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<p>There's a lot to get excited about with the Class of 2030. Few skills are more valuable than the ability to get downhill, collapse a defense, and create scoring opportunities. These five freshmen consistently showed the confidence and athleticism to get to the basket and make things happen. Here are the top 5 downhill scorers who showed out in Aurora.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Perhaps no one improved his stock at the Freshman Showcase more than Neal. Neal immediately pops on the court, combining downhill aggression with a level of strength, confidence, and command that feels well beyond his years. He's a threat from three and his physicality merged with his intentional decision-making on offense sets him apart. There was plenty of swagger to his game, especially when going toe-to-toe with fellow prospect [player_tooltip player_id='3702374' first='Robert' last='Smith Jr']., and the overall package suggests he has a chance to be a special player. If I was a college coach, I'd star his name and put him on your calendar ASAP.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Simmons is a problem when he gets moving downhill. His blend of strength, speed, and athleticism allows him to get to the rim with force, while that same physicality shows up on defense, making him a difficult player to drive against. He had opposing players backtracking all day. Simmons came up with some thundering blocks down the stretch, swatting away shots while showing he could shoulder the offense when the game tightened. Possible emerging clutch factor and a name to watch.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">McKinnie is the kind of player who could wake you up just by watching him play, bringing an electric feel to the game with his court vision and creativity. I'm not sure I saw another freshman who saw the full court the way he did. Over and over again, McKinnie pulled down the rebound, lobbed the pass down the floor, and hit the open player for an easy score. He was a threat from three and got good elevation on his rebounds. While McKinnie can push the ball downhill himself, what really stood out is how often his vision puts his teammates in position to do the same.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Wirtz plays with the confidence of a player who knows how to get to his spot on the floor. His combination of speed and handles allows him to attack downhill and there were stretches where he used this skill to take over in the final 10 minutes of the game. He displayed a smooth jump shot and perimeter shooting, though there's room to grow in his consistency on the outside shot. Wirtz will be an exciting player to watch develop in the coming years.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Cregan has the tools to become a reliable downhill scorer, but what makes him intriguing is everything he does before the ball even reaches his hands. He moves with purpose without the basketball, consistently finding open space and putting himself in position to attack. Midway through his first game, his coach and I shared a look with raised eyebrows - this kid can be a difference-maker. Cregan communicated well on the court and seemed to have a natural feel for the game – you could tell he was thinking about the game the right way both as a scorer and when the ball wasn't in his hands. He made some nice midrange jumpers and could also bounce inside. Over the course of his high school career, Cregan has the basketball IQ and versatility to turn whichever part of his game he chooses into a defining strength.</p>
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There's a lot to get excited about with the Class of 2030. Few skills are more valuable than the ability to get downhill, collapse a defense, and create scoring opportunities. These five freshmen consistently showed the confidence and athleticism to get to the basket and make things happen. Here are the top 5 downhill scorers who showed out in Aurora.
Perhaps no one improved his stock at the Freshman Showcase more than Neal. Neal immediately pops on the court, combining downhill aggression with a level of strength, confidence, and command that feels well beyond his years. He's a threat from three and his physicality merged with his intentional decision-making on offense sets him apart. There was plenty of swagger to his game, especially when going toe-to-toe with fellow prospect Robert Smith JrRobertSmith Jr
6'2" | SG
Marist | 2030 IL
., and the overall package suggests he has a chance to be a special player. If I was a college coach, I'd star his name and put him on your calendar ASAP.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Simmons is a problem when he gets moving downhill. His blend of strength, speed, and athleticism allows him to get to the rim with force, while that same physicality shows up on defense, making him a difficult player to drive against. He had opposing players backtracking all day. Simmons came up with some thundering blocks down the stretch, swatting away shots while showing he could shoulder the offense when the game tightened. Possible emerging clutch factor and a name to watch.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
McKinnie is the kind of player who could wake you up just by watching him play, bringing an electric feel to the game with his court vision and creativity. I'm not sure I saw another freshman who saw the full…
Wirtz plays with the confidence of a player who knows how to get to his spot on the floor. His combination of speed and handles allows him to attack downhill and there were stretches where he used this skill to take over in the final 10 minutes of the game. He displayed a smooth jump shot and perimeter shooting, though there's room to grow in his consistency on the outside shot. Wirtz will be an exciting player to watch develop in the coming years.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Cregan has the tools to become a reliable downhill scorer, but what makes him intriguing is everything he does before the ball even reaches his hands. He moves with purpose without the basketball, consistently finding open space and putting himself in position to attack. Midway through his first game, his coach and I shared a look with raised eyebrows - this kid can be a difference-maker. Cregan communicated well on the court and seemed to have a natural feel for the game – you could tell he was thinking about the game the right way both as a scorer and when the ball wasn't in his hands. He made some nice midrange jumpers and could also bounce inside. Over the course of his high school career, Cregan has the basketball IQ and versatility to turn whichever part of his game he chooses into a defining strength.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
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Robert
Smith Jr
6'2" | SG
Marist | 2030
IL
., and the overall package suggests he has a chance to be a special player. If I was a college coach, I'd star his name and put him on your calendar ASAP.
