Five Prospects Who Earned Another Look on Labor Day weekend.

The weekend gave me another chance to watch players when the game moved away from the highlights. I wanted to see who made quick decisions, competed defensively and produced without wasting possessions. These five prospects gave me something worth tracking.    Jace Tolliver's athleticism showed up in plays that mattered. He turned a turnover into a dunk, made the open three and used his pace to reach a pull-up. None of those possessions required him to overdribble or force the action. He saw the advantage and used it. I need another viewing to determine how consistently he affects the game when those easy opportunities are not available.     [player_tooltip player_id='2398151' first='Dylan' last='Howard'] now at St. Michaels in [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last=''], Tx, Competed and found ways to affect the game without controlling the ball. He used his length as a weak-side defender, rotated toward the rim and challenged shots. That matters because size means little when a player arrives late or avoids contact. Howard's offensive skill is developing, but his defensive awareness gives him something that can translate now. The next step is producing with that same purpose for longer stretches.     [player_tooltip player_id='3660474' first='Ricky' last='Groff'] showed me more than a 6-foot-8 body. He secured a steal, controlled the ball and delivered the advance pass instead of trying to do too much. He also ran the floor, finished in transition and showed solid footwork around the basket. Those are simple plays, but simple plays made on time help teams win. Right now, Groff looks like a legitimate Division II prospect, and another strong viewing could move that conversation forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='2252899' first='Sun' last='Jinkal'] sees the floor and wants to make the correct pass. He recognized teammates, moved the ball on time and helped possessions continue instead of stopping them. The problem was that he became too unselfish and passed up opportunities he needed to finish. A willing passer still has to punish the defense when it gives him an opening, especially with his superior skill level and length. His next step is learning when making the right play means taking the shot himself.     [player_tooltip player_id='2198628' first='Will' last='Slyker'] caught my attention with one clean, repeatable action. As the ball moved around the perimeter, he prepared his feet and stayed ready for the next pass. When the ball reached him, it was catch, rise and shoot without wasted movement. That kind of readiness can stretch a defense because the opening does not have to stay open long. I need more possessions before making a larger projection, but the shooting deserved to be noted. Will also appears to have had a great offseason on the weight room. Better preparing himself for the extended leadership role.

The weekend gave me another chance to watch players when the game moved away from the highlights. I wanted to see who made quick decisions, competed defensively and produced without wasting possessions. These five prospects gave me something worth tracking.