Film Session: Part 1

Colby Giacubeno December 18, 2020 @ 01:21 PM

With the high school basketball scene in the Baltimore area currently on hold due to COVID-19, we’ve had to be creative in our content strategy. Another way we’re branching out is by digging into prospect’s film that are sent to us and doing brief breakdowns on each. Adam Ayalew and I have taken on this challenge and if any prospect is looking to have their film studied, I urge you to message me on Twitter @ColbyGHoops or on Instagram @colbygscouting. [player_tooltip player_id="712769" first="Jalen" last="Bryant"] | 5’11 | John Carroll ’21 Bryant averaged 17 points, five rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game for a much improved Patriots squad last season. High junior highlight film gives you a great feel for his game on both ends. Bryant doesn’t get much lift on his jumper, but his release is super quick and he understands how to keep his defender off balance to give him the time to load up. He can convert from well beyond the high school three-point line, but he’s far more than just a shooter. Bryant is creative off the bounce and takes advantage of small driving lanes for paint touches. He’s improved his passing off the live dribble and makes sound reads as defenses shift. He finishes well around the basket for his size and uses craft to avoid opposing shot-blockers. Defensively Bryant is the definition of a menace. He has some of the highest IQ on the defensive side both on or off the ball. He pressures the ball-handler and constantly jabs at the ball. Once the ball-handler creates contact and uses his arm to create space, Bryant has the ability to draw offensive fouls on a routine basis. He’s willing to give up his body as a help side defender by sliding over to take charges. [player_tooltip player_id="1049643" first="Jalen" last="Bouknight"] | 6’0 | Archbishop Spalding ’21 Bouknight is at his best in one-on-one scenarios where he uses change-of-pace dribbles to get an edge on his defender and make his way to the rim. He has enough explosion to get by quicker, more agile defender and good body control once he gets to the basket where he can either take on contact and finish or get his shot off over an opposing big. He has more of a scorer’s mentality when operating in ball-screen action as he tries to turn the corner and attack the paint. If he’s in rhythm off the bounce or left wide open in a catch-and-shoot scenario, Bouknight can certainly hurt the defense from three. He dealt with nagging injuries that kept him sidelines for 17 games of his junior season, but is primed for a big role on a Spalding team who looks to make a push for the MIAA A Conference title. [player_tooltip player_id="902041" first="Ramon" last="Villanueva"] | 6’4 | Sparrows Point ’21 Villanueva is one of the better under the radar prospects in Baltimore. He has good size at 6-foot-4 to go with high basketball IQ. He takes what the defense gives him when it comes to scoring. Villanueva isn’t the most athletic or quickest player on the floor, but is deceptive with his movements. He’s a threat from three, which forces his matchup to be accountable whenever he’s roaming around the perimeter. He takes advantage of undisciplined closeouts and can knock down mid-range jumpers or use soft touch with either hand on drives. Jordan Trusty-Smith | 6’0 | Annapolis Area Christian ’21 Trusty-Smith is another scoring combo guard on this list that uses an array of shifty ball-handling moves to keep his defender on their toes. He’s most effective in operating with space and getting downhill. He shows decent lift on his jumper, but his high release helps him get it off against taller defenders. He’s more efficient shooting from three off the catch rather than off the dribble, but displays ability to convert from the mid-range area at an efficient clip off the bounce. Reed Rebstock | 6’3 | Chesapeake (AA County) Rebstock presents decent size as an off-ball guard who can really shoot it off the catch. He’s good at not allowing ball pressure to speed him up and instead, takes his time to use one or two moves to get by his defender and read the defense accordingly. Rebstock’s film wasn’t terribly long, but it still allowed me to get a feel for his ability to move without the ball and make himself available. He’s especially effective at give-and-go scenarios where he relocates by the high post and does a nice job of finishing floaters or finding his bigs in on the block after their man rotates.