity. Shockley moved the ball and was willing to make the extra pass when something better developed. His final game was probably his best offensive stretch, as he converted a few tough finishes and started showing more of what he could provide as a scorer. It was a solid showing to get on our radar.     Campbell is a bruiser inside and certainly isn't afraid of contact. I would love it if he keyed in on that more as small players just have no chance down low when he's looking to deliver before the help comes. When smaller defenders switch onto him, Campbell should be looking to pin them deep, demand the basketball, and finish through them. He's not going to win with speed, so leaning into his strength, size, and interior skill will be key, and we saw that at times throughout the event. He has soft touch around the basket, his footwork is catching u,p and he grabs boards in bunches. You can see how he was able to dominate during the high school season as only a sophomore, and now it is about getting better. I feel as if he's going to be a solid finished product, and it was great to see him in this kind of setting as we've seen him over the summer in a much different role.     Egbune remains raw in some areas, but the flashes are intriguing because there aren't many 6'5 guards with his blend of strength, athleticism and playmaking. Some of his passes were legitimately impressive as he showed vision and creativity you don't always expect from a player at his size. He also mixed it up as he rebounded well, battled on the glass, and took over ball handling roles at times looking for cutters. I like his defensive versatility as he is quick enough for the guards but can step down and hold himself a bit with the bigger players, and that is how he will get his shot over at Eaglecrest. It was good to see how he looks against the other players in the class in this kind of setting and think he will be a name to monitor moving forward.     Drobnitch took a bit too long to fully assert himself, because once he did, the game looked considerably easier for him. As the day progressed, he got better with it, and that is what we saw for [program_tooltip program_id='2955433' first='Colorado' last='Collective']. He showed his shooting early during 3-on-3 and proved he could knock down the three, but there were stretches where he became too willing to take a back seat, and a player with that kind of talent shouldn't be doing that. When Drobnitch played confidently and looked for his opportunities, his ability was clear, and he made plays. That's the next step for him is becoming less timid and understanding that being aggressive doesn't mean forcing shots, but just staying involved in plays on both ends, which can be hard to do in a showcase setting. The tools are there as he has size, can play multiple positions, and fills many boxes. He was a difference-maker on the day, but I want him to just continue stacking solid plays. Solid player that I enjoy watching, and I am going to be following his game closely for the year.

There are plenty of ways to make an impact in a showcase setting, and scoring is only one of them. Getting out and competing gives prospects a chance to show where they can make a difference, especially when playing with unfamiliar teammates. This group made its mark in different ways, from physicality and rebounding to versatility, and playmaking. Let's take a look at some of the difference-makers.