Spring Kickoff: Versatile Forwards

Clayton Conover

April 11, 2024 @ 01:28 PM

These athletes leveraged their size and strength to be impactful defenders, both in the paint and out on the perimeter. Alongside their defensive instincts, they demonstrated high motors that often lead to beneficial offensive possessions.    [player_tooltip player_id='1848643' first='Clayton' last='Jones']   Jones was a productive scorer inside the arc, nimble and big enough to take advantage of mismatches at the rim. Active getting to his spots in the paint, he was efficient contributing finishes off of two feet, staying strong versus contact. Defensively, Jones was active, rotating over to swat away shot attempts or holding his own in the post versus big opponents.    [player_tooltip player_id='1560740' first='Dothan' last='Ijadimbola']   One of the most coveted prospects at this event, Ijadimbola was a skilled shotmaker off the dribble. Effective picking apart the defense on drives, capable of elevating way up for above the rim finishes. His shotmaking abilities make him such a dynamic scoring threat at 6'6, effectively rising up for jumpers over the immediate contest. Defensively, he got up for a few blocked shots, certainly a two-way player in his own right.    [player_tooltip player_id='2381956' first='Marceles' last='Duncan']   Although only a 2028, Duncan has held his own at the 16U and 17U levels throughout the past 12 months of seeing him. A nimble forward who makes the most of his opportunities while off-ball, defenses cannot overlook him in the halfcourt. A malleable defender versus multiple positions, the forward already stands at roughly 6'4, a notable prospect in the state of Colorado.    Avery Tukarawa Howe   Howe brought value defending a wide variety of the bigger opponents Mountain Stars had to face this past weekend. Effective rotating over on the help side to swat away shots around the rim, the forward played a notable role in this group's success against much older opponents.    [player_tooltip player_id='1799811' first='Aidan' last='Perez']   Perez will be one of the more intriguing forwards in the 2025 class, given his athletic tools and steadily improved shotmaking ability. The forward was active getting to straight line drives following a closeout, as well as 12 foot jumpers, often out of a pivot move. His defensive versatility will give him the necessary collegiate upside to stay afloat on both ends of the floor.    [player_tooltip player_id='1479302' first='Tong' last='Bot']   Bot was an excellent perimeter defender from this event, active at the point of attack to create steals. His wide reach and aggression made him an often beneficiary of steals, looking to tip away the ball or fly into the passing lanes. Offensively, he was actively slashing towards the rim, effectively taking contact for finishes. Bot was among the best perimeter defenders at this event, providing an exceptional experience.   [player_tooltip player_id='1411178' first='Brayson' last='Boike']   One of the best players on the best team from this event, Boike was a knockdown shooter who was incredibly skilled for his size at 6'7+. Not just a knockdown shooter, the forward could attack off the dribble for pull-ups or finesse finishes in the paint. Defensively, Boike brought a high motor on the glass, a difference maker on that end in large part from his physicality.

These athletes leveraged their size and strength to be impactful defenders, both in the paint and out on the perimeter. Alongside their defensive instincts, they demonstrated high motors that often lead to beneficial offensive possessions.