On the Radar: Sophomore Showcase Names to Know

Getting out and competing is how new names find their way onto the radar. The Sophomore Showcase created that opportunity this past weekend, and several prospects made the most of it. Here are 6 new names to know after the weekend.     Vivian stood out on the day because he was one of the few players who was able to turn defense into offense as well as anyone in this group. His hands stayed active, and he came away with multiple steals by disrupting plays instead of simply waiting for mistakes to happen. He got in the mix. He had a couple of steals and transition baskets, and that's how he got himself going. That ability to create easy offense with his defense was the biggest takeaway, and he should key in on that as I believe that's the easiest way to get playing time this year. Vivian isn't a player who needs plays called for hi,m and he stood out as a new name to watch.     Beal-Lucero showed a shooting stroke that immediately gets your attention, and we want him hunting out shots if he has it going on as he did at some stretches. He worked his way off screens, got himself square,d and flat-out shot the ball when clean looks were available. That opened up the offense for the rest of his teammates, and he stayed shot-ready and moving rather than just standing in the corner. My biggest thing with Beal-Lucero is wanting to see more of it. He has to become more of a guy who demands the ball because I firmly believe that if you have that kind of weapon, don't be afraid to use it.     Beecraft had some impressive finishes because he didn't get sped up once bodies started collapsing around him. He played under control in transition, ran the break, and showed the ability to finish through traffic . He was finding spots and getting to the rim, and there was a couple of plays where he navigated through the defense and finished after the bump. He was also finishing over the top at times. There's a natural feel to him inside that was worth jotting down, and this was my first look at him, but a good look.     Wesley gave me something to look forward to with his work around the basket. He looked comfortable operating inside, showed some touch as a finisher, and actively tried to create plays rather than becoming stationary once he got into the paint. He flashed the high post, got the ball and made his move where he wasn't denied. He makes up his mind and goes to where he wants. I want to see more of him as a new name to watch but Wesley showed enough of an inside look to put himself on the radar. Curious to see what else he has to his game.     Ryker was a riser with how he was able to put together a few solid stretches at the event that caught my attention. He attacked off the dribble, converted some difficult and-1 shots, and showcased his creativity and wasn't bothered by size down low. Ryker found ways to finish over bigger defenders and had moments where the solid plays were stacking. I also liked what he gave defensively, particularly his ability to stay in front of his man. He's a player I did not know much about going into the event, but I am certainly curious about now, so I'll pay attention.     Madrid's day got more interesting the longer I watched him. He really started coming on later in the 5-on-5 portion of the day and eventually showed a little bit of everything. Defensively, Madrid blocked shots, got his hands on balls in transition, and came up with a couple of steals. He also got the ball and handled pressure, showed some wiggle getting through defenders, and finished coast-to-coast opportunities, including an and-one that got his teammates fired up. He also mixed in an up-and-under and competed on the glass. Madrid's two-way play was on display, and by the end, he had definitely played his way onto the radar.

Getting out and competing is how new names find their way onto the radar. The Sophomore Showcase created that opportunity this past weekend, and several prospects made the most of it. Here are 6 new names to know after the weekend.