In this segment, I review the players who caught my eye throughout the event, with a focus on how they can further develop their games. While these are not NBA or high level pro players, it is still interesting to track how their skillsets develop over time.
Coby Jones, Johnson (TN) - The MOP of the NCCAA D2 tournament was certainly deserving of this award, as he was the most complete player at this event. This Knox News piece was certainly prescient, as Jones led his Johnson (TN) team to a title. In terms of his strengths, Coby Jones is a 6'3 combo guard with pro level strength and a complete game. Jones transferred from the University of the Cumberlands, where he played football. After getting into basketball shape, Jones has proven to be the difference maker at the NCCAA D2 level. Offensively, Coby is a solid three point shooter when he has his feet set, sporting good lift on his jumper. When he is off, it is typically because he rushed his shot. He can rise up for a jumper from the mid range or from the free throw line in as well. He has good enough balance and squares himself to the basket when shooting fadeaway jumpers. In addition, Jones is dynamic creating for himself off the dribble - utilizing shot fakes and hesitation moves - while sporting a solid first step and finishing with great hangtime. Given his solid strength profile, Jones finishes well through contact at the rim. He is also probably the best rebounding guard at this event, though Malik Martin is also in that conversation. Coby facilitates for his teammates off the dribble and frequently finds open teammates inside or ahead in transition. He has active hands on the defensive end, and moves his feet well laterally. He can block shots as well and is a good vertical athlete. In terms of production, Jones scored 25 points in the first half to build Johnson (TN)'s lead against Arlington Baptist in the final. They never looked back. It will be intriguing to see if senior Coby Jones attempts to pursue some level of professional basketball (perhaps the ECBL). He definitely has a shot.
Tra Mallard, Arlington Baptist - Arlington Baptist's 6'1 sophomore combo guard (alternative universe's version of teammate Trey Ballard) is a complete scorer and probably the second best player at this event. Mallard possesses a very quick first step (a bit quicker than Ballard's) and he does a better job finishing through contact. He has excellent body control and is a really good athlete overall. At a higher level, Mallard's game will translate because he is able to utilize the threat of his drive to facilitate for his teammates. He readily feeds the ball inside and is willing to kick it back out. In terms of his perimeter shooting, Mallard can fill it up in a hurry and he was probably the best pure scorer at this event - he was also extremely clutch. Against Randall, Mallard connected on the game tying three pointer off of one leg to bring the game to overtime. He can score on three levels and is effective from the midrange. While he is a bit of a rhythm scorer, Tra is capable shooting off of high ball screens or pin downs. Defensively, Mallard has great hands and some of the best lateral quickness at this event. He also is able to get in passing lanes, breaking ahead for easy layups.
Brent Clark, Randall University - The 6'2 dynamo combo guard was extremely effective in the second game of the tournament, getting to the rim with his quick first step and finishing over bigger opponents. Clark possesses good body control and is dynamic attacking the basket. He was arguably the best finisher at this event and really kept his team in the game. Clark is able to keep defenses honest from beyond the arc, but had an off shooting game against Cavalry. He must continue to refine his three point shooting stroke in order to take his game to the next level. While his first step enables him to get by most at this level, Clark could stand to add some hesitation dribbles and slow the game down. In terms of facilitating, Clark is not a traditional lead guard, but he is an unselfish player who passes to open teammates. A critical part of his development will be improving as a pick and roll player, as he already possesses the ball control and quickness to be an effective lead guard. On the defensive end, Clark is very dynamic and his timely steals kept Randall in the game throughout this tournament. He possesses good lateral quickness and awareness. Overall, Clark was one of the better players at this event. If he transitions to the point guard position and continues to refine the balance on his jumper, he can have a future at a higher level.
Trey Ballard, Arlington Baptist - This 6'0 freshman guard was one of the better breakout players at the event, and he hit some impressive contested shots throughout. In the first contest against Grace Christian, in particular, Ballard scorched the nets for 34 points on 13-16 shooting (5-7 from 3). He hit a variety of shots off the dribble and has deep range. He also demonstrated a good nose for the ball, rebounding well and competing for loose balls. Ballard also possesses one of the more impressive handles at this event and can score on three levels. When he is overplayed from the three point line, Ballard attacks the paint and possesses the quickness and concentration to get to the rim and score. He is crafty around the basket, and can stop on a dime and raise up in the midrange as well. Ballard must work to become a better facilitator, as the game continues to slow down for him. Defensively, he possesses good quickness, and has the best hands at this event sans Brent Clark.
Jordan White, Manhattan Christian - While unfortunately I did not see his game tying shot (to send the game to a second OT) from three quarters court on Sportscenter, White was one of the most impressive players at this event. While he could still stand to tighten his handle a bit, he is effective driving the ball at the NCCAA D2 level, getting in the lane and creating problems for defenders. When he gets there, he fully embraces contact and has good enough body control to finish. In the second contest on a short turnaround after the 2OT game, White understandably was a bit winded. He still was effective running the show for his team and did a nice job of involving his teammates both along the perimeter and off the dribble. He drew fouls attacking the basket as well. Despite his height at 6'1, White is a strong, aggressive guard with a nose for the ball. He often corrals rebounds against must bigger players. Defensively, Jordan White is an active player. While his lateral mobility is not elite for a higher level of play, White works hard and has very good hands. Overall, Jordan White is a gritty, tough guard with a penchant for making winning plays.
Braydon Unruh, Calvary - Unruh is a 6'1 guard who stood out in the two games his team played in the NCCAA D2 tournament. In particular, he scorched the nets against Grace Christian, to the tune of 37 points on 13-23 shooting (7-13 from beyond the arc). In this contest, Unruh displayed excellent form and a quick release on his shot. Coming off of screens, he only needed a little bit of daylight, and he did a remarkable job appropriately squaring his body to the basket when he was not properly aligned. His range definitely stood out at this level, as many of his shots came from beyond NBA range. Unruh does a nice job of utilizing ball screens to free himself, though he is effective shooting both off the catch and off the dribble. When he was overplayed, Unruh shot faked and drove past his man for an often uncontested layup. At a higher level of play, he will need to develop and practice finishing through contact, as he was often met with limited resistance on the backline against NCCAA D2 defenders. Additionally, Unruh also flashed a promising 'in between' game, connecting on balanced midrange jumpers off the dribble. So, he can score on three levels against NCCAA D2 competition and would probably be effective scoring on two levels against higher competition. On the defensive end, despite his smaller size, Unruh competed and was scrappy helping down in the post. He needs to improve his reaction timing on closeouts though.
Others Deserving Mention:
Malik Martin, Randall University - The Midland University transfer is a strong wing with excellent body control, capable of attacking the basket and finishing through contact. Martin is a really good athlete and had some hanging finishes in the contests that I witnessed. He is a physically tough player who must continue to refine his perimeter shooting. On the defensive end, Martin was an effective physical presence. He also rebounded the ball very well.
Jordan Marshall, Randall University - The NCCAA D2 POY performed admirably throughout most of the NCCAA D2 tournament. He is currently a 6'7 post with an ability to step out and hit the three. He doesn't need a lot of space to shoot it and has a really nice form on his jumper. Marshall is a soft touch shooter who could develop into a specialist down the road if he slims down and works to improve his lateral quickness. Marshall is a physical rebounding presence, who collected several critical offensive rebounds in the overtime loss to Arlington Baptist in the semis. With that said, Marshall's inability to play effective post defense against Arlington's more agile forward, Da'vione Stafford, enabled Arlington Baptist to upset top seeded Randall. At a higher level of play, Marshall will need to develop on the defensive end, particularly with regard to his lateral foot speed, which has rendered him as a traditional tweener without the rim protecting prowess to compensate for the lack of size. Marshall displayed quick hands throughout the tournament, but has a tendency to reach when he does not secure the offensive rebound. With a focus on improving his body and defense, Marshall could play at a higher level.
Spencer Grant, Grace Christian - The 6'6 wing/forward is a player who could improve by leaps and bounds if he continues to refine his shooting stroke. While he was effective in the first contest against Arlington Baptist shooting from beyond the arc, Grant came back down to earth in the final few contests. He must continue to work on his balance. In terms of his play attacking the basket, while his first step is not particularly explosive, Grant is crafty going to the rim and he sports a nice Euro step. He finishes through contact and is aggressive on the glass. Defensively, is where Grant could grow by leaps and bounds. He was already one of the best shot blockers at this event and did a nice job recovering on the backline. He could be a little quicker on closeouts, but if he continues to work on his burst and improves a bit laterally, he could transform into a defensive force next year at the NCCAA D2 level.
Jouvens Hyacinthe, Kansas Christian - Hyacinthe is a strong, 5'9 guard, who kept his Kansas Christian team in the game throughout the tournament. He is physically developed and is best finishing through contact at the rim. He is capable pulling up from the mid range or from beyond the arc. He must continue to expand his outside shooting and shorten his release. Hyacinthe is a willing passer, and is an exceptional rebounder for his size. He has a great nose for the ball. On the defensive end, Hyacinthe is competitive and has good hands, but would struggle to defend bigger players at a higher level, as they would shoot over the top of him.
Da'vione Stafford, Arlington Baptist - The 6'5 forward has quick feet and some nice interior moves. He finishes well around the basket and is comfortable shooting out to the free throw line extended. Stafford dominated against Randall, connecting on a remarkably efficient 13-14 shots and drawing fouls on Randall's key bigs. He must continue to refine his shooting form, as his shot is a bit deliberate out in front (which makes it easier to block). But, Stafford is a really good athlete who can finish with the best of them. He should look to add to his frame in the offseason.
Rasaad Pettis, Southeastern Baptist - Pettis is an extremely aggressive slasher, whose second contest against Manhattan Christian was certainly notable. He attacked the rim with reckless abandon and finished strong. He has quick hands defensively. He does a nice job of initiating contact. Pettis was aggressive both chasing down loose balls (at 6'1) and athletic enough to corral loose rebounds amongst the trees. Just a sophomore, Pettis has plenty of room to grow as a player - particularly improving his proficiency from beyond the arc.
Image Courtesy of Knox News; Video Courtesy of NCCAA D2
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