Jimmy Haywood was shooting the lights out at the Border League. He is a must-mark whenever he’s out on the perimeter, and to say he makes defenses pay would be an understatement. His shooting mechanics are quite consistent, and you almost expect every shot he puts up to go in. I also like how he doesn’t need many dribbles to make an impact offensively, as he is capable of getting his shot off quickly. He is also the type of player who can help his team build a comfortable lead or cut into a deficit with his red hot shooting.

His catch-and-shoot production stood out, pairing a quick trigger with timely shot-making. He moved well without the ball to create separation and needed little time to get his shot away, knocking down big attempts when his team needed them.

I can’t talk about Haywood without mentioning possibly the dunk of the year so far (I know it’s early, but this one has staying power).

Aside from the monster dunk, Haywood was a rock for Garfield in a big win over Kennedy. He showed excellent patience operating off the PNR, waiting for the gap to open and then darting down the lane. He had tough finish after tough finish at the rim, and most importantly, was able to spot the defense starting to collapse on him and be a playmaker for his teammates in what was a pretty balanced Bulldog attack.

Haywood started out the day with some impressive playmaking, attacking angles, showing off his plus burst with the ball, and drawing defenders with the intention to set up his teammates. Regardless of whether he was scoring or diming guys up, he showed off some truly impression explosiveness which highlights his ability to score from all three levels. He can get separation consistently with his stop-and-go ability and his big bursts down gaps.