Prospects Who Came and Proved a Point at Sophomore Showcase

Getting out and competing matters, especially when there is something to prove. The Sophomore Showcase gave prospects a chance to put their games on display against unfamiliar competition, and this group took advantage. Here are 5 prospects who proved a point at the event.     Unsure where to start with Jamari, but he might've been the biggest stock riser at the event. He came in as one of the few varsity prospects at the event, and while that doesn't tell it alone, his play did. He dominated and truly was one of the most impactful players at the event. What I appreciated about his game as the balance. He never became consumed with trying to score and still ended up being one of the top scorers on the day, but it was the little things. He defended and came up with steals; he wanted to guard the top players there, even battling against bigger players, communicated on that end, and made plays. Jamari seemed to always be open, he has good court awareness and knows where to be, hit a 3-pointer just checked of plenty of boxes. Even with mistakes, he hustled back and tried to get it back for his team. I would've put him on 1st Team All-Event if I had that. Point proven.     Stilson was flat-out better than I expected, and that's exactly why he belongs in this category of coming to prove a point. He played with some edge and had a back-and-forth at one point with the other team, wanted the basketball, and became increasingly aggressive once he realized he could get where he wanted. Stilson beat defenders off the bounce, finished a tough reverse that I thought had no chance, and started chirping after an and-1 finish. Smoky Hill desperately needs Stilson to be this version of himself, as he will certainly get plenty of varsity time as a sophomore. I liked what I saw from him.     Matkin just does it for me with how his IQ stands out in a setting like this. He's not an overly aggressive guard who wants to score and show the type of offensive player he is, which typically gets the love in a showcase setting, but his understanding of what each possession needs is what I like about his game. He plays within the flow of the offense and tries to create. He provides spacing and is a reliable shooter,and the moment that the group slowed down and needed another scorer, he started to put a run together. He had a stretch he hit multiple 3-pointers in a row, he creates separation on his jumpsuit and plays at his own pace. He's a right way kind of player, and that was something we enjoyed during the club scene that he brought over into this. I liked the balance.     Thacker can flat-out shoot the basketball, and his range forces defenders to account for him well beyond the line. He's also a smaller player, and I feel that unsuspecting players try to overpower him, and it never works. He's tough. He got hot from deep and started shooting them from further and further. He was getting picked up higher than almost any other guard at the event and was handling pressure and getting physical back. I'd like for that intensity to be shown on both ends of the floor, as I feel that will channel something in him that could make him unstoppable, and I fully suspect that Mullen will need that kind of mentality this upcoming season. Solid event for him where he proved why he was one of the top-rated players at the event.     Barry continues to look like a prospect with a considerable ceiling. At 6'7, things become relatively easy for him once he establishes himself inside, but his game is expanding beyond simply scoring around the basket. Barry stepped out and knocked down a couple of threes, showed a floater, and used his athleticism to finish multiple plays above the rim. When he gets downhill plays, defenders tend to move out of his way so it is on him to create more of those opportunities. We know the type of athlete he is, and we want to see him showcase more of that versatility by rebounding, getting the ball on the perimeter, and turning a corner and being a nightmare defensively, where he can showcase the kind of defender he is. We definitely got to see him show a bit more than we typically see from him, and we want to see him consistently prove that that's who he could be.

Getting out and competing matters, especially when there is something to prove. The Sophomore Showcase gave prospects a chance to put their games on display against unfamiliar competition, and this group took advantage. Here are 5 prospects who proved a point at the event.