CP3 Rising Stars: Matchup Problems

Six 2030 players who made you think twice about how to guard them   One thing that stood out to me at CP3 was the number of players who don't fit neatly into one position.   That's something I always pay attention to with this age group. A player might have the size of a wing, the handle of a guard, the strength to defend bigger players or the shooting ability to pull a defender away from the basket.   Those players can create problems because you can't always put them into one box.   For me, these six 2030 prospects showed different pieces of that type of versatility throughout the weekend.    Shane Collins is one of those players where the physical profile immediately gives you something to work with.   My Day 2 notes were:   Tall, lengthy guard. Gets downhill. Good positional size. Strong frame.   That's a tough combination for a defense to deal with.   A taller guard who can handle the ball and get downhill doesn't have to win every matchup with speed. He can use his length and frame to create an advantage, get his shoulder into a defender and put pressure on the paint.   That's what makes Shane interesting to me.   Boog's Take: When you have a guard with that kind of positional size and he's still comfortable attacking downhill, you start asking yourself who exactly is supposed to guard him. The next step is continuing to sharpen the perimeter skill while maintaining that physical advantage.     [player_tooltip player_id='3574553' first='Nicholas' last='Cannon'] gave me another version of the versatile wing.   My Day 2 note was simple:   Transition threat. Great positional size. Can also handle the ball.   That combination stood out because transition is where size and skill can really become a problem.   If Cannon gets the ball ahead of the defense, his positional size gives him an advantage. But he's not limited to simply running the floor. He can also handle the ball and initiate, which gives him more ways to get involved.   Boog's Take: Cannon is interesting because you don't necessarily have to put the ball in his hands every possession for him to impact the game. But when he does get it, he has enough handle to make something happen. That's the type of versatility I'm watching as he continues to develop.     [player_tooltip player_id='3730036' first='Landon' last='Moore'] is another player whose physical tools can create problems around the basket.   My notes from Day 2 were simple:   Lengthy frame. Can explode at the rim. Nice touch around the basket.   That's a useful combination.   The length gives him a natural advantage around the rim, but the touch is what caught my attention. Finishing isn't simply about jumping higher than everyone else. At this level, having different ways to finish once you get there becomes important.   Landon showed that he can get downhill and finish with more than just power.   Boog's Take: The length gets you interested. The touch keeps you watching. That's what I want to see more of from Landon as his perimeter game continues to develop.     Deion brings a different type of versatility because his impact doesn't depend on having the ball.   My Day 2 notes were simple:   High motor. Can defend in the paint. Helps on the glass.   That's valuable.   A player who can move between perimeter responsibilities and interior defensive assignments gives his team some flexibility. Add the rebounding and motor, and you're talking about somebody who can influence possessions without needing plays called for him.   Boog's Take: Deion's value is in the work. You notice him because he's around the ball, he's competing and he's willing to do the things that don't always show up in the box score. That's the type of player I want to continue watching against bigger and more physical competition.     Brandon Morris gives us one of the more intriguing defensive matchup profiles in this group.   Lengthy shooter. Can guard the post and some perimeter.   That's exactly why he fits this category.   The shooting creates spacing on one end, while the length gives him options on the other. Being able to defend some post actions while also moving onto perimeter players gives a coach more flexibility with matchups.   That versatility is what stood out to me. He doesn't have to fit into just one defensive role.   Boog's Take: If you're giving me a player who can space the floor and then turn around and give you some versatility defensively, that's somebody I'm going to keep an eye on. The big question is how far that perimeter defense can develop as the competition gets quicker.     Jeremy Green brings another physical piece to this group.   The biggest thing I want to focus on with Jeremy is the combination of his frame, positional size, and physical presence.   I'm looking at players who can give you something different depending on the matchup. A player with enough size and strength to deal with bigger bodies while still being able to operate away from the basket can become extremely valuable as his skill set develops.   Boog's Take: Jeremy is one of those guys where the physical foundation gives you a lot to work with. Now it's about continuing to add skill and turning those physical tools into consistent two-way impact. That's what I'll be watching with him moving forward.

Six 2030 players who made you think twice about how to guard them