Hoover Playdate Standouts; Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Here are a few more standouts I saw at the Hoover Playdate…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340162,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-ArMari-Towns-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-ArMari-Towns-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2340162" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454987' first='Ar'Mari' last='Towns'] </strong>(6'6/PF|C/'26/Hoover HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Ayoomarii2026._</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @ayoomarii2026 / @HooverBucsBBall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">No one had a better day at the playdate than Ar'Mari. He was highly active and brought a high level of energy and effort to the floor. He was flying around, making plays on both ends of the floor. There is a lot of speculation surrounding the Bucs program right now, and regardless of the outcome, Ar'mari will need to be ready to compete next season. With his play throughout the playdate, there is no question that what he brings to the table can keep the Bucs as contenders. He will be a nightmare for opposing bigs in the open court as he runs the floor like a deer and is looking to catch lobs. Defensively, he is protecting the rim and sending shots into the stands.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2461611,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Jermaine-Scottland-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Jermaine-Scottland-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2461611" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jermaine Scottland </strong>(6'4/F|C/'25/Mortimer Jordan HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: cmo.j3rmaine</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @thejermainescottland / @Mjhshoops</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jermaine has positional size and is listed as an interior player. He flashed his athleticism, showed his ability to knock down the trey ball, and was very active on the glass. He is entering his senior season and has the intangibles to make a difference in his role. If he can redefine his idea of playing hard and ramp up his aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, his play will undoubtedly be a key to the Blue Devils' success next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2461612,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Brandon-Mason-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Brandon-Mason-Jr.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2461612" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Brandon Mason, Jr. </strong>(6'0/CG/'25/Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Brandon is an athletic combo guard who was really good in the open court, which benefitted his squad as they looked to get up and down. He was a good finisher at the rim out in transition, and if Hillcrest is going to look to play fast-paced, then having the ball in Brandon's hands is going to be the best thing for the squad. He has a solid skill set and is a reliable ball-handler, as he is also trusted with facilitating the offense in the half-court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2461613,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Jaden-Bivens-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Jaden-Bivens-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2461613" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194880' first='Jaden' last='Bivens'] </strong>(6'6/SF/'26/Gardendale HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jadenbivens__</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Jadenbivens_ / @GdaleBasketball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jaden has really good positional size and length and had an overall good day. He showed versatility and is a threat from inside and out. He shoots off the dribble, can create space with the dribble while attacking to either side and, with his length, has the ability to stop and rise up over defenders and finish over the top. He had a really impressive moment of the bounce as he finished above the rim in traffic. The Rockets have some good pieces, and they may be up and down this year, but if they can learn and put it all together, look out for this team in another year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2461614,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Anderson-Wilkin-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/PH-Anderson-Wilkin-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2461614" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2291529' first='Anderson' last='Wilkin'] </strong>(6'2/SG/'25/Northridge HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: a.wilkin_5 / NorthridgeHoops</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @AndersonWilkin / @NorthridgeHoops</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">If you want to know how Northridge's season will go next year, there is no need to look any further than Anderson. He is the heart and soul of this team, and his play drives everyone on the floor and on the bench. He can flat-out score the rock and showed to be a multi-level threat whenever the ball was in his hands. Everyone did not compete at a high level throughout the day, but that was not the case for Anderson, as he was a relentless competitor in every game I saw him compete. He has a knack for getting to his spots to get his shot off, and it was very difficult for defenders to take away the strengths of his game. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1958806"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b10eb8591a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: lgwilliams_2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @LGHOMERUNKING34 / @mtnbrookhoops</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Leython-George had a really good showing for the Spartans, who begin life without Ty Davis. Leython spent a little time last season getting some varsity minutes, but this year, he will be settled on the varsity. My biggest question was how would he look over an entire game playing to the level Coach Davis expects his players to play on both ends of the floor. He moved well and fast in the cuts, which the offense requires, and even though he still needs to work on these two areas, he shot the trey ball and got downhill off the bounce well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->