PH Freshman Showcase 2026: Player Evaluations- Team 9

The Freshman "showed up and showed out" Sunday morning! These players should have no issue adjusting to high school basketball next season.    Cardel is a legitimate scoring guard who plays with a high level of aggression. Every time I watch him compete, Cardel is in constant “attack mode.” Opposing defenders are always on their heels when they attempt to defend him. Whether he attacks them off the dribble, beats them to the basket or hits them with a nice step-back jump-shot, Cardel showed his elite scoring prowess throughout the showcase. There was a sequence in game two where he scored on three consecutive shot attempts. He attacked the defense with two strong dribble drives to the rim and knocked down a three-pointer. Defensively, he excelled at using his quickness to make plays. He forced turnovers and caused opposing guards into ball handling mistakes. Cardel has the potential to be an excellent all around player at the high school level. With growth and maturity, he could go far in the game of basketball.     After watching Baylee play, I viewed his playing style as a true “floor general.” He's an excellent ball handler who always looked to get everyone involved. I can say with full confidence that Baylee led team nine in assists. He showed a knack for finding other teammates in scoring positions. When it was time to score, Baylee showed the ability to do so. He easily beats defenders off the dribble, drives into the paint and scores on acrobatic lay-ups or floaters around the basket. He also showed the ability to knock down perimeter shots on the wings of the basketball court. I believe Baylee has the leadership qualities and basketball IQ to run a team at the high school level.     A silky smooth player who has the ability to score from all areas of the basketball court. In game one Taylor knocked down a multitude of jump-shots. Some were two-point field goals, some were long distance threes. Taylor is a hard working player who makes all the necessary hustle plays to contribute to the team. He's also a skillful ball handler who easily gets around defenders and makes plays. Taylor was great at drawing in defenders and dishing out passes to other teammates. He went on to finish the game with multiple threes and numerous scores in transition. On defense, he gave maximum effort in regard to forcing turnovers and being physical. Taylor is a great scorer who should easily adjust to the high school basketball scene.     Oscar is a tough minded combo guard who stayed in "attack mode" throughout a majority of the showcase. He's an excellent scorer who also passes and defends. When I watched him during game one, Oscar was tough to handle for the opposition. He beat defenders off the dribble and scored on tough drives to the basket. What I saw in game two was a play-maker. He made a ton of plays with his skills as a facilitator. Oscar is also capable of knocking down mid-range shots or long distance three-pointers. He's a hard-nosed defender who excelled at forcing opposing guards into mistakes. His great on-ball pressure caused multiple turnovers and made ball handling difficult for the opposition. Oscar has the talent to succeed at either position at the high school stage.     Quentin was the most skilled point guard on team nine. He's an excellent ball handler who had a habit of making plays. When he found himself in isolated match-ups, Quentin easily attacked his defender and scored. If there were opportunities to knock down open threes, Quentin did not hesitate. He also showed his skills as a play-maker. The majority of his passes led to easy scores. Some were teammates cutting to the rim, while others went out on the perimeter. Quentin maintained control of the offense whenever he was on the court. He showed great vocal leadership by staying in tune with team nine players. Defensively, he gave maximum effort by staying in front of the opposition. He excelled at generating steals by jumping the passing lanes. Quentin is an awesome point guard with a bright future in basketball.     A strong guard who plays with a physical mentality. Alexander showed the ability to beat defenders to the basket for tough lay-ups. On a few occasions, he was able to score through contact. He's an excellent rebounding guard who doesn't mind battling for boards in the paint. He showed his effectiveness on both ends of the court in regard to grabbing rebounds and making hustle plays. I remember when he grabbed a defensive rebound and started the fast break. This led to a tough lay-up in transition. He also has a nice shooting touch from mid-range. Alexander was great at creating the space he needed to effectively get a shot off. On defense, he was great at defending either guard spot. His quick hands and great lateral movement allowed him to make plays. Alexander has the potential to be a great two-way player in the coming years.     I enjoyed watching this young man play Sunday morning. Luke is a hardworking player who did everything for team nine. Whether it was scoring, rebounding, assisting or defending, Luke was always around the basketball. He literally did all the “dirty work” for team nine. Luke took charges, chased down loose balls and made all the hustle plays on the basketball court. He's a great passer who showed a knack for finding open teammates. Offensively, Luke excelled at getting to the rim and finishing. Whenever he had the opportunity to knock down jump-shots, Luke did so with extreme confidence. Defensively, he was a jack-of-all-trades. Luke defended guards on the perimeter and played good interior post defense when it was needed. Luke was an awesome team player throughout the tournament. He could be a perfect "glue guy" for whatever high school team he plays with.

The Freshman "showed up and showed out" Sunday morning! These players should have no issue adjusting to high school basketball next season.