The Expo: Steve’s Top Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had over 80 players in the gym in Louisville on Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of talent to go around. Several of the state's top Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors made their way to the Derby City and put on a show. Here's my list of top players coming out of the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I want to be VERY CLEAR that I did not see every team play so I did not see every player play. These are the best prospects that I saw on Sunday but I did not see all of them. Any omission is likely due to me not seeing the player play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2141045"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa75a8f7f663"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sunday was my first opportunity to see McKinney since he transferred into Newport. I left impressed with the big fella. Not only is Ben a polished scorer in the low block area but he also is a big time communicator on the defensive end. That's the sort of stuff that you love to see out of a young player. He'll be a top 5-7 player in the 2027 rankings the next time we update them. Maybe even higher than that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2780946"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa75a8f7f6c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">West continues to improve at a high clip. Pushing every bit of 6'7" now, Aidan is just super skilled on the offensive end. His ultimate ceiling will be determined by how well he can guard but West was perhaps the most skilled player in the entire event on Sunday. If he gets more vertically athletic, Aidan is going to be ready to break out in a big way over the next 3 years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3033113"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa75a8f7f726"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Persley was attacking the rim on Sunday like it owed him money. There were a couple of stretches where Levi over dribbled while trying to get into isolation situations but his athleticism and skill set are impressive. I did not see Persley shoot many jumpers but he didn't need to. He got into the paint repeatedly and shot a high percentage around the bucket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2843314"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa75a8f7f769"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sam and Levi were on the same team and both were impressive. Butterworth has grown and gotten more athletic than the last time I saw him play. He was continually finishing high above the rim and even had the most impressive missed dunk of the day when the entire court said "woah" when he took off but barely didn't finish. Sam is due a rankings bump in the next 2028 update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2381873"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa75a8f7f7a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Staying in the 9th district, Reisz was impressive enough that the camp director actually text me to say how much he liked Zander. With his size at 6'5" and his all around game, Reisz impacted the games in several ways on Sunday. Looking much bigger and having added some muscle since our Freshman camp last year, Zander is a name to know in this loaded 2029 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2532067"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa75a8f7f7e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When 5 on 5 play started, Nick came to life. He had a sequence early in the first game where he got into the paint and hit a runner then came back down and hit a catch and shoot wing three the next possession. Curry-Hill had waited his turn at Male the last couple of years but opted to transfer to Butler for his last two years. If he continues down the path he's on now, I think Nick can be a big time difference maker for Butler this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->