Caleb Fields Player Evaluation (2018)
Caleb Fields (PrepHoopsTN #32) is emerging as a mid-major college prospect. His summer spent with Team Carroll Premier AAU proved he has the commanding spirit to run an offense. Physically he is very impressive and the skills are starting to materialize into tangible assets.
Caleb Fields stands 6-foot-0 and weighs approximately 185 pounds.
Time to dig in and analyze point guard Caleb Fields (Marshall County High School) with a microscope.
Offense (0-15): 12
PG HS Perfection = Joel Berry III, Tyus Jones
It remains tough to evaluate Caleb Fields’ outside shooting. He gets to the basket with regularity and doesn’t settle either. Most of his shots come inside the arc.
In the paint, Caleb is special. His acrobatic body control allows him to finish over taller, foreboding defenders. Further, Fields does not crumple against body harm. Expect him to finish and1’s at a high rate. The confidence in traffic is deserved.
Explosive end-to-end speed enables Caleb Fields to capitalize on many breaks. He also can change speeds very well in the lane or during halfcourt sets. This projects to be a plus attribute well into his future. Leaping ability and explosiveness are closely related and Fields has both. Though he stands 6-foot-0, he plays a little bigger off the bounce.
How does Caleb adapt to faster speeds of play? Very well. Caleb Fields is able to play both methodically or fast, but as college gets speedy and challenging Fields will be able to adapt. The composure in the halfcourt is good too. He does not come off as hurried or rushed.
Facing a fundamental E.G. 10 squad in the adidas Gauntlet Finale, Fields scored 12 points in 14 minutes. He can blow by most defenders.
Defense (0-10): 9
PG HS Perfection = Chris Paul
The nine might a smidgen high, but it represents what can be. Like many young players Caleb takes occasional plays off defensively. Innately, we all grow up with a hunger to score buckets. They don’t show defensive highlights on Sportscenter much and mixtapes are filled with crossovers and dunks…not steals and good body position.
Fields has naturally wide, spread feet in his stance. He can spring laterally like a spider. Caleb Fields, when he sits down, is an elite, terror of a defender. Another aspect of Fields’ defense that helps is upper body strength. Fields’ chest deters hopeful guards from barreling through him. Around 185 pounds, the stout PG can get his arms in the attacker’s way and actually dissuade penetration a little bit. In tight spaces Fields can and does give a little bump.
Defensive transition is exceedingly important at the next level. Players are quicker up the floor, and one of the greatest aspects of Caleb Fields’ game is his transition defense. He has wonderful instincts. Every time his backcourt mate drives, Fields retreats to cover the “safety” position. He does this so flawlessly that opponents rarely get unencumbered fast breaks on his teams.
It can be tough to be a volume scorer on offense and devote maximum energy on defense, but to achieve lockdown status Fields has to invest on both sides of the ball all the time.
Rebounding (0-10): 5
Rebounding is measured against all guards, not against all players. For example, a high school Shaq would obviously outrebound Caleb Fields. That doesn’t mean Fields is not capable of being a great rebounder against his group of peers (guards).
During his final four adidas gauntlet games of the summer, Fields pulled down 13 rebounds in 4 games (3.25 rpg). Remember he often tracks back defensively, which instantly takes him out of the offensive rebounding pursuits. On the defensive end Fields does not often dip into the paint unless his man takes him there. He provides an outlet pass at that tail end of most defensive stops. So, his rebounding availability is pretty low. When he is around the trees he plucks the occasional board.
Fields has the bounce to get rebounds, but just isn’t a big guard. His quickness to react to errant balls and strength help him in the rebounding battles that he does win.
Passing (0-10): 7
Caleb’s instincts appear to be score, score, score. He can be very direct offensively, which suits the AAU-game. Unfortunately, college basketball requires more patience in the halfcourt and often young, overzealous point guards dribble in to trouble. Fields will probably be able to adapt to smarter defenses because he is quick on his feet and reacts to strong defenders in an instant. At this stage his skill exceeds his big picture vision. Incorporating more players in his attack plans will go a long way into making him the captain he can be. Fields is an excellent passer in the open floor. He can get the ball to the heart of the defense quickly and on target. In the halfcourt his passes become a little too predictable though. Caleb Fields did establish himself as a top passer at Bluff City Live.
Intangibles (0-5): 4
Caleb Fields has good basketball instincts. He celebrates in team success and doesn’t dominate the ball like many modern point guards. Fields could even get more assertive and still fit within the confines of a college offense. Caleb’s bravery in the paint and understanding of floor spacing help him. On top of all the things Caleb does well in the game of basketball he is obviously a gym rat. The guy embraces all challenges and enjoys competition. He wants to be on the floor in the big moments.
FINAL SCORE (0-50): 37
Caleb Fields is a D1 prospect. He has the straight-line speed, change of direction quickness, and raw gifts needed to compete at that level. Because he stands 6-foot-0 the path to D1 will be difficult, but considering how impressive the Class of 2018 product already is…he is ok with challenges.
With his size and skills Caleb will be a pure point guard. This limits his versatility and demands he play on the ball and defend the opposing “1”. He can get away with stopping high school wings because he is so strong and fast. College wings are a different animal.
Fields needs to improve his halfcourt passing and consistency on defense. Handles, defensive balance, and attacking in the paint are plus skills. He can evade defenders at an elite level.
Considering his combination of skills and assumed athletic maturation he can certainly aspire to play significant minutes in a Division One backcourt. Fit is everything though and finding the right college with the right guard rotation will be critical.
Previous evaluation scores:
33 — 2018 F Brandon Thomas of Blackman High School