Under Armour/UA Rise Final Day 4 Standouts
EMERSON, GA. — Standouts from day four of the Under Armour and UA Rise Finals… Andrew Alia – 2022 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club White Alia has a chance to be a Division 1 player. The Kenosha St.…
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Continue ReadingEMERSON, GA. — Standouts from day four of the Under Armour and UA Rise Finals…
Andrew Alia – 2022 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club White
Alia has a chance to be a Division 1 player. The Kenosha St. Joseph product has a lot of Isaac Lindsey in him. Probably not as good of a 3-point shooter as Lindsey was at this stage, but is more athletic. A sharpshooter who has an advanced mid-range game for his age, Alia is a sweet pull-up jump shooter than excels in the 16-18 foot range. A skilled ball handler that can set opponents up and get to his spots, Alia could be one of the best shot makers in Wisconsin’s 2022 class. As previously stated, he’s got a little athleticism to him as well and can play above the rim in transition already.
Jeffery Brazziel – 2022 – SF – Wisconsin Playground Club White
Brazziel came out and scored 27 points to lead PGC to a win over Old School Wings Sunday afternoon. In a cramped, hot gym with no air conditioning, Brazziel brought his game up a level. Everybody knows this kid can score. When Brazziel gets out in transition or gets a step going to his left, there’s not much defenders can do to slow down the long, athletic wing. We’re starting to see signs that Brazziel is committed to rounding out his game as well. He’s always relied heavily on getting to the rim, but Brazziel’s pull-up mid-range game has come a long way since the spring. Defensively and one the glass, you can see a light coming on as well in spurts. When the Milwaukee Madison standout wants to shut his man down, he’s more than capable and when he wants to get on the glass and eliminate second-chance points, he can do just that.
Greg Brown – 2021 – W – Team Factory
This kid can absolutely score the rock. A 6-foot-5, strong and athletic wing, Brown is relentless on the offensive end. An above average 3-point shooter that can also take the ball hard to the rack, Brown just has a knack for putting the ball in the hoop. He can be too concerned with getting his offensively at times, but at his size and athletic ability, there aren’t many wings in the UA rise that can check him.
Jack Campion – 2022 – PG – Wisconsin Playground Club
In a gym full of high major talent and tremendous athletes, I don’t know that I saw anybody faster with the ball in their hands than Campion. The Milton guard probably catches a lot of opponents by surprise. He’s only about 5-foot-10 right now and hasn’t filled out his frame, but man can this kid fly. When he gets out in transition, Campion is a jet on the floor. He makes a ton happen in transition, but in the half court, Campion can also leave defenders in the dust. He also did a solid job defensively against Team Charlotte’s star guard in the 15U semifinals on Sunday.
Mason Dopriak – 2021 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club
In Sunday’s finale, Dopriak hit some big shots to help PGC defeat KC Run GMC, a team that hammered them during the UA Association season. Dopriak came on during the second half and helped his team gain a meaningful cushion that helped push the game into overtime. An undersized sniper, Dopriak can catch and shoot off screens and plays with a good pace off the ball. He’s not a guy that puts it on the deck a whole lot, but defenders have a tough time chasing him around the floor and sticking with him through screens.
Jayquon Hickles – 2022 – PF – PF Wisconsin Playground Club White
Steadily getting better this summer, Hickles has increased his value to his team in a big way. A big body with a nice upside, Hickles was an animal on the glass in Sunday’s win over Old School Wings. The 6-foot-5 sophomore constantly works the offensive glass and kept so many plays alive on Sunday. That’s mostly how he makes his living offensively right now, but Hickles has shown some flashes of being a post-up presence as well. A prospect that doesn’t get concerned with how many touches he gets, Hickles just does his job and is an unsung hero for PGC regardless of what the stat sheet says.
Cael McGee – 2021 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club
Like Dopriak, McGee gave PGC some huge minutes in the second half. He’s had a quiet summer, but give McGee credit for rising to the occasion when his number was called. In a tightly contested game against KC Run GMC, McGee have his team a spark with a couple of three-point plays the old fashioned way. An aggressive, strong guard, McGee attacks the rim hard and delivered some physical blows to defenders around the basket.
Matthew Murrell – 2020 – SG – Team Thad
Wisconsin Playground Club had no answer for Murrell in the 17U semifinals. Team Thad nearly put the game away early in the first quarter. Turning the game into a track meet, Murrell just beat everyone up and down the floor and threw down some huge slams. It felt like every time PGC turned the ball over or took a quick shot that resulted in a long rebound, Murrell was benefitting. The super explosive wing would later go onto lead Team Thad to the 17U title.
Brennan Watkins – 2021 – PG – Marcus Denmon Elite
Watkins had a very strong performance in the 16U rise title game to lead Marcus Denmon Elite to a victory. A true floor general, Watkins just makes winning plays and gives his team a strong leadership presence on the floor. Watkins doesn’t always look to score a ton, but is a difficult assignment because he never stops moving on the floor. Watkins can kind of lull defenders to sleep with his pass-first nature and always trying to dictate the tempo, but then he hit Team Factory with some dagger 3-pointers that just took the wind out of their sails after it appeared they were clawing their way back into the game.