AZ Compass Fall League Week 2: Frontcourt Report

I attended the AZ Compass Fall League on September 8 and 10 in Chandler, catching every game on both days. Plenty of impressive individual performances, and a chance to see some guys I'd never watched before. Here's a look at the forwards who stood out to me.    Scores from all three levels, and does it in flurries when his teammates need him to. Strong rebounder at both ends who covers his area well, with a lot of his finishes coming off his own offensive board. Passes out of the post to find the open man, and surveys from the top of the key before feeding it inside. Real variety to his looks from deep: a quick lateral slide into a pull-up, catch-and-shoot off a screen with his feet set, and spot-ups when he is already planted in the corner. Works his feet along the baseline to create good midrange attempts.     Scores in a variety of ways, though most of it comes at the rim. Real power driving from the top of the key, and he will body defenders up in the post when he wants to. That frame is what gets him inside, but he mixes in jump stops before the finish, baseline drives, and good ball fakes before adjusting the ball in the air on his way up. Gets downhill against bigger opponents. Excellent at continuing his drives through contact, absorbing what he can and getting the foul calls to go his way. Hits turnaround jumpers from the midrange and has enough handle to pull up from three.     Great touch from the midrange, using spin moves to get into turnaround jumper: the skillset he leaned on most to get his buckets. Switches it up on defenders too, faking the turnaround and following it with an uncontested floater. Long strides get him from the three-point line into the paint, and those same strides get him to the offensive glass for the put-back. Crashes it at both ends.     Strong finisher at the rim, going straight back up after offensive boards and using pump fakes to draw contact before finishing for the and-one. In the post he incorporates the spin move and rips through to face the basket, forcing fouls on his way up to get to the line. Seals well to get the entry pass in. Attacks the glass relentlessly, using good positioning to secure offensive rebounds and put-backs. Played well defensively too, picking up steals and staying engaged on his assignments.     Bouncy rim protector who contests everything inside, picking up a pair of blocks. Attacks the glass consistently, snagging defensive rebound after defensive rebound. Has gradually grown into more than just an athletic defender who can dunk, adding a midrange and outside game and knocking down pull-up middys and jab-step threes. His vision and passing have come along as well, scanning from the post to find cutting teammates.     Size and mobility let him play all over the floor, and he scores from all three levels: catch-and-shoot threes, midrange floaters, and downhill drives he finishes off the spin. Bodies defenders and forces fouls with his aggression. Solid handle when he puts it on the deck in the midrange, getting himself into the paint and creating his own look. Attacks the defensive glass and knows immediately when to push the pace in transition. Absolutely oozing with long-term upside.     Menace on the offensive glass, snagging multiple boards on a single possession and converting on put-backs. Mixes in midrange pull-ups and can hit from beyond the arc. Makes the right read out of traffic in the paint and delivers good assists. Sound defender as well, elevating for defensive boards and going for strip steals, playing with activity at both ends.

I attended the AZ Compass Fall League on September 8 and 10 in Chandler, catching every game on both days. Plenty of impressive individual performances, and a chance to see some guys I'd never watched before. Here's a look at the forwards who stood out to me.