Day 2 Finds: Under-the-Radar Standouts at Centennial State Cup

Day 2 is usually where things start to settle, but it's also where you find the guys you didn't have circled coming in. These players are not always the loudest stat lines but they are the players making the right plays, competing, and showing traits that translate. This group didn't force anything, but they kept showing up in ways that matter. By the end of the day, they were hard to overlook.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're going through rankings and got you covered for the grassroots season. You don't want to miss any of our scouting.     Montogue made his impact felt on Day 2 for Evo without needing touches. He was the one who was anchoring possessions with his activity and size that kept the offense from going inside and having their way. Sebastian appears to be a physical defender with length. He rotated early and consistently met plays at the rim, stacking multiple blocks off positioning rather than gambling on defense. What I liked is how he communicates, covers ground, and plays with defensive intent. His ability to protect the paint and clean up mistakes by teammates gave his team a reliable defensive identity. He was solid on Day 2.     Ekstrom's presence added to an already solid [program_tooltip program_id='2078368' first='Colorado' last='Titans'] squad, and he produced on Day 2 through effort and feel. He created scoring opportunities within the flow rather than forcing offense, and that is the Titan way. He attacks closeout, uses his strength for mismatches, and cuts with purpose. Defensively, he applied pressure and turned it into transition chances, and was a reason that his team was able to battle on Day 2. He's a competitor who allows his team to take chances defensively, and he continued to do the right things. He's a player I want to watch play more to see if his play continues. If so, an eye-opening season is coming for him where he can turn some heads.     Duncan continues to trend upward every time that we see him, and this time was much different as he looked more assertive and polished. Duncan operated effectively from the high post as he read the floor and attacked gaps in the zone with purpose. Duncan was drawing fouls by staying aggressive and active, and also created for others when help collapsed. Defensively, he brought the same energy as a disruptor. Duncan was active on the glass, and engaged, and is a player whose growth is showing in real time.     Donovan initially stood out for DBA Elite with his size, but watching more of him. He started to show flashes, and he was finishing plays efficiently. Donovan was finding ways to score with his movement and cuts, and teammates continued to find him. He has natural timing on, tracked the ball, and created extra scoring opportunities for himself and teammates by attacking the glass. He's a solid, productive piece whose game translates and should start gaining more attention moving forward, as he was pivotal int he teams win that I watched on Day 2.     Lehman stepped into a high-level environment with some Division I prospects and competed to the highest level. He showed confidence as a perimeter shot-maker, and he went on a run that got everyone off their feet in the gym as he knocked down deep shots off movement and off the bounce that had his team with an unlikely lead at the half. When Mountain Stars started to up the pressure even more, he stayed composed under pressure and played with rhythm throughout. His shooting stretched the defense and kept them competitive, and is a player who proved he belongs, especially when the stage got bigger. Certainly want to see more of him. Big Day 2 for him.

Day 2 is usually where things start to settle, but it's also where you find the guys you didn't have circled coming in. These players are not always the loudest stat lines but they are the players making the right plays, competing, and showing traits that translate. This group didn't force anything, but they kept showing up in ways that matter. By the end of the day, they were hard to overlook.