January Recap: Senior Shot-Makers Who Closed the Month Strong

Several senior prospects ended the month playing at a high level. whether it was scoring in key moments, getting hot and scoring in bunches, or leading with poise, these sharpshooters used January to remind everyone why they matter. Here we take a look at the senior standouts who helped define the month and set the tone heading into the final stretch of the season.    Trae Nunn played with extraordinary hustle, awareness, and basketball IQ, consistently seeing the game two and three steps ahead. His anticipation allowed him to maximize spacing, disrupt plays defensively, and make his presence felt through a nonstop motor that separated him on that end of the floor. A knockdown shooter with clean, efficient footwork when spotting up or catching in rhythm, Nunn's jumper was tight, compact, fluid, and lethal, featuring excellent alignment and arc. He caught fire from the outside thanks to precise, timely passes from teammates and his intelligent relocation and spacing off the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='2405854' first='Jordan' last='Hawkins'] played with tremendous energy, providing a much-needed spark as he caught fire late in the fourth quarter, knocking down 3 three-pointers. Hawkins executed plays and finished possessions at a high level, hitting jumpers off screens at the top of the key, in transition, and on second-chance opportunities. Defensively, Hawkins forced turnovers in the passing lanes and turned steals into slam dunks. His hops translated on both ends, showing up again on perfectly timed chase-down blocks that swung momentum.     [player_tooltip player_id='1560901' first='Dakari' last='Spear'] was as efficient as they come, converting jumpers at a high rate regardless of coverage, comfortable knocking down contested mid-range pull-ups or calmly burying wide-open kick-out three-pointers with no hesitation. Spear's mechanics never wavered, staying balanced and repeatable through the catch and release, which consistently translated to elite shot efficiency.     [player_tooltip player_id='2270296' first='Jaylin' last='Hancock'] displayed well-polished shooting mechanics, highlighted by relaxed, efficient footwork stepping into transition pull-ups full of confidence. Hancock excelled at catching the ball high and keeping it high through his release, allowing for a smooth, uninterrupted fluid shooting motion.     With the clock winding down, the defense collapsed to stop the drive, and a swift kick-out found Cedric Scott as he spotted up in the strong-side corner. Shot-ready and perfectly balanced, Scott caught the rock, rose with poise, and released in one smooth motion, letting it fly just before the buzzer. The ball splashed through as time expired, a cold-blooded corner three-pointer that capped the possession and sealed the game-winning buzzer beater.     A reliable kick-out three-point shooting threat who wasted no time when the ball found him. With even the slightest window of space in the corner, Mendoza fired immediately, showing confidence and a quick fluid release. He proved to be comfortable operating in tight areas, using a sharp sidestep to create just enough separation to get his shot off cleanly against closeouts.

Several senior prospects ended the month playing at a high level. whether it was scoring in key moments, getting hot and scoring in bunches, or leading with poise, these sharpshooters used January to remind everyone why they matter. Here we take a look at the senior standouts who helped define the month and set the tone heading into the final stretch of the season.