Bigs Who Impressed at the GASO Pre-Live Period Showcase

While guard play often grabs headlines, it was the bigs who quietly dominated stretches of the GASO Pre-Live Period Showcase. From rim protection and rebounding to soft touch finishes and screen-setting, these frontcourt prospects showed they're more than just size, they're impact players built for the modern game. Here's a breakdown of the bigs who stood out and made a statement at the GASO Pre-Live Period Showcase.    [player_tooltip player_id='2554904' first='Xavier' last='Young'] showed that he's the most athletic frontcourt prospect of his class with the most college ready body. Young impacted the game as a high level rebounder, setting a tone on the glass from the first play and never relinquished. As a rebounder [player_tooltip player_id='2554904' first='Xavier' last='Young'] created second and third chance shot opportunities on a consistent basis. Every box out was physical and aggressive. Great active hands, even if Young didn't secure the board he almost always got a tip or hand on the ball. He also had a special way of shedding box outs with spinoffs, swim moves, and slips when box outs were over played. Defensively [player_tooltip player_id='2554904' first='Xavier' last='Young'] proved to be an elite shot blocker who challenged shots at the rim straight up, with two hands high, chasedown from behind, or weakside help, jumping high enough to swat floaters, mid-range jumpers, dunk attempts, and alter high arching layups. There's a lot to like about this kid, his upside is tremendous and there's no cap on how good he can become. Heading into his sophomore year, [player_tooltip player_id='2554904' first='Xavier' last='Young'] is already one of the best defensive prospects in the state regardless of class or position.     [player_tooltip player_id='1552378' first='Phoenix' last='Woodson'] was an impactful, highly skilled forward playing with dynamic force thanks to his physical strength, footwork, face-up skill set, and elite feel as a playmaker. Good face up and back-to-the-basket footwork using step through pivots and reverse pivots to counter or off set his defender. Woodson displayed no issue establishing position on the ball side block, using a balanced stance with a low strong base. Woodson was also an effective screen setter, usually positioning his pick to send his guards down the middle of the lane. Woodson also proved to be a beast on the glass, not just because of his vertical leap, but because of how he positioned his body, sealed defenders, and attacked the ball off the rim with ferocity. [player_tooltip player_id='1552378' first='Phoenix' last='Woodson'] has everything you could possibly want from your power forward, a true plug and play prospect.     A pure enforcer in the paint, McLeod made his presence felt with explosive finishes. Anytime he caught the ball near the rim, he became an instant threat to throw down powerful two-handed dunks with violent authority. His ability to convert with force made defenders think twice before rotating or contesting late. His vertical pop and assertive mentality made him one of the most intimidating interior scorers on the floor.     Speckman is a long, versatile two-way wing who showed an advanced understanding of the game. Offensively, Speckman excelled at cutting into open space, diving off ball penetration, and making himself available for clean finishes when defenders helped off. On defense, he was disruptive with his length and anticipation, always active with hands up, using his wingspan to challenge jumpers and disrupt passing lanes. His awareness and timing allowed him to contest effectively without fouling. A highly adaptable prospect with a well-rounded skillset and excellent instincts.     An all-effort competitor with an endless motor and gritty approach. Beckett attacked every rebound with full force and wasn't afraid to sacrifice his body, routinely being the first to the floor on 50/50 balls. He played like each possession mattered, embracing contact, battling for position, and making hustle plays that swung momentum. His stamina and toughness stood out in every rotation.     Giovnni Watt stood out as 6-foot-7 forward taking on the responsibility of shutting down the opposing team's top post threat and he excelled. Watt embraced the challenge with a physical, disciplined approach, staying chest-to-chest from baseline to baseline. He denied entry passes by fronting and cutting off angles, forcing guards to look elsewhere and removing the opposing scorer from the offense entirely. His commitment to denying touches and disrupting rhythm speaks volumes about his defensive instincts and motor.

While guard play often grabs headlines, it was the bigs who quietly dominated stretches of the GASO Pre-Live Period Showcase. From rim protection and rebounding to soft touch finishes and screen-setting, these frontcourt prospects showed they're more than just size, they're impact players built for the modern game. Here's a breakdown of the bigs who stood out and made a statement at the GASO Pre-Live Period Showcase.