2023 Bigs/Forwards That Stood Out During Live Period
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Kadyn Betts Kadyn Betts 6'7" | PF Huntington Prep | 2023 #90 Nation CO – PLUTO Prospects/Pueblo Central Betts made significant strides during his sophomore season at Pueblo Central, averaging a double double through 16 games. While at Pueblo and…
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Continue ReadingKadyn Betts Kadyn Betts 6'7" | PF Huntington Prep | 2023 #90 Nation CO – PLUTO Prospects/Pueblo Central
Betts made significant strides during his sophomore season at Pueblo Central, averaging a double double through 16 games. While at Pueblo and PLUTO Prospects, he anchored the defense with active defensive rotations and astute body control when blocking shots. The swing skill is exactly how far along his jump shot comes along. Considering he is every bit of 6’7″, Betts has a lot of potential as a combo forward at the collegiate level. Currently, he is used most often off-ball as a pick and pop threat who shoots over contests without a care. Back at Pueblo Central, he averaged just over 11 rebounds per game and this was evident when he played up with the 2022 PLUTO squad, where he was especially active on the defensive side. Going forward, I would like to see him create even more from the perimeter, especially if he is creating shot opportunities out of pick and roll situations. With Betts’ size and perimeter shooting going into Junior year, there’s no doubt he goes division 1, just a matter of what his role will be at the next level.
Charlie Dortch Charlie Dortch 6'7" | PF L'anse Creuse North | 2023 State CO – Rocky Mountain Fever/Rocky Mountain
Touch sticks out more than anything else with Dortch, who beats up the defense with simple yet tactical post moves. He understands how to bump the defense and immediately makes a decisive move. Dortch’s display of ambidextrous finishing was especially encouraging for his long term development as a scorer around the rim. While I was not able to see him take a large volume of jump shots, his free throw form is already much smoother than the spring. Most recently, the release point on his jumper is still somewhat low and he brings the ball well below his waist to load up. Getting the motion just a little more compact should improve his consistency even more, allowing him to become a dangerous pick and pop threat.
Baye Fall Baye Fall 6'11" | C Luthern Christian | 2023 State #13 Nation CO – Colorado Hawks/Denver Prep
Currently ranked as the top player in the state and 8th in the nation (247sports.com), Baye Fall Baye Fall 6'11" | C Luthern Christian | 2023 State #13 Nation CO showcased his defensive versatility at 6’10″. While only weighing around 205 pounds, Fall is incredibly light on his feet. Upon reviewing the 3A state championship, Fall was often asked to guard opposing point guard Sam Howery Sam Howery 6'1" | PG St. Mary’s | 2022 State CO of St. Mary’s. It is not often you will have your center pull out to the perimeter, however it worked since his lateral quickness and ridiculous reach made simple drives and passes much tougher than usual for the nation’s leader in assists. Offensively, Fall is most effective finishing around the rim for dunks. While he took less than half as many free throws in his sophomore year as his freshman, he improved from 48% (57/118) to 63% (32/51). Since he is not bulky, his offensive potential will hinge on his shooting, as this aspect of game will be important to monitor.
Baye Ndongo – Colorado Prep
Coming off of an impressive summer with the Senegalese U19 team, Ndongo will provide elite rebounding and overall energy every game. He proved to have a tireless motor when playing, as he was always pushing the break and fighting for loose balls. He continued to work on his mid range jump-shot, where he confidently hit a few catch and shoot and post fadeaway jumpers. At 6’9″, Ndongo did well harassing opponents driving inside and blocking shots without fouling with either hand.
Assane Diop Assane Diop 6'10" | PF Belleview Christian | 2023 State #107 Nation CO – Belleview Christian/Colorado Hawks
Diop proved he has the complete package as a playmaking forward, who was especially dominant in the full court. He does great finding teammates on the break, along with difficult passes in between defenders. Diop has pretty large hands, allowing him to easily make one-handed passes on half court kick-outs or full court fast breaks. Defensively, Diop has great size at 6’8+”, since he can match up with a wide range of positions. Like so many big forwards, Diop’s long term potential lies with his shooting ability, which shows great promise.