Prep Hoops Oklahoma State Notes (13-15u)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday, Prep Hoops tipped off its Oklahoma State Tournament, and my coverage began with the 13U–15U age divisions at The Hive. The day featured plenty of talented young players looking to make an impact, and several stood out with strong performances on both ends of the floor. Listed below are five players who earned Top Performer recognition from my opening day notes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3592679"],"_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-6a205ee5dbd0a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good size and strong frame, playing as a big guard for his team this weekend. He was a physical downhill driver who used a strong spin move to finish at the rim. He did a good job using his body to shield the ball and prevent defenders from taking it away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was also a solid rebounder, securing the ball with two hands. Showed a nice high-post shot from the top of the key, stretching the defense and adding another scoring option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3595252"],"_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-6a205ee5dbdc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good-sized small forward who had a strong weekend performance. He showed a good understanding of help-side defense, rotating well to protect the rim and doing a nice job of walling up without committing unnecessary fouls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively, he displayed good hands in the paint, catching several difficult passes and converting around the basket. He showed soft touch on the blocks, finishing at a high percentage in the game I watched. His footwork stood out as well, using a nice rocker drop-step move to create scoring opportunities in the post. Overall, a very solid player who impacts the game on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2921040"],"_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-6a205ee5dbe3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong, physical combo guard who looked very comfortable running the point guard position this weekend. His quick first step off the dribble allowed him to split defensive gaps and get downhill to the rim, where he consistently absorbed contact and finished plays for old-fashioned three-point opportunities. Defensively, his lateral quickness stood out as he applied pressure both in the full court and within the half-court defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What impressed me most was his willingness to attacked the defensive glass with purpose, no cherry-picking and instead helping his team secure possessions. He also displayed a smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc.. While the outside shot was there, it was his aggressive play on both ends of the floor that really made him stand out in the game I watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3572808"],"_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-6a2106d43a776"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A very athletic player who consistently stood out by making plays throughout the game, including several difficult plays that only someone with his level of athleticism could make. He fits the mold of a true slashing wing, constantly finding ways to score without needing the ball in his hands. Whether it was backdoor cuts for easy layups, knocking down mid-range jumpers, or crashing the offensive glass for put-backs, he found multiple ways to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When attacking the baseline. He displayed excellent body control, hanging in the air long enough to adjust his angle and release to avoid shot blockers. In the finals, he made several tough finishes around the basket, using his body effectively on left-side drives before finishing with his right hand while shielding the ball from defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The move that looked most natural and effective was his spin move off the drive creating separation, and finish at the rim. Overall, he was one of the more enjoyable players to watch, combining athleticism, skill, and effort on every possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3510904"],"_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-6a2106d43a7ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easton is a player who made the most of his opportunity and quickly caught my attention with his play. He caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down what seemed to be four of his five three-point attempts and providing a huge spark for his team offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What stood out just as much as his shooting was his effort on the defensive end. Despite giving up size to many of the players on the floor, he competed with a fearless mentality, battling bigger opponents for rebounds and loose balls. His hustle and toughness were evident on every possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easton is a scrappy player who plays with great energy and enthusiasm. He looked like he was genuinely enjoying the game.. Between his outside shooting, relentless effort, and joy he was having, he was simply a fun player to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->