Bogard is an athletic freak with some tantalizing physical tools. The 6-foot-8 forward has a well-built upper body, very long arms, and big hands. He also elevates quite well at the rim, has really impressive strength, and moves well for his size, too. Arguably most impressive is the junior’s outside stroke, which looks smooth and comfortable and which he hit consistently during last week’s open gym. Bogard needs to slow down a bit and improve his discernment in terms of when to burrow into the lane, but he has a bright future ahead as a high-major player.

-Bogard showed an improved ability to initiate the fast break as a defensive rebounder that took pride in pushing the pace and in serving as a dependable lob/roll threat for his team throughout another championship-winning weekend at CREI. Bogard affected shots around the basket, knocked down several elbow and 18′ jumpers off of offensive rebounds, and was pretty relentless in attacking the rim throughout the week. Will be interesting to see how he’s used in new threads at Masters as a dynamic forward prospect that seems poised for a breakout junior season. 

Another high-level prospect for this Boo Williams group, Bogard is a skilled stretch forward with inside/out scoring ability. He can knock down shots from beyond the arc, adding valuable floor spacing, and has the athleticism to finish and impact the game in multiple ways. With a strong motor and a good feel for the game, he consistently plays hard and produces on both ends.

-Bogard’s consistency over the course of the season earned him 1st Team All-BCL and MIAA nods, in addition to making 4th team All-MET as a sophomore for Spalding. Bogard continued to prove effective as a low post scorer and rebounded that really buoyed the Cavaliers at both ends of the floor. His finishing bag around the basket improved and his motor showed on the offensive glass to score on putbacks on the rare shots that he did miss around the rim. Bogard has also worked hard to improve his handle to operate more effectively on elbow or wing touches, getting to the rim efficiently and scoring through contact around the rim to force defenses to adjust to his production.

-Bogard puts his hard hat on each night and goes to work, sealing hard and rebound the basketball at a high level for a younger Cavaliers group that has dealt with some injuries in the backcourt. Love the aggression and assertive style of play that we see from Bogard around the rim, and his defensive impact as a secondary shot-blocker that can clean up rotational mistakes from his teammates is invaluable to this group. Love his ability to space the floor as a pick n pop big but want to see him find opportunities to clash the glass from the weakside once the shot goes up to take advantage of his ability to rebound and finish around the rim.

-Bogard turned a incredibly-consistent and productive freshman season in Severn into a summer of growth on the EYBL circuit with TTO and as a standout in invite-only elite events. He doesn’t make anything complicated offensively and takes what the defense gives him– serving as an effective scorer and rebounder in the paint while also showing the ability to shoot and pass from the top of the key. Love the motor and energy that he plays with at both ends of the floor, I’ve come away impressed with how much he has improved his body over the last two years. Should be on the short list for BCL POY candidates this season as he will get a ton of help in the front court this season with the improved depth that Spalding put together over the summer.

Bogard was names Co-MOP of the entire camp and for good reason. Now standing closer to 6-foot-9 than 6-foot-7, the skilled big man showcased his well-rounded ability for his size in grab-and-go scenarios as he led transition opportunities and made passes on target to streaking teammates. If the defense didn’t stop him near half court, Bogard’s handle has improve enough to help maneuver his way to the rim, finish high and embrace contact if necessary. He’s playing with a heightened sense of confidence since the beginning of summer and you can tell with how he looks to dominate every possession. If he isn’t scoring around the rim, Bogard is setting an effective screen where he can now pose as a legit threat to pop out and tee off from beyond the arc. Defensively he’s a prideful rebounder who approaches any miss like the ball belongs to him and him only. In the top-30 game, Bogard’s shooting shined brightly as he buried more than a couple of triples with excellent fluidity and improved mechanics on his load up.

13p 3r 2s 1b vs Georgetown Prep

-Got to see the versatility in Bogard’s skillset as the #3 overall sophomore had a great performance against the Hoyas despite dealing with a tough whistle for most of the afternoon. Bogard contributed his usual putbacks and big-time alley oop finishes around the basket but showed that he can be a threat from the perimeter as well– lacing two open 3s on the afternoon. The most impressive stretch of play included a block that turned into a 3 at the other end from the wing followed by him intercepting a lazy pass above the break before taking it the distance and slamming it down with two hands to force his opponent to call timeout in disgust. His ability to move his feet on the perimeter continues to improve as does his shot-blocking around the rim, but he will have to avoid getting whistled for contact fouls in order for Spalding to prove that they belong in the conversation for Top 15 teams in the area.

-Bogard moves up two spots to enter T3 on our rankings with 1st Team All-BCL performances during the regular season as a key contributor for a Spalding team that needed his size at both ends of the floor to compete. Bogard has improved his upper body strength and cardiovascular conditioning to be a consistent force in the paint for the Cavaliers. Love that he has made such strides as a finisher around the basket that hits the glass hard and collected several poster dunks throughout his first year on the scene.

Bogard has had a quiet but efficient spring. Bogard is a deceptive athlete, plays with a motor, and rapidly improving skillset. Bogard has some areas that need fine tuning but his blend of unrelenting effort, strength, athleticism, and ability to make shots from the outside are all impressive at this stage. A very simple and direct game, a lot of straight line drives off a strong rip over the top. He soars through the air off one foot and is starting to show the ability to make plays out of ball screens. I think Braxton has the potential to be a legit Power 5 prospect with continue development.