Prep Hoops Carolinas Expo – Team 6, 7, 13 and 14 Standouts

In summation of my team coverage, I dove into the remaining 4 teams that I was tasked with covering. There were numerous standout performers on each team, so I decided to group them all together here. Let's discuss who and why below:    Out of the many games that Deux was involved in, don't think he broke a sweat. That's how poised and relaxed he was at the guard position. He has an innate ability to force defenses to adjust to him and not vice versa. The ball handling is crisp, deliberate and under control. He always has his head up looking for open teammates and typically gets the ball ahead quickly to put the defense in non-advantageous situations.   The passing was an A+. From no look bounce passes to off hand cross court passes to the shooters shooting pocket, Deux showcased it all. Scoring was easy for him, especially in isolation and pick and roll sets. He has good elevation on his jumper and was nearly automatic in the mid-range area. A guards ability to get his team involved and score when needed is a big plus when evaluating them. Deux showed why he was one of the best rising sophomores in the state with his blend of playmaking and shot making at a high level.     From a pure scoring standpoint, Laurence was one of the best in the gym. Anytime his team needed a basket, they turned to him and more often than not, he got it done. Laurence has an incredible motor that he plays with on both ends of the floor. He does a good job of playing hard possession to possession but also being in control. At the rim he showcased high level athleticism with a bevy of finishes from game to game.   Not only was his at the rim finishing a plus, the ability to avoid offensive fouls with a pull up mid-range jumper was also on full display. There wasn't a need for excess dribbling as he knew where his spots were and got to them at ease whenever he wanted. From a footwork perspective, I thought it was as advanced as anyone in the gym. From sidestep threes to reverse pivot fadeaways, Laurence showcased it all. Not many scored it better than him all day.     One of the best performers of the event was [player_tooltip player_id='2388275' first='Carson' last='Johnson']. At 6'5/6'6, he has supreme positional size and the skillset is advanced. I was expecting Carson to be more of a wing but to my surprise, he handled a lot of the point guard duties. In doing so, his proficiency in pick and roll sets was the best of anyone in the gym. Carson made quick decisive decisions with the ball in his hands and if he didn't get the assist, he was credited with a hockey assist setting up success for his teammates   The mixture of athleticism, IQ, and shot making stood out immediately when watching Carson. He was comfortable with the ball in his hands but without it, he posted up smaller defenders, cut well and screened teammates open. A lot of things that didn't show up in the box score were accredited to Carson. Scoring came easy for him, especially inside the arc where his pull-up mid-range was working. As defenses adjusted, he got to the rim and finished on a consistent basis. I think Carson opened some eyes with his stellar play at the event.     The term “plays bigger than his size” could not be a better way to describe JT's production at the event. Combining physicality with strength and athleticism made him nearly unstoppable when he wanted to get downhill. The best part about his skillset is his understanding of what he does well and continually going back to that rather than playing out of character.   Typically, there are no such thing as layups for JT as he looks fo dunk everything with power. Half court dunks typically tell you how good of an athlete a player is, and JT had numerous slams in half court situations. He doesn't need the ball to be effective, as he's able to rebound, screen, and be a plus defender on the defensive end. While he didn't show much of it, there were flashes of a mid-range jump shot being in his skillset. As he develops that more, he'll become an even more load to handle with his aggressive downhill mindset.     Before watching JJ play, you immediately notice the long arms and big hands he possesses. After the ball was tipped, his use of his length and athleticism was on full display. In three consecutive possessions, JJ altered a shot at the rim, got a steal and finished with an and-1 on the offensive end. A true swiss army knife of a player, JJ's impact was felt on both ends of the floor through his rebounding, defense and intangibles on both ends of the floor.   Offensively he lived in the paint and utilized the dunker spot as good as anyone. Finishing with or without contact was no issue and his long arms helped grab rebounds over defenders in the paint. There wasn't a ton of shooting from JJ but he was effective off the catch and within the 10–12-foot range with push shots and floaters. Not only did he excel offensively at the rim, but his instincts as a shot blocker were also on full display. A rising two-way physical presence that should have a big year in South Carolina this year.     If you like tough, physical, hard nosed guards then Malik is your kind of guard. Malik's aggressive approach to getting downhill was impressive. Regardless of if it was a bigger defender, he still found ways to get to the rim and convert. There is not any shying away from contact from Malik as he typically initiates it first. When he gets to the rim, the blend of up and unders, floaters, and push shots make it difficult for shot blockers to affect his attempts.   Coming off a 3A state title, his contributions to winning are noticeable on both ends of the floor. Not only does he score effectively at the rim but defensively he has active hands to disrupt ball handlers as well as altering shots at the rim. Effective mover without the ball and a violent cutter off backdoors or curl actions. The shooting is the swing skill and while he wasn't a knockdown shooter, he Is more than capable off the catch. Blending that with his relentless downhill attacking should elevate him in the rankings as he continues to progress.

In summation of my team coverage, I dove into the remaining 4 teams that I was tasked with covering. There were numerous standout performers on each team, so I decided to group them all together here. Let's discuss who and why below: