CBG Fall Series: Explosive W/F Prospects

New readers: Use code Proia30     I traveled down to Henrico to check out CBG's first showcase as a part of their fall exposure series to watch both local public and private schools compete in front of select media. I came away impressed with several frontcourt prospects that stood out, mainly as 2-way impact performers that took pride in taking care of the small details for their team. In this article we'll break down that handful of prospects, then move onto detailing guard standouts. Let's dive in!    -Young opted to take a postgraduate year at Fork Union Military Academy and should really thrive in Coach Williams' system as a versatile wing prospect that can do a little bit of everything. Young boasts a + wingspan and uses his physical tools to make an impact on the glass to snag rebounds or score over bigs in the paint. Loved the touch on his pull-up jumper from all 3 levels as he gets to his spots effectively in the halfcourt on an efficient dribble count. I came away impressed with what little wasted movement I saw from Young as well as the 2-way impact and devastating finishing ability in transition.     -Cole served as a pretty vicious scorer as a face-up guy from the high post that is comfortable going either direction and finishing with either hand around the rim. That ambidexterity serves him well in tight spaces and even though he finishes at a high percentage (FG % leader in 3SSB this summer) around the rim, a really quick second jump allows him to score on putbacks of his own misses and of his teammates while jostling for position around the rim.     -The first big fish of the Philogene era at Fairfax Christian, Jakisic really impressed with his ability to fill the stat sheet in several different columns over the course of the afternoon. Jakisic uses a strong frame to play bully ball around the rim with a consistent set of post moves to get to his spots to serve as an effective scorer on the low block. He also showcased his ability to knock down perimeter jumpers off the catch, set physical screens, and be a shot-deterrer around the rim because of the swift timing of his help rotations. Playing in a system catered to his game, he should be depended on pretty heavily this season as the lynchpin for their success. I'd expect his national profile and recruiting to pick up as he transfers into an area that doesn't have a ton of size at the frontcourt positions.     -Methodical but effective, Fitzgerald continues a productive streak of play back at Flint Hill under first-year HC Kevin Harris. Fitzgerald split double teams with spin moves to score in the paint, was very active on the offensive glass, knocked down 18' jumpers off the catch, and is much more comfortable as a decision-maker in transition that initiates the break with his defensive rebounds. If he can quicken his footspeed and vertical pop, I'd expect D1 programs to get involved more heavily as the rising junior's stock continues its upward trajectory.     -Cudjoe's explosive play REALLY stood out throughout the afternoon as the combination of vertical leaping ability and motor impacted the game pretty heavily on both ends. Cudjoe blocked at least 5 shots off the backboard as a helper, finished lob dunks off of both one and two feet, and served as a versatile defensive presence on the back line for a West Nottingham team that has a ton of new faces to integrate into the mix. Loved his intensity defensively as a guy that guard second and third chances around the rim and took pride into showing hard on opponents until his teammates could fight over screens. Cudjoe knocked down his only 3 point attempt of the afternoon and was pretty effective at the line. If he can prove that he can space the floor with his perimeter shooting, I'd expect his recruitment to see a nice jolt of activity as a small ball 4 prospect that can be an effective 3+D weapon at the next level.

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