Teaming with Johnson to form a sophomore backcourt that carried the load for much of the game, Ortiz-Muhammad showed enticing flashes as both a scorer and playmaker to finish with eight points. He was effective handling the ball in both the halfcourt and transition, using a shifty handle and polished footwork to get to his spots off the bounce. Ortiz-Muhammad finished effectively with a crafty below-the-rim package and also showed himself to be a reliable shooter from the perimeter. Perhaps his most intriguing skill is his passing, highlighted by a few lefty skip passes to corner shooters that are pretty high-level for a guard his age. We’re eager to see where Ortiz-Muhammad’s game goes from here after a breakout sophomore year.

Coming over to the PCL after making a splash as a freshman in the Public League at Abraham Lincoln, Ortiz-Muhammad looks ready to make an impact right away if his contributions on Sunday were any indication. Unsuspecting from a physical and athletic standpoint, the emerging guard impressed with his pace, skill, and feel operating off the dribble. Ortiz-Muhammad was among the best passers we saw all day, repeatedly threading the needle on the move to create easy shots for his teammates. He flashed proclivity creating space his own shot in the midrange as well as spacing out as a reliable off-ball catch-and-shoot threat. The heady playmaker could be a key piece to the Burrs’ playoff chances by season’s end as he continues to acclimate to his new surroundings.