Lowery has been a big riser since the last winter season and he showed some nice improvements at the showcase too. Continued to put pressure on the interior defense by getting consistent paint touches and pushing the ball in transition, but he was also shooting the three-ball with no hesitation. I saw a couple of times where defenders purposefully sat back and encouraged him to shoot, rather than get blown by again. Lowery saw it too, and buried several shots from deep on the day, showing the confidence and ability to connect that will be a key addition to his game this winter.

Lowery has some legit shake and sizzle with his ability to work off the bounce, and did a great job busting some zones they faced throughout the day. His knack for splitting defenders and getting the ball into the middle, opened up space for cutters and shooters to go to work. Also did a nice job pressuring the ball to force some turnovers and turn those into quick, easy points for his squad.

He’s a high-energy guard who was highly successful breaking his man down off the dribble and getting to the hoop last season, and that was without incorporating a 3-point shot into his game. That jumper has made major progress over the past year, starting with a reliable turnaround jumper off his paint touches, and now showing a willingness and ability to take and make shots behind the arc. That should start to open the floor up even more for him, and he’s a guy who will give you production across the board with his energy.

Although he’s just a sophomore, Lowery has seen more and more responsibility within the offense to get them set up and initiate action. Even in their loss to Lincoln in the district championship game, he was their main source of offense, getting to the paint and finding ways to get space and score. He’ll be a key player for them throughout the tournament, who can be a constant playmaker and downhill threat.

One of the biggest risers from this season, Lowery showed real flashes of talent throughout the spring and summer and has put it all together to have a sizeable impact this winter. He’s averaging 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.9 steals per game, while managing to shoot 65% from the field. He’s explosive, shifty, is a ball hawk on defense, and has continued to improve his efficiency finishing around the rim.