6 Standout Forwards From Friday’s Elite 75

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday, September 11th, I attended the Elite 75 showcase at Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro, MA. Over 200 players competed on six different courts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was TONS of talent in the gym—but, as always, it was difficult to see everyone play. With that being said, below are 6 of the best forwards I saw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ege Cakmakkaya","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. George's","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa556353200c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yesterday was my first time seeing Cakmakkaya in person, and I was quite impressed with his size, physicality, and skill level. The sophomore is a true 6-foot-7 and has a heft and density to him that makes defenders bounce off of him. But the England native also has a tight handle and moves extremely well for his size—on a number of occasions, he made guard-like moves and got into the paint for easy finishes or kickout opportunities. Defensively, I was shocked by how he slid his feet with guards and wings on the perimeter. I don't know how many minutes Cakmakkaya will be able to get on a loaded St. George's squad, but I can't imagine he won't be a part of their rotation in some form this season. Really intriguing prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2964830"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa5563532044"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">O'Rourke is still learning his body, but the potential is through the roof. In the small-sided games, the sophomore really impressed me with his outside shooting stroke—it looks quick, compact, and fluid, and he makes it at a high clip. When you combine that with his 6-foot-6 frame, elite length, and budding athleticism at the rim, he becomes an extremely intriguing long-term prospect. O'Rourke will have to get used to the uptick in competition at New Hampton this season, but he's going to figure it out and will look A LOT different in a few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2938597"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa5563532067"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McCall looks like an NFL tight end out on the court, but he's only a sophomore. The 6-foot-6 forward has wide shoulders, a built upper body, and fluidity in his movements. Last night, he was a rebounding machine because of his physical profile and hops, and then he showed some flashes of being able to handle the ball in the open court and make reads like a guard. At the rim, he elevated extremely well and finishes comfortably with contact. McCall is well beyond his years in terms of strength and physical tools, now it'll just be up to him to continue improving his skillset and operating from the perimeter on a more consistent basis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2969338"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa5563532085"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clarke is a dog. The 6-foot-7 forward dominated the game yesterday with his physical tools, effort level, and motor. He was impossible to keep off the glass as an offensive rebounder, and once he got the rock anywhere in the paint, he was looking to find the defender's body and go right through it. He's not afraid to be physical in the paint, but he also has the ability to drive closeouts on the perimeter and elevate at the rim for dunks and contact-finishes. Clarke is going to continue to get a lot better in the coming years but will also be productive right now for New Hampton's loaded squad this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3140436"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa55635320a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Broko was one of the more skilled forwards in the building yesterday. For a 6-foot-8 sophomore, he has a great handle and outside shot, but also the strength to bully opposing defenders in the paint—he's a matchup nightmare. If bigger players are on him, he can take them off the dribble and get to his mid-range pull-up game. But with smaller players, he's not afraid to put his back to the basket and use his touch and feel around the paint to dominate. Broko has a combination of feel and size you don't normally see for his age, so I'll be very curious to see whether the athleticism and quickness can develop moving forward as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3415237"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa55635320be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Katznelson was awesome yesterday. The 6-foot-6 point-forward showed off his handle and scoring ability all night, consistently taking opposing forwards off the dribble and getting to the front of the rim for dunks and finishes. But he also understands how to pass the ball and got his teammates open shots on a number of occasions. The true sophomore continues to get more athletic and more fluid in his movement patterns, but the jury is out on whether he can consistently hit his outside shot. Katznelson is going to be an excellent player in the MIAA this season (he made my top 50 list last month), and lots of local prep schools will be all over him if I had to guess.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->