The Challenge: Aggressive PGs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I drove up to Spooky Nook in Manheim, PA for one of my favorite preseason warmups of the year in The Challenge. There was a good mix of local teams, NE/PA teams, and international preps from Canada competing in front of college coaches and media. In this article we'll break down the top backcourt prospects that we saw over the course of the weekend. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2755479"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac825af9228a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19p 2r 1s 7/8 FG 3/4 3P vs Theodore Roosevelt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-It was my first time seeing Swangin play this summer and I came away very impressed by the lift that he gave his team in a closely-contested matchup with Theodore Roosevelt. Swangin's speed in the open floor really stands out, he attacked gaps effectively to finish at the rim before help can close the seam, showed a great change of direction with his dribble and can get downhill in a hurry. Swangin's confidence shown through on a pair of face up 3s late in the game that show the balance and consistency on his jumper. Excited to see him lead this year's team as the group graduates the top 3 scorers from their state championship team a season ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194784"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac825af9231c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12p 3r 1a 1s 1b vs Polaris&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Thought Argueta did a great job of generating paint touches for his team because he takes good angles to get downhill in a hurry and has added on more weight to not only absorb but dole out contact on his drives to the rim. I liked the poise that Argueta played with in new threads with the Lions as he didn't miss a shot or a free throw for his team throughout the afternoon. Argueta's competitive drive and athleticism stood out the most on a sprint to pin a floater attempt on the backboard to come away with a block to close out a stop for his team. One of my favorite sub-6' guards in the area because of how hard he plays on a nightly basis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2548892"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac825af9236c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14p 1r 1a 3s vs Tri City Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Thought that Costley stepped up for McDonogh with his backcourt mate sitting out the weekend with injury. Costley attacked the rim effectively with or without a ball screen, did a great job of drawing fouls in the paint, and was passing effectively out of double teams to collect hockey assists down the stretch run of the game. Costley's baseline jumper going right is one of the most automatic jumpers in the area but I like that he is beginning to let the roll develop and has mastered some of the other micro skills that include keeping a defender on your back hip or looking off the corner shooter before taking two dribbles and kicking out. Should continue to lead one of the best young cores in the area this season as he enters his junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2886589"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac825af923ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">7p 2r 2a 3s vs Theodore Roosevelt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I really liked the bounce-back and fight in this one from the young guard as an incoming freshman that has already earned a starting role with this team. Oladotun had a beautiful stretch early in the 2H to come up with two steals, forced two more turnovers (one in the middle of the floor in a blown-up ball screen and the other along the sideline), knocked down an AND-1 jumper from the corner in transition to tie the ball game, and threw two beautiful dimes off a live dribble to hit the cutter for the layup. Oladotun already seems comfortable playing on the ball as a super aggressive driving point guard that also can hit deep 3s off the bounce with range. But also seems comfortable serving as both a movement shooter and connector on the wing that makes sure the ball movement remains flowing in the halfcourt. With his combination of vision in both middle and side PnR situations and elite shooting, he should be a matchup nightmare at the point of attack for years to come. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3538918"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac825af92406"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">13p 3r 3a 5s vs South River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great all-around performance in this one for Towe as the straw that stirs the drink for a Hayfield team that I think will take a step forward this season. Towe allowed his defense to spur on his offense as he converted turnovers into points at the other end by relentlessly attacking the rim in transition. Towe's ability to guard on the ball is accentuated by how good he is off-ball, as he routinely exploited the eyes of the passer to jump passing lanes as a help defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3554605"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3789889,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac825af92476"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">13p 7r 2a 5s vs South River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Jackson was an absolute two-way menace on the glass and from the perimeter. Jackson routinely timed crossovers well to knock away steals in the halfcourt and showed his ability to space the floor with his shooting off the catch in this one. Jackson really showed a knack for deliberately slowing his steps as a screen approaches before he quickly closed the gap to jump over the screen and poke out the steal for his team. Loved his decision-making as a wing connector that always looked opposite to force the defense to continue to shift to exploit gaps in the alignments. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->