Valdez was a good example of why you have to watch beyond the scoring column. I didn’t see a ton of offense from him personally as far as trying to score, but when I watched the event back, it was because he was the one setting the table, setting screens after a play to free a teammate up, and pushed the pace with his passes. He went after loose balls, and that got him transition baskets. He pressured his man and wasn’t scored on easily, and forced turnovers with his on-ball defense. On offense, Valdez kept the ball moving and was willing to facilitate rather than forcing shots just to get himself involved like other prospects there. He understood what his team needed, and if that stands out even in a showcase, I could only imagine how it looks for his team. Solid day for him. 

We got to see Valdez earlier this Summer at the Centennial State Cup, and he looked like a player worth tracking. He’s a two-way standout who understands where to be on the floor, has an aggressive mentality, and finds ways to make his mark in games. His game translates. I’d love to see him bring that same competitiveness into a showcase environment and continue proving he’s ready for bigger opportunities, as I feel he’ll get his feet wet on varsity this year and take over on whatever team he lands. 

Valdez is a player who I feel will be able to see JV and maybe even varsity time as a freshman with the way that he composed himself at the Centennial State Cup. He’s valuable and a dog defender who doesn’t allow any opposing guard to get comfortable. He plays off the ball, can handle ball handling duty when he has to, and pressure doesn’t slow him down. He found openings for teammates, created for himself, scored, and was efficient. He wants to get downhill and to his spots, and we saw that with some easy scoop layups. His attention to detail and instincts make him a young player worth getting a deeper look at, and I feel he will be a player we continue to see have solid outings. He’s definitely a name to watch moving forward. 

Valdez made his impact felt through his movement and effort, particularly without the basketball. He consistently found ways to get open by cutting to the basket, showing strong instincts and timing as he worked within the flow of the offense. Valdez also contributed on the glass, crashing the boards and competing for rebounds on both ends of the floor. His ability to finish around the rim after cutting or securing offensive rebounds added valuable production for his team. His off ball awareness and willingness to do the little things stood out, making him an effective and efficient player who can contribute in multiple ways.