10 Potential G League Private Tryouts That Could Lead to Something More

In this segment, I traverse the basketball world to uncover 10 hidden gems that G League teams should bring in for private tryouts. Many of these players have considerable upside and might have a shot to make a team. Featured: Marcus Azor, Jawaun Daniels, Shadeed Shabazz, Jordan Thomas, Cornellius Reynolds, Khadier Fulcher, Alphonso Willis, Clashon Gaffney, Navar Elmore, and Rayshawn Mart.

Marcus Azor, UMass-Dartmouth - Aside from Yeshiva's Ryan Turell, Marcus Azor was the 2nd best pro prospect in DIII basketball last season and it is easy to see why. The triple double machine led his team in all five statistical categories a season ago and made sound decisions, posting a 2.35-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, despite heavy usage. Azor is a wiry 6'3 lead guard with a creative handle and good burst, capable of getting in the lane and either finishing at the rim or setting up his teammates for an easy layup. Azor is a sound decision maker who regularly drives all the way to the basket, before looking opposite. 

 

Due to his unique, creative handle, Azor is a natural to thrive in pick and roll scenarios at the G League level, as he will make the right read, finding the cutting big or looking opposite for the corner 3.

 

Azor possesses a really nice "around the back" dribble which he uses to set up his drives. Another favorite of his is his crafty dribble spin move to get to the rim. Azor is fairly ambidextrous and capable of driving with either hand, though he prefers to finish with his right hand. 

 

When he decides to make a move, Azor has a quick first step and a solid change-of-pace dribble to keep the defense off balance. 

Azor is a capable finisher when he gets in the lane, and utilized his excellent athleticism to finish with hangtime at the rim. 

 

He has good concentration finishing off plays at the basket. 

 

However, at a professional level, Azor must build up his upper body strength in order to challenge bigger rim protectors. Additionally, when contested driving in the lane, Azor likes to drive past his man and shoot a running shot through contact. He often drives a little too far in on this shot, and ends up facing stiffer resistance from the defense. If he were to continue to develop his floater and extend the range on it, Azor would be incredibly difficult to guard at the G League level when attacking the basket.

In terms of his shooting prowess, Azor is a much better shooter than his 31.5% 3pt % would indicate. He does a nice job of knocking down uncontested 3pters, and has very good balance on his shot. 

 

He has good footwork, appearing to be on balance shooting step backs and side step jumpers. While he has a tendency to rush contested long range shots off the bounce, Azor is very capable of keeping defenses honest and this will bode well in the pick and roll game in particular. 

 

While he is capable of stepping in and connecting on balanced midrange jumpers when he is overplayed due to his threat of driving the lane, Azor must work to limit his quantity of step back long 2pters. 

 

Instead, he should step a few feet back and make it a 3pt attempt. Azor is capable of shooting off the catch or off the bounce, though he appears to be more efficient connecting on 3pters off the catch. 

On the glass, Azor is dynamic for a guard, collecting 9 rebounds per game, many of which were on the offensive end. His length and nose for the ball are evident on most plays, and Azor hustles to track down loose balls and push the pace.

 

Importantly, though he is wise in pushing the tempo, Azor must let the game slow down a bit in transition and not rush his shots, if he doesn't opt to go all the way to the basket. Azor is physical on the glass and on the defensive end, where he projects to cause problems at the next level. Azor is a capable defender with good lateral quickness and disruptive length. He has really good hands and is able to pick the pockets of his opponents, but is also savvy stepping in in the passing lanes. 

 

He averaged almost 2.5 steals per game a season ago, and used these opportunities to push the tempo. Given his really good run-jump athleticism, Azor is a very good shot blocker as well, who sticks with his man and has the hangtime and body control to block shots without fouling. Azor is capable of playing fundamentally sound positional defense, and has the quickness to step in and take a charge.

 

Azor's length is particularly disruptive on closeouts and this should translate at the next level. 

 

Overall, Marcus Azor is a fundamentally sound lead guard who must continue to develop physically, but should be able to succeed at the G League level.

 

Jawaun Daniels, Prairie View A&M - Daniels is a physical 3-level scorer who should play on the wing at the G League level. Standing at 6'7, he has the size and strength to compete. He plays with an incredibly high motor on both sides of the floor. On offense, Daniels is a capable scorer who was constantly in motion off ball at Prairie View. He would set screens up top and flare out on the perimeter for easy pick and pop looks from 3.

 

Importantly, Daniels is a very good shooter from long range, connecting on 36.8% of his attempts a year ago [and 40.4% of his attempts in conference according to kenpom.com]. Importantly, Daniels has good balance on his jumper. 

 

Most of his attempts come off the catch, and Daniels does a nice job of picking his spots and spacing the floor. When the 3pt shot is taken away from him, Daniels is highly capable of shot faking and pulling up from the midrange. He is creative off the bounce and uses the threat of his dribble to create separation before pulling up, either from 3pt range or the midrange. Daniels also employs a jab step and pass fake to throw defenders off guard, gaining an edge. As such, he is a very good contested shooter and importantly, is probably more of a prolific shooter than his 2021-22 statistics indicate. His free throw shooting continues to improve over time, and he is about a 70% shooter from the charity stripe.

Not only is Jawaun Daniels a good shooter, but he is also highly effective slashing to the basket and finishing in traffic. Daniels does not possess the quickest first step or burst, but he is highly capable of beating his man with a change of pace dribble, jab step, shot fake, or pass fake. The threat of his shot means that defenders rarely slack off of him, so he is often able to create an advantage when being overplayed. Ultimately, Daniels utilizes his tremendous strength to finish through contact at the rim, and has really good body control in the lane. He is capable of finishing with either hand. In terms of his in between game, Daniels must continue to work on his floater/runner, though he has this in his arsenal as well.

 

In terms of his versatility on this end of the floor, Daniels functioned as a roll man in P&R sets, and was effective when cutting to the basket. Additionally, Daniels moves well in space and has the handle to get himself to where he wants to go on the floor. 

Daniels is particularly dynamic in transition, and he is highly unselfish with the ball in his hands. Though Daniels turned the ball over more often this season (than in year's past), he also flashed some growth as a playmaker, looking for teammates inside on post up opportunities or driving and facilitating for teammates in the lane. While Daniels does make the right play more often than not, freeing open shooters with timely screens, or moving the ball side to side, shifting the defense, he occasionally forces a few looks crosscourt. Though Daniels does a great job distributing in transition, he must become more dynamic in the halfcourt, particularly when he decides to put his head down and drive to the rim. Ultimately, Daniels' floor game is a work in progress, but he has the unselfishness to continue to transform this aspect of his game. Importantly, defenses devoted a large percentage of their resources to limiting Daniels this past season, and he was still able to succeed, in spite of their gameplans.   

On the defensive end, Daniels exerts a tremendous amount of effort and is very physical, not allowing anything easy at the basket. Though he does not possess exceptional lateral quickness, Daniels does a nice job of bumping his man off his spot and forcing him away from a clear path to the basket. He is a very good one on one defender, and is fairly opportunistic in terms of deflecting the ball. Though he averaged just under 1 steal per game, he does have solid hands and can poke the ball away from behind if he gets beat off the bounce. Daniels does a really good job closing out on shooters and does a really nice job altering shots. With that said, Daniels does have some athletic limitations on this side of the ball, and he does not often recover back if he is initially beat off the dribble. One exception to this was on the following play. 

 

Daniels has good timing and is capable of making "statement" blocks, but is not the type of quick leaper that recovers back to make plays on his man after being beat initially. While Daniels is often effective steering his man away from the rim, he must do a better job of nudging his opponent into the backline defender. In the post, he is very competitive and can switch onto bigs.

 

Daniels has a strong defensive IQ, though, and was consistently vocal on this end of the floor with teammates. When he is in a position to make a play at the rim, Daniels does a nice job of walling up and making layups very difficult. 

 

On the glass, Daniels is very effective on both the offensive and defensive boards. He brings good size and physicality, and has a nice nose for the ball. He consistently fights for position and this will translate at the G League level. This past season, Daniels often took defensive rebounds and turned them into easy opportunities in transition. In terms of intangibles, Daniels is usually the first person to the ball. He is constantly making deflections and recovering loose balls. Quite simply, Daniels is the type of positionless player most G League teams should covet: one who brings grittiness, toughness, high motor, shooting, and positional versatility.

Shadeed Shabazz, Alaska Fairbanks - Shabazz is one of the most promising players on this list because of his blazing speed, handle, and potential in the pick and roll game. Shabazz had one of the best handles of any Division II players I have ever reviewed. His first step and overall burst are elite, and he employs advanced "around the back" handles and crossovers to keep the ball away from defenders. Shabazz does a masterful job of splitting defenses, and he does this consistently enough to suggest that this will likely be a strength at a higher level of play.

When Shabazz attacks off the bounce and decides to go all the way to the basket, he is incredibly crafty in the lane, driving between defenders or around them altogether. 

Given his 6'1, 145 lb frame, Shabazz is elusive with the ball and does a nice job avoiding contact, rather than trying to drive through shot blockers. While he only plays at one speed at this point and tries to out-quick everyone to the rim, Shabazz should more frequently look to go reverse, employing the rim to shield him from shot blockers. In transition, he has a reliable Euro step, which he uses to finish at the rim.

Shabazz must continue to work on his finishing at the basket and develop the strength to finish through contact, as he will match up against higher level athletes who will be able to match his quickness at times. Additionally, the next step in his development will be for him to learn to play at different speeds, employing stop and go moves to give defenders headaches. 

Importantly, with improved spacing, Shabazz should thrive in the pick and roll game at the next level.

While he did not make many advanced reads out of the pick and roll at Alaska Fairbanks, Shabazz has the burst and understanding to develop a strong two man game with an athletic pro level big. At Alaska Fairbanks, Shabazz mostly used screens to create his own offense, as his teammates rarely pressured the D by darting quickly to the rim or stepping out for open 3pters on P&R sequences. As a result, teams would blow up the screen and use it to trap Shabazz, looking to play the passing lanes for an open steal. Due to his exceptional craftiness, Shabazz was still able to score on many occasions.

At the professional level, teammates will make more advanced reads off ball to assist him in breaking such traps, rendering blitzing ball screen defenses untenable. As a primary ball handler, Shabazz did a nice job of looking opposite at times for shooters spotting up on the wings. 

His basketball IQ needs to advance in this area, and he can't always look to play 1-on-3 - he needs to instead do a better job of moving the ball side-to-side to shift the defense. Assuming these areas advance, he should have no problem improving on his poor 0.7-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, which was based on an incredibly high usage. Because Shabazz was responsible for such a substantial portion of Alaska Fairbanks' offensive output, he would often see double and even triple teams. 

In terms of his potential from long range, Shabazz is a much better shooter than his 28.6% 3pt shooting % this past season would indicate. 

Because of his responsibility for a lion's share of the offense, Shabazz shot many low percentage shots off balance with multiple defenders guarding him late in the shot clock. A better gauge for his accuracy from beyond the arc was his 35.6% 3pt shooting percentage in 2019-2020 (and 35% or better in his other two college seasons). When it comes to his shooting, Shabazz developed a few bad habits that can be corrected. When shooting on the move with a defender coming at him, Shabazz has a tendency to flail his leg out or rush his release up top- two inconsistencies that can be corrected. Alternatively, when he shoots the dribble step back, he is almost always on balance and does not have these problems. This is mostly seen when he opts to shoot fadeaways. When overplayed, Shabazz is capable of stepping in for a midrange jumper, but also is effective shooting dribble step back fadeaways from this range.

On the defensive end, Shabazz had some of the quickest hands at the Division II level last year, leading the nation with 3.19 steals per contest and generally wreaking havoc. Shabazz is incredibly quick in all facets of the game, and he does a nice job of deflecting the ball without fouling his opponents. 

He does have a tendency to play the ball a bit too often, gambling trying to defend one side of the ball in order to generate a steal, rather than steering his defender away from the basket. He is always probing and looking to poke the ball away. With that said, Shabazz has even better instincts in passing lanes and he is tenacious covering ground in a short time to pick up steals. In terms of his one on one defense, Shabazz does an excellent job of blowing up ball screens to stick with his man, utilizing his quickness to recover back to his man in pick and roll scenarios.

This is extremely valuable and means he will rarely be matched up one-on-one on a switch with a big. With that said, Shabazz must improve his strength with professional weight training programs so that he can move offensive players off their spots and cut off their driving angles. As it stands now, Shabazz tends to gamble or guide his man into the help, but must do a better job of preventing bigger, stronger players from getting in the lane. On closeouts, Shabazz displays good effort, but is sometimes late. At 6'1, many guards are going to be able to shoot over the top of him. He is going to need to adjust, playing further up to closeout on shooters at the next level. 

All in all, Shadeed Shabazz is a unique talent with a clear upside profile and is someone who definitely belongs at a G League tryout.      

Jordan Thomas, Georgia College - Thomas is yet another quick lead guard with a sweet shooting stroke and a willingness to facilitate for others. While he only shot 34.3% from 3pt range a season ago, this far understates how advanced he is as a shooter. Thomas does a nice job of remaining on balance and squaring to the basket in a variety of different scenarios. He is effective coming off of ball screens on in bounds passes, as well as taking his man off the bounce and stepping back for a long distance shot. 

Despite the degree of difficulty on some of his attempts, Thomas makes many of these shots look easy and in rhythm. To free himself, Thomas moves well without the ball and utilizes screens. He understands spacing fairly well and does a nice job of relocating to spots off ball where he can immediately catch and shoot. On ball, Thomas sports an effective handle, which enables him to shake his defender and create space for an open look. Importantly, Thomas frequently hesitates and shot fakes before dribbling into his step back moves, but does a great job of remaining on balance and releasing in rhythm. The only times Thomas tended to rush were on 3pters out in transition, which he shot a low percentage on. When he was on balance, though, Thomas took advantage of the fact that the opposing defense was not set.

Additionally, Thomas does have a bad habit of occasionally employing a scissor kick to create space, and such attempts were a significant detriment to his shooting percentages. Importantly, with the right coaching, Thomas can develop into a 40.0%+ 3pt shooter, who will be able to shoot off the bounce, stationary off the catch, or coming off of a curl screen.  

In terms of the rest of his offensive game, Thomas does a nice job of finding creases in the defense and rising up for balanced jumpers. 

If he is overplayed from three point range, he typically will shot fake, take a few dribbles, and pull up for a balanced jumper. He is extremely effective shooting on balance in these scenarios. If he beats his man off the dribble, Thomas possesses a reliable floater. 

He is fairly crafty off the bounce and is able to get in the lane and score past the defense. 

This is most evident in transition. However, in the halfcourt, when he is met by the help, Thomas must continue to develop strength and work on his finishing. He shot only 54.9% at the rim at season ago (according to Synergy), and this is mostly due to his lack of strength finishing through contact. With the proper strength training program, Thomas should develop considerably in this area in the next few years. This added strength will also help him establish himself on the block, where he rarely flashed some shifty moves backing down his man one on one on a limited number of possessions.

As a passer, Thomas proved to be decently effective in pick and pop scenarios, utilizing the screen and drawing in the defense before kicking it out to wide open teammates on the perimeter. However, there were few possessions where he was able to hit his roll man slashing to the basket unimpeded. Playing with more athletic bigs, Thomas should be able to adjust and make good reads in pick and roll sets. At the next level, he will not always be using the high screen to create for himself, but instead, will attempt to shift the entire defense. In other passing scenarios, Thomas does a nice job of drawing defenses in, before hitting his teammates on the wing or in the corner. 

With that said, Thomas cannot predetermine where he is going to move the ball to, as this allows more advanced defenders to play the passing lanes on him. As he gains experience facilitating for others, he should see considerable growth in this area. 

On the defensive end, Thomas does a nice job competing. He moves well laterally and is fundamentally sound, committing only 2.1 fouls per 40 minutes. Thomas possesses quick hands and has the anticipation to step in passing lanes and create turnovers. 

These strengths culminated in 1.4 steals per contest - respectable defensive productivity. Thomas also does a nice job closing out on shooters and has the lateral quickness and wherewithal to move around screens and fight back to his man. 

With that said, at 6'1, Thomas is undersized at the professional level and bigger guards and wings will be able to shoot over the top of him on switches. With added strength, he must do a better job of steering his man away from a clear lane to the basket. He needs to do a better job of making crisp rotations once he is beat off the bounce and the help defender comes over. Or, he must show that he can recover back one on one, when he is beat by his opponent's first step. Thomas also possesses a good nose for the ball, and does a nice job of tracking down loose defensive rebounds before pushing the pace in transition. 

Overall, Jordan Thomas is a good prospect with potential as a shooter, and a strong upside case when he physically adjusts to the pro level. 

Cornellius Reynolds, Carolina Crusaders (ECBL)/Claflin University - Reynolds is a 6'6 wing/forward who stood out for the Carolina Crusaders of the East Coast Basketball League (ECBL) during their season. As a tryout player, Reynolds projects as an energetic defensive specialist with good speed and a developing floor game. Though he must look to bulk up with the proper strength training program, Reynolds possesses the raw athleticism, nose for the ball, and speed to develop into a G League player in time. As it currently stands, Reynolds brings exceptional energy to the floor, deflecting the ball on the defensive end, and using his quickness and anticipation to get a hand in the passing lanes. 

Reynolds has the length and closeout speed to succeed as a specialist on the defensive end. He possesses good timing on his closeouts and does not give up too much ground. While he will need to improve his on ball physicality, which will come with a better strength training regiment, he possesses the lateral quickness to defend multiple positions (1-4). 

Reynolds also has the recovery speed to play sound help D. 

With that said, Reynolds must get lower in his stance at times when defending out on the perimeter.

In terms of his penchant for hustle plays, Reynolds has an excellent nose for the ball, and always puts himself in a position to make a play. 

While he will need to become more physical on the glass at a higher level, Reynolds has very good timing and instincts to at least get a hand on the ball and tip it to his teammates, if nothing else. Importantly, Reynolds can turn defensive rebounds into transition opportunities, and he does a nice job utilizing his athleticism to finish at the rim. His rebounding prowess is one of Reynolds' greatest strengths and this should translate at higher levels of play with improved physicality.

Additionally, Reynolds must continue to improve his strength profile so that he will be better able to finish through contact against similar caliber athletes. In terms of his strengths on the offensive end, Reynolds runs the floor extremely well and puts himself in position to finish easy layups and tap backs. He does a nice job cutting off ball in the halfcourt, and is often the recipient of passes in the lane. 

He has a serviceable enough handle at this stage, and he should be able to get to the basket against higher level competition, due to his good quickness and burst. Reynolds has consistently functioned off ball for much of his career, operating as a screener for pick and pop scenarios. 

While he has some good potential in this area, as he will be able to either make a quick read darting to the rim or flash opposite for an open 3pt look, Reynolds must look to get more reps creating off the bounce. At this stage, he is mostly a 3-and-D guy who can connect on open looks, take a one dribble pullup on balance, or finish with a quick move in the lane. 

In terms of his shooting proficiency, Reynolds shot 44.0% from 3pt range in the ECBL this year (on a little over 5 attempts per game), though he isn't as dynamic of a shooter as these statistics would indicate. He received a lot of open looks off of good ball movement or in transition.

He still can stand to improve in this area, though his shot selection is very good and he was able to knock down the long range shot with some consistency over the course of the season. In terms of his mechanics, his shot is a bit more fluid than it was during his college days at Claflin. Every once in a while, Reynolds still has a tendency to kick his leg out off balance on contested step back shots, which puts him off balance and causes him to miss more often than not. 

While he is more effective shooting off the catch, Reynolds has very good shot selection and balance when shooting on the move on a dribble pullup or a baseline stepback. 

As a decision maker, Reynolds is still a work in progress, but he is very unselfish and looks for his teammates on the perimeter, especially when driving to the basket. 

When he chooses to operate in the paint, Reynolds is capable of making a quick spin move to the basket or facing up and driving past his man.

Overall, Cornellius Reynolds is a player with the intangibles to develop into a higher level pro and deserves an opportunity to showcase his talent.  

Khadier Fulcher, Winston Salem Wolves (ECBL)/Bluefield College - Fulcher is a 6'3 combo guard with a high basketball IQ and a sweet shooting stroke. He is a proficient 3pt shooting weapon with good range on his shot and a consistent, quick release. 

Fulcher has really good balance to his shot, and is able to get it off in a variety of different ways: he is efficient both off the dribble and off the catch. His 35.6% shooting % in 2021 understates his efficiency from beyond the arc, as he often was responsible for creating his own shot off the bounce. Importantly, Fulcher generally has a very good shot selection and picks his spots well. He is a bit of a streaky shooter who can go on a big run once he sees a few shots go down. If Fulcher is overplayed, he will utilize the threat of his shot to either get in the lane or opt for a dribble pullup jumper from the midrange. 

Fulcher does a nice job of baiting his man using shot and pass fakes to get by him, before pulling up for a balanced shot. 

When he is overplayed, Fulcher utilizes the threat of his shot to drive the lane. 

While he does not possess a dynamic burst, Fulcher is fundamentally sound and understands how and when to attack the basket. His handle is serviceable, and he uses it to get where he wants on the floor with little wasted motion. With that said, he could stand to improve his change-of-pace repertoire to keep defenders off balance, though he does typically hesitate with an "around the back" dribble, setting up his drive. Fulcher does an excellent job of playing off of two feet, leaving his feet only to finish off a drive to the rim or to set up a teammate under the basket. When he gets all the way to the rim, Fulcher does a nice job of finishing through contact. 

He possesses both the physicality to take a hit, but also the concentration to finish the play off. This is true both of Fulcher driving the lane and spotting up from long range, where he is able to keep his concentration and finish off 4-point plays at times.

Despite the fact that he is not an elite vertical athlete, Fulcher does have good hangtime at the basket and is able to make plays gliding through contact. 

In terms of his decision making, Fulcher functions well in a lead guard role and does a great job of finding open teammates on the perimeter. 

He is extremely unselfish with the ball in his hands and looks to set up teammates for easy driving lanes, passing them open at times. While the Wolves did not have a dynamic big man for P&R action, Fulcher will likely be able to adapt and make plays drawing the defense in, before feeding a big inside or a teammate on the perimeter. He often set screens himself, fading opposite to free himself for an open pick and pop 3pter. Fulcher does a nice job of looking opposite and rotating the defense. Importantly, the Winston Salem Wolves' offense was most effective when Fulcher drove in the lane, as he readily found teammates on the wings and the ball movement outpaced their opponent's ability to rotate. Fulcher does a nice job in transition, looking to push the pace when his team might have an advantage.

He is also effective in the halfcourt: driving baseline, drawing two defenders and jumping in the air, before feeding a cutter for an easy basket. 

In terms of his intangibles, Khadier Fulcher possesses a very sound basketball IQ, and he hustles to loose balls. Fulcher puts himself in position to grab defensive rebounds and is often in the right place at the right time. On the defensive end, he is fundamentally sound and exerts good effort. While more seasoned professionals will be able to shoot over the top of him, Fulcher is tough and does a nice job of closing out on shooters. He also sports good hands to corral loose balls, pick the pockets of opponents, or deflect an errant pass. 

While he puts in good effort on this side of the floor, his lateral quickness is not exceptional. In addition to this shortcoming, he also must do a better job of contesting opponents under the basket, timing his jumps to disrupt shots at the rim. Fulcher does give up his body for charges, and does a nice job of defending without fouling. All in all, Khadier Fulcher is a solid leader who can play both guard slots and possesses the toughness to compete. His play merits a look. 

Alphonso Willis, Texas A&M Commerce - Willis is a strong 6'3 lead guard with good athleticism and the strength to finish strong through contact. While Willis' shot remains a work in progress (just under 20% from 3 on under 2 3pt attempts per game vs. 40% from 3 on limited attempts the year before), he continues to make strides in this area and has substantial upside potential. At the moment, there are a few tweaks that still need to be made to his shot, likely related to his guide hand, but his balance and overall shooting rhythm have improved in his summer sessions with additional reps. Willis is the type of player who can make these adjustments and transform his game rapidly. Hailing from humble basketball beginnings, Willis made a major leap in his game from his sophomore season in JUCO, averaging 7ppg, to his junior season at Young Harris (DII). averaging over 20ppg. His work ethic and willingness to learn are evident and this should prove meaningful as he looks to make significant strides on his shot.

In terms of his strengths, Willis is dynamic attacking the basket and finishing through contact. 

He sports an above average, but not exceptionally quick, first step. Instead, his change of pace dribble is what really allows him to gain separation on his man. Willis possesses a serviceable handle, and can stop on a dime in the lane, before hitting his defender with an athletic move changing direction out of his jump stop. He plays really well off two feet.

Willis has patience in the lane and does a nice job of drawing his defender in the air with shot fakes and hesitation moves. He is able to connect on a floater in the lane, but must continue to work on this area of his game. At the rim, Willis shows really good hangtime and has the sturdy frame to take contact and still finish at the basket. 

Even when he does not have the ball in his hands, Willis is active off ball looking to cut to the basket.

Most importantly, Alphonso Willis does an excellent job of running the show for his team, facilitating for his teammates both inside and out on the perimeter. He is especially dynamic in transition, where his remarkable one on one abilities are most readily showcased. Willis should also benefit from the professional game's improved spacing. When he gets out on the break, Willis is very unselfish and consistently looks ahead to teammates or draws defensive attention before passing them the ball. In the halfcourt, Willis flashes good instincts, which should translate in the P&R game. But, he must be able to connect from 3pt range in order to keep defenses honest in drop coverage. Willis does a nice job of using dribble hand offs and screens to attract defensive attention before moving the ball on the perimeter. Because of his ability to attract defensive attention, Willis is dynamic at either feeding the ball inside or kicking it back out for open looks. 

In terms of his effort rebounding the ball, Willis is extremely active and quick to the ball. He led his team with 6.0 rebounds per contest and was aggressive crashing the glass, as he possesses a very strong nose for the ball. Willis uses his defensive rebounds to push the pace and create opportunities in transition for himself and teammates. 

On the defensive end, Willis has the size and strength to compete at a G League level. Willis is very productive on the defensive end, and his raw athleticism leads to many blocks and steals.

He is extremely physical on ball, and has good length and quick enough hands to create steals, poking the ball away.

Willis is active in passing lanes and uses his deflections to create additional transition opportunities. 

He also plays fundamentally sound positional defense, stepping in to draw charges. 

Willis is effective on closeouts and does a good job actively communicating with his teammates.

Overall, Alphonso Willis is an aggressive lead guard with prototypical size and a developing jumper. While his productivity over the course of this past season left a lot to be desired (despite his solid performance in his team's UTSA upset), Willis was adjusting to a completely new team with a deeper rotation and his game should benefit from the improved spacing in the G League. Willis possesses the intangibles that teams look for and he should be given an opportunity.

Clashon Gaffney, Texas A&M Commerce - Gaffney is an imposing physical presence with game-changing length that enables him to dominate on the defensive side of the ball. Despite being listed at only 6'7, Gaffney possesses at least a 7'3 wingspan, which he uses to wreak havoc in the paint. Gaffney was one of the most productive shot blocking bigs in Division II a year ago, averaging a whopping 2.81 blocks per game (5th best in DII).

Gaffney is a very strong rim protector, who does a good job fighting on the block one on one, or helping down on an offensive player driving the lane. He possesses excellent recovery speed and his length allows him to chase down blocks. Importantly, Gaffney is a very mobile big who runs the floor well and can also chase down the opposition in transition. In terms of his pick and roll defense, Gaffney does a nice job of blowing up the ball screen with his length, but at times does not fully commit to a trap, looking to get back to his man cutting to the basket. He is mobile enough to do so, but probably would have better success walling up and trapping the ball handler. In terms of his 'pick and pop' defense, Gaffney did an average job of rotating out on the perimeter at times in the matchup against Cameron. 

However, there were some lapses where he left the big man he was covering open on the wing. In these instances, he often found himself in no man's land instead of rotating over to the screener flashing out on the perimeter. With that said, his length was extremely disruptive on closeouts. It is likely that he will make the necessary adjustments to defend 'pick and pop' scenarios out on the perimeter, especially in lieu of his underrated lateral quickness and exceptional length. In limited situations, Gaffney showed that he can switch onto guards, but his improvement defending closeouts remains to be seen.

On the glass, Gaffney is a dynamic offensive rebounder who carves out space and utilizes his length to corral loose balls. 

He is physical with his box outs and consistently gets his hand on the loose ball, either tapping it back outside or finishing on tip dunks. While he is also effective on the defensive glass, Gaffney often allowed his smaller teammates (such as Alphonso Willis) to grab defensive rebounds in order to immediately push the tempo. As such, his 5.0rpg significantly understate his impact on this aspect of the game.

On the offensive end, Gaffney functions as a traditional big man. He is active and mobile enough to serve as a dynamic roll man in P&R scenarios. 

He is also a capable post up player, who often flashes and seals his man in the middle of the paint for high-low opportunities. Gaffney possesses the lower body strength to seal his man and the length to make it difficult to contest the post entry feed to him. Backing down on the block, Gaffney sports an impressive jump hook shot, which is extremely difficult to defend. 

He appropriately spaces the floor and when the ball is delivered to him, he finishes with authority, so much so that it can change the momentum of the game. While he did not attempt many jumpers this past season, Gaffney appeared comfortable shooting from the field on a small sample size. 

He must continue to work on this element of his game if he hopes to play his way onto a G League roster. Though Gaffney is extremely unselfish on the block, looking opposite to open shooters, he must work on his decision making at times and pass more quickly out of double teams. 

All in all, Gaffney is a promising player with a clearly defined defensive role in the G League. 

Navar Elmore, Livingstone - Elmore is an athletic energy big man, who does all the little things, and has long term potential to thrive in the pick and roll. First and foremost, Elmore brings a strong energy when he is on the floor. He taps in misses, is available for alley oop plays, and generally has a good nose for the ball. Elmore runs the floor hard and scored a substantial number of baskets out in transition a year ago.

Importantly, he has a serviceable enough handle to attack the basket one on one if he leaks ahead of the defense and receives a look. The vast majority of his points, though, came off of basket cuts and finishes inside. He is shifty driving and does a nice job of using the basket to shield the ball, often going reverse. Elmore is a very good athlete, whose athletic finishes can shift the momentum of a game. He plays with physicality, seeking out and finishing through contact.

Operating out of the post, Elmore typically will either back down his man and shoot a leaning shot in the lane, or faceup and look to drive past his defender. 

Elmore fights hard for position on the post and does a nice job flashing middle and sealing his man, before catching and finishing. While it saw good success at the DII level, Elmore's post game is still a work in progress. His nimble feet should enable him to make strides with his back-to-the-basket footwork over time. Elmore must continue to add lower body strength so that he can seal his man at the next level. In pick and roll sets, Elmore flashed good potential a season ago, but his teammates often were late on their passes or missed him altogether, rolling to the rim. 

Elmore has the quickness and spatial awareness to find open creases in the defense, while also looking to finish everything with a powerful alley oop slam. With that said, there are times when Elmore does not dart straight to the basket and instead encircles the paint, hoping to sneak behind the defense in a roundabout way. Instead of doing this, Elmore should work on his footwork and hip movement, turning and streaking to the rim as quickly as possible. Additionally, though he was not particularly effective in limited attempts, Elmore did flash a midrange jumper extending out just inside the three point arc (he connected on only one 3pter all season). 

If Elmore can extend his range, this would bode well for his long term pick and roll potential. 

Importantly, Elmore improved considerably as a decision maker this season, making quicker reads out of double teams, and looking for teammates on the perimeter. 

Whenever the offense operated through Elmore in the post, the team's ball movement was much more crisp. While Elmore is fairly unselfish, he still can improve on his post-to-post passing, where he tends to force feed teammates in traffic. On the glass, Elmore employs his excellent length and athleticism to secure rebounds and tip others out to his teammates. He is effective on both the offensive and defensive end, and he does a nice job of keeping the ball high once he has secured the loose ball.

Despite his good long term potential as an energy big man operating in pick and roll sets, Elmore really hangs his hat on the defensive side of the ball. He is a very effective one on one defender, who utilizes his exceptional length and athleticism to wreak havoc on his opponents. Elmore also possesses excellent lateral agility for his size. 

He does a nice job rim protecting, helping down to knock the ball away at the basket or rotating over to draw a charge. Elmore's lateral mobility enables him to jump in front of an out of control guard.

Ultimately, Elmore's acrobatic recovery blocks altered the momentum of several games. He finished 4th in Division II, averaging 2.83 blocks per contest. 

In terms of his one on one D, Elmore has the hands to pick the pockets of smaller players. He averaged 1.46 steals per game and he consistently probes and pokes at the ball.  In terms of his pick and roll defense, when Elmore decides that he wants to blitz the ball handler coming off of the screen, he is able to force a ton of turnovers. 

Otherwise, he tends to float and sag back in the lane, protecting the rim, but enabling shooters to reorganize on the perimeter and settle in for easy 3pt looks. Importantly, in order to succeed at the G League level, Elmore needs to do a better job closing out on shooters, defending on the perimeter. His length and quickness should enable him to make this adjustment relatively quickly. In terms of his post defense, Elmore has some bad habits, gambling to poke the ball away on the initial post entry feed, which puts him out of position if a nice pass is made over the top. He must continue to work on developing a more delicate balance: working to poke the ball away on the initial feed, but then quickly recovering behind his man to wall up at the basket. Elmore also must add strength to his frame to fully live up to his potential.

Overall, Navar Elmore is an athletic big with really good potential on the defensive end and in the pick and roll game. He certainly deserves a look in the G League.

Rayshawn Mart, Xavier (La.) - Mart is a versatile combo guard who is dynamic slashing to the basket, and capable of defending multiple positions. At Xavier (La.), Mart got his shot off in a variety of ways. He possesses a reliable handle, which he uses to both probe and exploit defenders, catching them off balance attacking the basket. While he has an average first step, Mart has a good second burst and is able to explode by his man, utilizing good hesitation moves. 

He typically lulls defenders to sleep with his dribble before attacking with suddenness. With that said, there is still some room for improvement on his handle, as he can improve his shiftiness with a "between the legs" delay dribble, which would open up his game a lot. This skillset is already somewhat in his arsenal, as he employs a "between the legs" step back move to set up his jumper. When he gets to the basket, Mart has very good hangtime and strength to take contact and finish at the rim.

Mart is crafty attacking the basket, but still has a lot of upside on this aspect of his game.

If he beats his man and notices a help defender at the basket, Mart does a nice job of playing on balance [with a jump stop], before shooting an effective fadeaway jumper. 

He did a nice job of creating space on his defender a season ago and was able to get his shot off with relative ease. Moving forward, Mart does a nice job of picking his spots and should be able to exploit creases in the defense. 

He should also be able to utilize his good body control and strength to create space. On the perimeter, Mart shot the ball poorly from long range a season ago (20.5% from 3), but this came in only 10 games. Previously, he shot around 35% from beyond the arc for almost his entire career. 

Importantly, Mart has made tremendous strides over the summer in this area and he should show considerable improvements shooting the ball in live game action. There is considerably less variation in his improved shooting form. At Xavier (La), Mart was a threat squaring up off the catch, seeing some success. But, he could still stand to improve by using his handle to set up his three point shot. Already, he does a nice job of this in the midrange, often with a sudden between the legs step back. If he can demonstrate some consistency shooting it from 3pt range, he will be very difficult to contain.

Importantly, Mart moves very well without the ball, cutting in for easy opportunities at the rim. 

His teammates did not always find him and were often late feeding him the ball on many of his basket cuts a season ago. He does a nice job of moving in space off ball, which will set him up for good looks on the perimeter moving forward. 

On the block, Mart can back his man down and score, and he is physical enough to exploit mismatches against smaller guards.

In terms of his floor game, Mart is a willing facilitator and was tasked with bringing the ball up at times for Xavier (La). He did a nice job of swinging the ball around the perimeter and probing the defense with his dribble. 

When he got downhill in the lane, he frequently dished the ball off to his big or a cutter. He also has the vision and general awareness to find shooters all over the floor, as demonstrated by the above clip of him driving and dishing to a player behind him. With that said, Mart generally does a good job of playing off of two feet, but has a bad habit of jumping when assisting his teammates. 

This is an adjustment he should be able to make. Ultimately, Mart continues to improve as a decision maker and can play both on ball and off.

In terms of his intangibles, Mart has a really nice nose for the ball, diving on loose balls and recovering the ball the second the offensive player starts to lose it. Mart tracks down loose rebounds, and is also dynamic mixing it up inside and securing it off the glass. Mart has very good timing and leaping ability, and consistently gets his hands on rebounds, collecting 6.5 per game a season ago, many of which were on the offensive end. 

Defensively, Rayshawn Mart was one of the better on ball defenders in all of the NAIA a season ago, and he is versatile enough to switch onto bigger offensive players. Mart has incredibly quick hands and caused considerable issues for the opposition, collecting 2.1 steals per contest. He is highly capable of reaching in and deflecting the ball away, but he also has the awareness to anticipate and get out in the passing lanes. 

Mart's steals and deflections often led to easy opportunities out in transition. While Mart is extremely dynamic in this respect, he must do a better job of stepping in front of his defender or steering him off his driving lane on his first step. Often, when Mart was beat, he was able to recover by poking the ball away with his quick hands. But, if he was better able to focus on changing driving angles, this would make him even more complete on the defensive end. Mart must continue to improve as a help defender, though he does have the leaping ability and timing to make plays at the rim. Mart did a very good job of rotating and closing out on shooters for Xavier (La), running 3pt shooters off the line and generally disrupting the player's rhythm. 

In terms of switches, Mart is very physical and able to hold his ground against much bigger opponents on the block. 

He possesses a very strong base, which enables him to jockey for position. This bodes well for his defensive versatility at the G League level.

Overall, Rayshawn Mart is a versatile slasher with an improved stroke who deserves a look in the G League. 

Spotlight on Gui Santos - The Tough Bo Cruz of the 2022 Draft

In my first scouting report from the 2020-21 season, I discussed the considerable potential of Brazilian wing Gui Santos of Minas (LINK). Despite applying for early entry in the NBA draft a year ago, Santos returned to his club team and made notable strides in his game. Physically, he grew to 6'8 with a 7'0+ wingspan. In the following update, I will discuss his development over the course of his 19 year old season and how he offers elite upside as a 2022 NBA draft prospect. 

First and foremost, the most important development for Gui has been his overall floor game. His handle improved considerably in 2021-22. He is now able to get anywhere he wants on the floor and thrives as a primary ball handler in the pick and roll. 

Aiding this aspect of his game is his excellent spatial awareness. In the normal course of his team's offense, Gui is still incredibly unselfish and moves the ball around the perimeter, shifting the defense, but he also uses the threat of his drive to create for others. 

He played way more under control this season, and did a nice job of jump stopping and making decisions off of two feet, as shown in the following drive.

He is able to pick apart zone defenses, as shown in the following clip.

It is clear that Gui worked on his footwork in the offseason, as he is now able to implement a zero step to create space on his jumper. 

With that said, scouts noted that Gui's shooting percentage from beyond the arc declined from 38.6% in 2020-21 to 29.8% in 2021-22. However, there were no significant adjustments to his shooting form and he shot it much better from 3pt range in Champions League this year, at 44.4%. I believe that his junior status played a role in his hesitation to shoot from the outside, as I noticed that he would be subbed out after missing just one shot (thus like many budding international stars, they are on a shorter leash because of their age), impacting his rhythm. In the NBB playoffs, he demonstrated that he can hit the three point shot and is fairly underrated in this area.

At the next level, Gui will have to consistently knock down his three point jumper without any hesitation. Despite the fact that this area of his game is currently hurting his NBA draft stock, I believe that Gui will actually make significant strides on his shot over his first couple of seasons in the NBA.   

Additionally, Gui Santos has come into his own as a wing out in transition and more frequently blows by multiple defenders before finishing at the rim. 

While Gui is aggressive getting to the basket and seeking out contact, he still could stand to improve his contact balance in the lane and finishing ability at times. With that said, more extensive strength and development programs in the NBA will immediately give his game the boost it needs in this area. He already is extremely crafty getting to the basket, as the following clips demonstrate.

He does an excellent job of getting his man on his hip and drawing contact, something you would expect from a savvy veteran.

With Gui's continued physical development has come an increased comfort utilizing his athletic tools against stronger, more experienced defenders. He frequently finishes off lob plays and looks to dunk whenever he gets a clear lane, something which NBA teams covet. 

On the glass, Gui utilizes his length and athleticism to compete against much bigger players. He often accepts the challenge, even jockeying for position with the lengthy former NBA forward, Bruno Caboclo, when switched onto him. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Gui continues to make strides and he frequently was tasked with guarding the opposing team's best player. He plays with an uncharacteristic toughness, which portends a bright future on a playoff team. While he was beaten in the following clip, look at how aggressively he shadows Brandon Robinson during Minas' playoff run. Any player with this kind of toughness will immediately add to a playoff contender.

Santos is a dynamic one on one defender with considerable upside.

He can switch 1 through 5 on the defensive end, and he does a nice job competing against quicker guards or fighting for position against stronger bigs. In the modern NBA, his willingness to accept considerable defensive responsibility will prove to be vital for any team that decides to select him. He expends considerable energy on this end of the floor, and this often leads to transition baskets on the other end. 

In the following clip, Gui Santos is an absolute pest on ball.

In terms of his perimeter closeouts, Gui sometimes grants maybe a half a step too much in terms of space to perimeter shooters, but this is because of his tremendous closeout speed and 7'0+ wingspan. Look at how he was able to disrupt perimeter shooter's rhythm on the following clips.

Gui flashes considerable athleticism on the defensive end, and regularly chases down blocks.

He often turns defensive plays into transition opportunities.

Ultimately, due to the lack of headline progress on his jumper, coupled with limited showcases to display his talent as a result of the pandemic (the Nike Hoops Summit event he was invited to was canceled as well as the Olympics), Gui Santos is a prospect that offers lottery level upside, but may be available (if online mock drafts are a true indicator of sentiment) anywhere from the late first round to the mid second round. A prospect of this caliber rarely slips through the cracks in such a big way. Can he scale NBA draft boards late in the game ala the fictional character Bo Cruz from Netflix's "Hustle"?

The Portsmouth Invitational 2022 Preview (Part 1)

Pre-Tournament, I reviewed as many players as I possibly could and what the expectations are from scouts coming in.

D'Shawn Schwartz, George Mason - Schwartz is an intriguing selection to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT). He played a pivotal role in George Mason's ascension under Coach Kim English this season, and was also a vital cog in the Colorado Buffaloes attack two years ago. Schwartz is a lengthy 6'7 wing with a versatile offensive game, and a penchant for playing fundamentally sound positional defense. With George Mason this year, Schwartz demonstrated that he can shoot the three with some consistency, connecting on 38.2% of his attempts from beyond the arc. He can step in and shoot the long ball, but he is much better coming off of screens, when he has enough time to get his feet set. Schwartz rarely forces the action, and is most efficient in catch and shoot situations. This year, he demonstrated that he is crafty enough to score inside, due to his excellent footwork and a decent midrange stepback. With his strengths in mind, Schwartz is not a vertical athlete by any means and lacked the burst to blow by his man at the college level.  As a pro, he projects as a three and D specialist, opportunistically picking his spots. On the opposite end, D'Shawn Schwartz is a very good position defender with great footwork and decent floor awareness, as evidenced by his 2.3 fouls committed per contest (via kenpom.com). Given his advanced understanding of verticality, D'Shawn employs his good length to wall up against his opponents at the rim, forcing them into difficult shots. He rarely reaches, but might struggle to contain elite athletes at the NBA level. Schwartz must not disappear for large stretches of the game - scouts will look to see how consistent his efforts are at this event. He also must show that he is comfortable in the pick and roll game.

Jacob Gilyard, Richmond - Jacob Gilyard was the sparkplug that propelled the Spiders to a last minute victory in the A10 tournament against Davidson, as well as the impetus behind Richmond's first round upset of Iowa. The 5'9 speedster was the key cog in Richmond's attack, orchestrating one of the most unselfish offenses in college basketball. Gilyard thrives attacking the basket with his blazingly fast first step. He finishes well at the rim when he is able to get by his man. Gilyard is also a competent three point shooter, and probably better than his 36.0% 3pt% would indicate. He does an excellent job creating space in order to get his shot off, and can hit shots off the catch or the bounce (though he is a bit of a rhythm shooter). With that said, his perimeter shot is sometimes inconsistent,so if he is able to connect on the majority of his three point shots at the PIT, he should boost his stock a bit. In terms of passing the ball, Gilyard is a maestro in the pick and roll game, executing precision passes off the dribble or from a stationary position. This is one of his best attributes, and I expect him to stand out in this area at the event. Defensively, scouts will be looking to see how Gilyard defends bigger guards. He is the NCAA's all time steals leader, and he has some of the best hands at this event. Despite his good hands and instincts in passing lanes, Gilyard only averaged 1.6 fouls per 40 minutes (75th in the country according to kenpom.com), which shows how disciplined he is on this side of the floor. How he competes against bigger guards will be telling for his long term pro potential. Gilyard's run at the end of the season was one of the most exciting aspects of March Madness this year. Can he continue his excellent play against some of the top seniors in the country? I believe so.

Grant Golden, Richmond - Rivaling the vision of former teammate Jacob Gilyard, Grant Golden is one of the best passing big men at this event. He is adept at feeding his teammates in high-low situations, but can also pass on the move off the dribble, which should separate him from other players here. In the post, Golden has a serviceable jump hook, which he executes to perfection against most post defenders. He is fundamentally sound as a roll man in the pick and roll and looks for openings. Golden also has a very good spatial awareness and this enables him to time his basket cuts perfectly. He is a tough cover mostly because of his ability to shield the ball and finish after gaining an advantage cutting to the rim. He is a fundamentally sound screener, and he often frees up his teammates for open looks by anticipating their defender's next move. In terms of his outside shooting, Golden looked to shoot it more from the perimeter this season, but with mixed results, connecting on a paltry 28.0% of his attempts. At the PIT, Grant Golden will have to show that he can hit the open three pointer with some consistency if he hopes to receive minutes at a higher level. He ultimately will also have to speed up his release. Another major question mark will be Golden's ability to defend the pick and roll and challenge shots in space. Also, will he be able to switch out on the perimeter and close out on shooters? Golden will need to hedge harder if he hopes to make a good impression, as he cannot slack on shooters coming off ball screens as he tended to at the college level. On the glass, Grant Golden is a proficient rebounder with good strength and fundamentals. Ultimately, Golden's effort and unique profile as a passing big man could enable him to make a positive impression, if he is able to compensate for some of his weaknesses.    

Nate Watson, Providence - Nate Watson is a traditional big, but unquestionably one of the most physically imposing players at this event. Look for him to continue his post dominance at the PIT. Watson thrives down low by battling for deep post position and sealing his man inside. Once he receives the ball, Watson is a dynamic back to the basket player, who can utilize a drop step and finish, or spin to either shoulder. He has quick feet and is ambidextrous, finishing inside with either hand on a half hook or a lay-in. Watson did a nice job coming off of screens in Providence's flex sets this season. Ultimately, where Watson will need to show some progress is in his pick and roll game. While he was often the main focus of most defenses this season, the game should open up for him to showcase his ability as the roll man. In terms of his perimeter shot, Watson can keep defenses honest from the midrange, but is most comfortable from the foul line extended. His shot has a considerable hitch and this might be something he considers changing at the next level. On the glass, Watson clears out space with the best of them, and is an excellent offensive rebounder. On the other end of the floor, Nate Watson is a good shot blocker, who plays fundamentally sound post defense. However, he must demonstrate to scouts that he can adequately defend the pick and roll, and also not give up easy shots in space when switched onto guards. Watson clears out space with the best of them, and is an excellent offensive rebounder. 

Tyrese Martin, UConn - Martin is one of my pre-tournament picks to really standout and possibly earn all-tournament honors. Martin is a deadeye '3&D' weapon, who made strides from beyond the arc, connecting on 43.0% of his 3pt shot attempts this season, up from ~32.0% in every other season. He does an excellent job shooting off of screens and clearly has NBA range. In terms of the rest of his game, Martin has always been a dynamic slasher with the requisite athleticism to attack the rim, where he often draws fouls (3.5 fouls drawn per 40 mins). He finishes extremely well with either hand and employs a reliable floater. Tyrese Martin is also difficult to contain on the glass, as he finished top 15 in the Big East in both defensive rebounding % and offensive rebounding % (according to kenpom.com),despite playing alongside Adama Sanogo and Isaiah Whaley. He has a good nose for the ball, but is also physical boxing out and times his jumps. On the defensive end, Martin is a ball hawk, who was habitually tasked with covering the opposition's top wing. He is physical on this end of the floor and is good at contesting without fouling. In addition to his strengths on both ends of the floor, look for scouts to zero in on how he performs as a shot creator/playmaker. If he demonstrates even more strides in this area than shown on his UConn tape, this could really elevate him into a solid 2nd round draft pick.

RJ Cole, UConn - RJ Cole has improved dramatically during his time at UConn. He came in as an undersized combo guard who attacked the rim on every play and has transformed himself into a viable lead guard over his two years here. RJ Cole is a great slasher with excellent quickness and a strong handle. He is crafty finishing at the rim and has the basketball IQ/savvy to turn to his deadly quick-release floater in order to avoid meeting shot blockers at the basket. RJ Cole possesses great spatial awareness overall, and needs only a little bit of daylight in order get his shot off when coming off of screens. He can pullup from anywhere and score off the catch or the bounce. Scouts will be looking to see if his three point shot is serviceable enough to keep defenses honest at the next level. While he only connected on 33.9% of his 3pt attempts in 2021-22, the degree of difficulty on many of his attempts was considerable due to his increased usage this season. Cole is also a reliable midrange scorer and will employ a shot fake in order to find an open crease in the defense, before rising up and scoring on a high percentage (uncontested) shot. While RJ Cole can finish at the rim due to his strength and toughness, it will be interesting to see how he performs when covered by taller/longer guards. In terms of his playmaking, RJ has made considerable strides at UConn, making the right play inside to open teammates or finding someone along the perimeter. Will he thrive in the pick and roll with better spacing? I imagine so, due to his versatile offensive toolset. On the defensive end, Cole competes and has very good hands.He sometimes finds himself out of position or reaches when he shouldn't. He must show that he can physically compete against more athletic lead guards and limit their production. Ultimately, RJ Cole is an intriguing player with a chance to boost his stock at the PIT.

Isaiah Whaley, UConn - While Isaiah Whaley is one of the best shot blockers at the event, he could ultimately end up showcasing a more versatile offensive toolset than most had been accustomed to seeing from him during his time at UConn. Whaley is an active, mobile big with the potential to become more of a stretch option, despite only hitting 29.1% of his three point attempts a season ago. Whaley possesses good form on his shot and a decent release, which are also evident in his touch at the line (74.0% this season). Scouts will be looking to see if his range extends out to the NBA three point line. He is still most comfortable from the midrange, but if he is able to keep defenses honest from NBA 3, this should boost his stock considerably. Whaley is a good athlete with solid length and does a nice job cleaning up on the offensive glass.His back to the basket post up game is just average at this point, but he can face up and drive the lane. Whaley's strongest potential comes in the pick and roll game due to his speed/footwork getting downhill after setting a screen. While the lane was clogged a bit at UConn because they played Whaley alongside Sanogo, this should change for him at the next level, and we should expect to see him thrive as a roll man. Whaley is also quick out in transition and runs the floor very well. Look for him to thrive in this area. On the defensive end, Isaiah Whaley can change the game with his ability to block shots and defend out on the perimeter. He possesses good lateral quickness for a big. He is sometimes late to closeout three point shooters, but he does an excellent job blocking shots as a help man in the paint.Look for him to make a difference defensively at the PIT.

Alex O'Connell, Creighton - Alex O'Connell is an active, fundamentally sound wing with good potential on the defensive end. On offense, O'Connell does a great job moving without the ball to free himself on curl routes or basket cuts. When he slashes to the basket, O'Connell does a nice job of attacking rim protectors and drawing contact. Alex sports a good handle and is effective shooting off the dribble, particularly from the midrange coming off of curl routes. He has good bounce and elevation on his shot. While he is a very good three point shooter when he gets his feet set, O'Connell tends to rush his shot coming off of curl routes and struggles with his balance when squaring his body to the basket after rising up. Scouts will be paying attention to how he shoots the ball at this event. In terms of playmaking, O'Connell is unselfish and makes the right pass with the ball in his hands, regularly finding cutters and outside shooters. On the defensive end, O'Connell is extremely disciplined (1.9 fouls committed per 40 minutes, best in the Big East this year), and stays with his man, as he showed in his NCAA tournament matchup against Ochai Agbaji and eventual national champs, Kansas. He fights over the top of screens and displays good lateral quickness. O'Connell hustles to loose balls and does what he can to help his team win. It will be interesting to see how assertive he is at an event like the PIT. 

Ryan Hawkins, Creighton - Ryan Hawkins is a winner. The former D2 National Champion earned a spot at this event with his gritty play down the stretch and deadeye shooting. While he only connected on 35.8% of his attempts this year, he is a better shooter than this figure indicates. Hawkins is an efficient marksman from beyond the arc and has incredible range on his stroke. He utilizes the threat of his outside shot to drive the lane. While his handle is passable at this stage, he does a decent job of shielding his body with the ball and taking it all the way to the rim. He does a nice job finishing with his right, but needs to show more going left at this event. Hawkins is a good back to the basket post option, and is crafty with his footwork in the lane. He is also a tough rebounder inside and fundamentally sound enough to use his size to jockey for position on the defensive glass. In terms of his decision making, Hawkins is extremely unselfish, in the same vein as former NW Missouri St teammate Trevor Hudgins. He makes the right passes and looks to shift the defense. His basketball IQ is probably one of the best at this event. He will need his elite IQ to overcome his athletic shortcomings, though. While Hawkins is a good team defender and provides good help and backline support, walling up opponents at the rim, he will have a difficult time staying in front of quicker guards along the perimeter. When a guard is inevitably switched onto him, scouts will be looking to see how he calls out help and rotates or challenges shots. He struggled when matched up with Kansas' smaller guards and needs to show that he can close out on much quicker players. With the increased spacing of the NBA, how he defends one on one at this event will be absolutely critical in determining if he has a shot. It should be noted that Hawkins still is adjusting to the quicker pace of play (from his NW Missouri St offense), which would accelerate exponentially at the NBA level. I anticipate that he will take a little time to acclimate himself to the pace of pro basketball, but should make the necessary adjustments within the next year or so. 

Alex Morales, Wagner - Morales is the two time NEC player of the year. He is a lengthy 6'6 playmaking wing with the versatility to guard multiple positions. On offense, Morales is a dynamic threat in the open floor, due to his good handle and decent athleticism/hang time. He attacks the rim with reckless abandon, and is creative enough off the bounce to freeze his man before driving by him. In halfcourt sets, Morales does a good job of involving his teammates and moving the ball side to side, probing the D. He is very comfortable shooting a one or two dribble pullup coming off of a high ball screen. His 34.7% three point % was average, but he shot it decently well with his feet set off the catch. He tends to force the action off of ball screens and take some difficult three pointers. At the PIT, scouts will be looking to see how Morales functions in the pick and roll game. At Wagner, he was a bit predictable and almost always either pulled up for a jumper off a ball screen or drove it all the way to the rim. If he could add a floater, this would do wonders for his game. Importantly, while he has made some strides since a season ago, scouts will also be looking closely at Morales' play strength and ball security. He has a tendency to be disrupted by contact, and the PIT might expose this area of his game, as it is historically called very loosely. With that said, Alex fights hard on the glass, utilizing his length and nose for the ball to secure critical rebounds and push the tempo. On the defensive end, Morales possesses good length and decent enough hands to disrupt offensive players. He theoretically could guard 1-3 at the next level, which makes him an intriguing player. In terms of his weaknesses on this side of the ball, Morales tends to allow quicker guards too much space, believing he can close out quickly due to his superior length. All in all, Alex Morales will have a chance to make a name for himself if he plays under control and defends well.   

Terrell Brown Jr., Washington - First team All Pac-12 performer, Terrell Brown Jr., is one of the most dynamic slashing guards at this event. He is relentless driving the ball to the rim and sports an excellent handle and a difficult-to-contain first step. Brown's crossover regularly leaves his defenders in the dust and his in between game really separates him from many of the players here. Importantly, Brown is able to stop on a dime and rise up for jumpers in the paint, from the midrange, or with a floater in the lane. He possesses good balance and a high release point on these shots, and does a nice job of avoiding shot blockers. This is the majority of his offense. Brown was a reluctant three point shooter this year, taking less than 2 per game on the season. He only connected on 20.0% of his attempts, which was way down from his 36.8% 3pt % as Arizona. More than likely, this disparity was due to the differing quality of shot he was getting functioning at times off the ball with the Wildcats. Ultimately, Brown's footwork, hangtime and quickness in the painted region make him one of the most difficult guards to slow down, and he should thrive in transition at the PIT. As a decision maker, Brown has made some strides and often makes the right play along the perimeter. However, he has a tendency to force it inside, or towards the basket in transition. Scouts will be looking to see if Brown can consistently keep defenses honest with the three, and if he is able to create for his teammates in pick and roll scenarios rather than driving the rim every time. On the defensive end, Brown is a bit undersized, but he fights hard running to closeouts. Washington played a decent amount of zone this year, but Brown did a nice job chasing down shooters and forcing more difficult shots. When in man, Brown needs to work harder fighting around screens, but his excellent hands (3.4% steals %, 3rd in the Pac-12) and hustle suggest that he could have a strong showing on this side of the floor as well. 

Ryan Turell, Yeshiva - Ryan Turell is one of the most decorated Division III prospects of the last decade and is also one of the most highly skilled players in this event. At a lengthy 6'7, Turell handled point forward duties with his Yeshiva team and is clearly capable of running the show with the ball in his hands. He sports a serviceable handle, which he uses to exploit and probe the defense. He can take players off the bounce with a dribble spin move, shot fake and blow by his man, or stop and rise up from just about anywhere on the floor. Turell is exceptionally effective utilizing the dribble drive, before pulling up for an uncontested midrange jumper. He possesses excellent balance and consistency on his shots. Turell also has clear NBA range, and is effective fading to the corner off of screens. He is a significant threat both as a catch and shoot option or attacking off the dribble, connecting on 46.8% of his three point attempts this year. In terms of his playmaking, Turell makes the right pass and has underrated vision. It will be interesting to see how he functions in pick and roll sets at the PIT, as he typically looked to drive the rim or rise up for a jumper at Yeshiva whenever presented with a high ball screen. While he may not be as physically imposing as some of the wings at this event, it will be interesting to see how Turell's back to the basket game translates. Turell is a highly capable turnaround jump shooter and he does a nice job shielding the ball on fadeaway jumpers. Scouts will be looking to see how strong he is with the ball and if he is bothered by the quicker pace and physicality at the PIT. While this may take some adjusting, Turell has the offensive repertoire to stand out at this event. On the defensive end, Turell's quick feet enabled him to stay with most guards at the DIII level. It will be interesting to see how he accepts the challenge physically in one on one matchups. Turell is already a very good team defender, and does a nice job closing out on shooters and getting in the passing lanes. Every so often, he misses a switch and does not get a hand up, but those instances are few and far between. More often, Turell utilizes his length and good lateral quickness to stymie the opposing offense. Overall, Turell is an intriguing player with very good ball skills, and he could make a name for himself here.     

Tommy Kuhse, Saint Mary's - The former walk-on, turned star point guard is a steady veteran player with a savvy basketball IQ, who will likely thrive running the show at the PIT. Kuhse does an excellent job probing the defense and he is highly capable of finishing at the rim or connecting with a runner in the lane. Kuhse has a decent first step when attacking the basket, but he also is fundamentally sound enough to use the threat of his shot to draw the defense in before attacking. Kuhse possesses good spatial awareness (as does everyone on that Saint Mary's squad), and he is patient with his drives. When he gets to the rim, Kuhse does a nice job shielding the ball and finishing, despite not being an elite athlete. Additionally, Kuhse had a remarkable year shooting the ball for Saint Mary's, connecting on 45.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc - an area he improved dramatically from years past. He was most effective shooting off of ball rotation and should be a veritable threat to knock down big shots, if his teammates drive and kick back out to him. His 6th best Assist Rate in the WCC (according to kenpom.com) probably understates his impact, to put this in perspective. Kuhse's greatest strength is in the pick and roll game, and he demonstrates excellent vision and timing on many of his passes. This should be in full display at the PIT, as I expect him to fit in seamlessly with Grant Golden and Silvio de Sousa. On the defensive end, Kuhse competes and has decent hands, disrupting slashers and driving them into the help defender. While he is typically fundamentally sound on closeouts, he does tend to help down more than he should, which opens the door for shooters along the perimeter. Ultimately, Kuhse is not an elite athlete, but is one of the more complete players at the PIT. Scouts will look to see if he can play at a faster pace in transition and how he runs the show against lengthy defenders.            

Josh Carlton, Houston - Josh Carlton is one of the most dynamic offensive rebounders in the country, and this Houston team really got the most out of him this year. His 17.2% offensive rebounding % (according to kenpom.com) was the best in the American and 4th best nationally. Carlton's strength, nose for the ball, underrated quickness (relative to his size) and good athleticism enable him to clean up on the glass. He should thrive cleaning up missed shots at the PIT. Additionally, Carlton is a decent pick and roll option, though he needs to become more versatile slipping screens and having a quicker burst on the initial roll. As it stands now, he does a good job carving out space and clearing a clear path to the basket for himself. In the post, Carlton has shown some strides from his UConn days, implementing a more versatile array of moves. While he always had a decent back to the basket spin move, he has opened that up and is using this more deliberately to faceup. His drop step has looked good on occasion, and Carlton's right shoulder hook has always been effective. Importantly, he needs to dig deeper and fight harder with his lower body to obtain post position. Far too often, he is called for an offensive foul for trying to seal players high (which for some of these guys who are 3'' shorter, Carlton inadvertently hits them in the face). Carlton must demonstrate more range on his jumper - this is an area he will need to work on in the coming years. On the defensive end, Josh Carlton does a good job contesting in the post, he is mobile enough as a help defender, and his strength really helps him rim protect. Carlton is a good shot blocker, as his 7.3% blocks% indicates (according to kenpom.com). All in all, Carlton will have to demonstrate that he is a viable screen and roll weapon, who can step out and defend on switches for scouts to take notice.     

Fabian White Jr., Houston - Carlton's teammate, Fabian White, is an even more dynamic prospect, despite having less size. White is similarly tenacious on the offensive glass, posting a 9.3% offensive rebounding %, which is understated because of Carlton. However, he is more versatile and skilled on the offensive side of the ball. The 6'8 230lb forward added a three point shot to his arsenal, and this has done wonders for his pro prospects. He connected on 37.1% of his 132 3pt attempts last season, which is up dramatically from 5 attempts the season before. White can keep defenses honest from the midrange as well. With that said, White needs to demonstrate more effectiveness in the pick and roll/pick and pop game, as he still hesitates to shoot from three point range at times, and does not operate going to the basket as much. This will be an area scouts are paying attention to, as his shooting out of pick and roll sets was worse than when he was stationary as a catch and shoot option. While I believe that he is worse than a 37% 3pt shooter, White has still made significant strides in this area, and has also developed his faceup game off the three point line. He is now attacking on straight line drives. At the PIT, he will have to demonstrate that he can be strong with the ball on the perimeter. Scouts will be evaluating his handle on the perimeter and assessing his potential as a pick and pop weapon. White is a good decision maker with the ball and regularly makes the right pass to open teammates. On the defensive end, White is a very good shot blocker and has quick hands defensively. His 6.7% blocks % and 2.3% steals% (according to kenpom.com) are impressive, and he was one of the best shot blockers in the American all year. With that said, scouts will be paying attention to how he closes out on the perimeter, as Villanova's forwards exposed him a bit closing out on the three point shot. Additionally, his lateral quickness is only average when defending on switches, though he fights very hard to stay in the play and compete. It will be interesting to see how versatile this fiery competitor is defending bigs and switching onto wings at the PIT.      

DeVante' Jones, Michigan - As predicted in my previous report (LINK), Jones operated a ton in the pick and roll at Michigan. He did a decent job of facilitating for his teammates, finding them for easy pick and pop looks most of the time. On other occasions, he utilizes the high ball screen to get to the rim, changing pace and beating his defender off the bounce. As mentioned previously, Jones has an impressive toolset attacking the basket. He has good body control, and can opt for the floater when necessary. While his usage went down a bit from his days at Coastal Carolina, Jones tended to force the action at times driving to the basket, instead of kicking it back out on the perimeter. This led to many difficult attempts against longer shot blockers. Many of his Michigan teammates tended to hang around on the perimeter and did not always move to the rim with him, allowing for the defense to collapse without a counter. As such, Jones should show more as a playmaker at this event. DeVante' was about as effective a three point shooter as he was at Coastal, connecting on 34.2% of his attempts. He must demonstrate that he can knock this shot down both off the dribble pulling up and off the catch on ball movement. Most importantly, scouts will be paying attention to how DeVante' Jones functions as a decision maker. While he played within himself for most of the season, Jones had some careless turnovers trying to split double teams and losing the handle on his dribble during the NCAA tournament. He also was not 100% himself, playing through a concussion. We will see how Jones handles the ball and distributes for his teammates - this will be the most crucial aspect of his game that he will have to excel in in order to improve his stock at the PIT. Jones is still a very good defensive rebounder, but his numbers understandably dipped a bit playing alongside Hunter Dickinson against some of the top big men in the country. On the defensive side of the ball, it will be interesting to see how Jones defends lengthier wings. Much of what I said previously, still stands: he has very good hands with just average lateral quickness.  

Paul Atkinson Jr., Notre Dame - Atkinson was one of the most underrated players in the country all season long, and was a big reason Notre Dame emerged as a NCAA tournament team (along with standout freshman Blake Wesley) this past season. While they say that post work is a lost art, Atkinson could be the best back to the basket post player at this event. He does a nice job sealing and calling for the ball, and he does this very quickly. When his teammates inevitably feed him down low, Atkinson does a tremendous job feeling the contact and using that to determine which direction he will maneuver, much like 'The Dream' has taught younger post players over the years. Atkinson has excellent footwork in the lane (great up and under etc) and his ball fake catches most defenders off guard, drawing them in the air rather easily and earning trips to the line. Relative to his touches, Atkinson's 4.1 fouls drawn per 40 minutes (according to kenpom.com) are impressive. Additionally, Atkinson flashes potential in the pick and roll game and does a nice job of reading defenses here. Scouts will be paying attention to this element of his game. Also, a big question mark will be whether or not he can succeed against considerable length at the next level. Alabama did a great job limiting him in the NCAA tournament. Moving forward, Paul Atkinson needs to develop his outside shot in order to properly space the floor and keep defenses honest. With that said, he was one of the more efficient low post scorers (59.5% from 2, top 200 in the nation) in the country this year, and he will be a handful for opposing bigs down low. Defensively, Atkinson is still very much a work in progress. While he does a decent job on help defense, switching, and walling up if his teammate is beat to the rim, Atkinson needs to improve in most other areas on this end of the floor. He struggled to defend in the post one on one a season ago, as he did not bump players off their spot and allowed them to comfortably get into their move. Atkinson was a bit slow on closeouts as well. Scouts will be looking to see how he defends the pick and roll and closes out on shooters.

Tyrn Flowers, Long Island - Flowers is the quintessential stretch 4. The 6'9 forward/wing will have a chance to stand out at the PIT with his skilled perimeter scoring. Beyond the three point line, Ty does a nice job utilizing his jab step to push his defender back before rising up for a perimeter shot. Flowers connected on 38.4% of his 3 point attempts this season and is a threat off the catch or the dribble. He can step in and hit shots from the midrange as well. Importantly, when he is overplayed, Flowers has a tight enough handle to shield his defender and drive it to the rim. The threat of his shot enables him to get some easy attempts driving the lane. As a result, Flowers was very efficient from the field this season, with a 57.1% eFG% in conference play, good for 4th best despite his high usage. Ultimately, scouts will be looking to see how he operates as a screen and fade option at this event. With these strengths in mind, Flowers must play stronger with the ball when he attacks the basket. He rarely draws fouls. He also struggled to obtain low post position this season and was moved off his spot by Alex Morales in their matchup in the NEC tournament. Tangentially, Flowers must work harder on the glass. In terms of his decision making, Flowers is a decent passer, but he occasionally has lapses on his post entry feeds. Can he create for teammates off the dribble and move the ball along the perimeter? We will find out at the PIT. On the defensive end, Flowers has very good mobility for his size and does an excellent job of moving his feet without fouling, with only 1.9 fouls committed per 40 minutes (6th best in conference according to kenpom.com).With that said, he was still productive on the defensive end this past season, posting a 5.0% blocks % and a 2.1% steals %. He does a nice job of walling up at the rim and closing out on perimeter shooters. He can switch 3-4 positions at the pro level and this will be critical for his professional prospects.

Savion Flagg, Sam Houston State - The Texas A&M transfer is one of the more underrated players at this event, due to his unique combination of rebounding, shooting, and defense. The 6'7 former prep standout is a forward/wing highly adept at attacking the basket, as he uses his strength and body control to draw contact at the rim, drawing 4.9 fouls per 40 minutes according to kenpom.com (top 200 nationally). When he gets there, he must shoot better than 51.5% at the line. While his first step is not blazingly fast, Flagg does a nice job of shielding the ball and attacking when his defender is off balance. This is due to the threat of his shot, as Flagg is capable shooting off the bounce both from beyond the arc or from the midrange on a one or two dribble pullup. While Flagg connected on 35.1% of his three point attempts this year, well above his percentages a year ago, he must show scouts that he can consistently knock down this shot on balance, within the flow of the offense. His shot is a bit streaky. In terms of his ability to set up his teammates, Flagg is a willing passer and possesses good spatial awareness, always moving to open gaps in the defense and spreading the floor. However, he has a tendency of forcing it driving to the rim when the help defender comes over. On the glass, Flagg is one of the best rebounding wings and is phenomenal on the defensive glass in particular, where his 21.0% defensive rebounding % (according to kenpom.com) ranked in the top 200 in the nation. Flagg utilizes his strong build and quick leaping ability to clean up on the boards. Importantly, this quick leaping ability is evident in Flagg's excellent closeout speed on the defensive end. He regularly makes plays on the ball, blocking and changing perimeter shots. Flagg puts himself in position as a help defender and does a nice job in his rotations. He is physical one on one, and moves players off their spot. Flagg is physical enough to defend bigs in the post as well. He has very good hands and commits only 2.1 fouls per 40 minutes (according to kenpom.com). He has some difficulty recovering when hit with a screen. As such, scouts will be looking to see whether he can defend in the pick and roll, or if he will gamble, poking at the ball from behind, as he so often loves to do. 

Gaige Prim, Missouri State - Gaige Prim is an underrated big man with good potential in the pick and roll game. In terms of his strengths, Prim's excellent physicality on the block enables him to seal his man inside. This allows him to catch easy passes and obtain good position on the glass when shots are put up. This ability to carve out space is attested to by his 12.1% offensive rebounding %, good for 80th nationally according to kenpom.com. His 20.3% defensive rebounding % is not too shabby either. After sealing his man, Prim goes to work either turning and facing up, or backing his man down before drop stepping and finishing. When he is forced further out against a shot blocker, Prim has a reliable sky hook over either shoulder. He is extremely difficult to contain inside and draws 6.0 fouls per 40 minutes (according to kenpom.com), good for 40th best in the nation. Scouts will most look forward to seeing Prim's potential in the pick and roll game. Importantly, Prim utilizes every bit of his wide body when screening, and he has the basketball IQ/savvy to know exactly when to time his roll to the rim. Prim often slips screens (something you see more of at the NBA level), allowing himself an opportunity to get right to the rim. What he will have to work on is kicking the ball back outside when the help defender stationed on the wing comes down to challenge his shot. Ultimately, though, Gaige Prim has great promise as a more traditional screen and roll big. If Prim can extend his range (only 18 3pt attempts this season), he will become a very solid pro. In terms of his decision making, Prim is a very willing passer and he is certainly able to pass out of the post if his teammates move without the ball. On the defensive end, Prim does a nice job walling up against post players. His 4.6% block rate was very good (6th best in conference play). With that said, he is not a great vertical athlete and must work harder to close out on shooters. As such, scouts will be looking to see how he defends in the P&R at Portsmouth.

Brandon Horvath, Utah State - Horvath is another player who projects as a pick and pop specialist. At the PIT, he must demonstrate more consistency from beyond the arc, as his 30.5% from 3 point range is way below what you would expect from a shooter of his caliber. At the college level, Horvath was an opportunistic scorer, who could mix it up in the paint, especially on mismatches. He has a decent jump hook in his arsenal and is adept at drawing fouls inside, as evinced by his 4.3 fouls drawn per 40 minutes (12th best in conference according to kenpom.com). While Horvath's footwork and overall ability to back down and finish in the paint might suggest that he would be a good post player at the next level, this element of his game will likely not translate due to his poor lower body strength and inability to seal his man on the block. As it stands now, he regularly starts way out near the three point line before backing his man down. Horvath shows considerable promise in the pick and roll game, and is agile enough to slash to the rim for an easy basket or adept enough to flash on the wing. Importantly, both Horvath and teammate Justin Bean have excellent spatial awareness on the floor, which enables them to move into gaps in the defense. When he is able to duck in and catch a post pass, Horvath converts at a very high rate. He also moves well without the ball and can basket cut, though no where near as well as Bean. Horvath is also a good passer out of the post and will regularly reverse the ball, finding open shooters. In terms of rebounding, Horvath is a good rebounder relative to his frame, and often sneaks in for rebounds against much bigger players. This will likely not continue at the pro level, though, as he does not possess the lower body strength to jockey for position on the block. On the defensive end, Horvath does a nice job switching on the perimeter, due to his decent lateral quickness. He closes out on shooters and displays decent effort on this end of the floor. He might have some promise as a pick and roll defender within a team construct. With that said, he will struggle to defend much stronger players on the block, who are able to seal and score over him due to his slight build. Scouts will be looking to see whether or not he can hit his three point shots and how he handles the physicality at the PIT.

Justin Bean, Utah State - Bean was arguably the best cutter in the country last season. He thrives moving without the ball and creating easy lay-in opportunities. Like Brandon Horvath, Bean's high IQ enables him to space the floor well and he uses these opportunities to probe the defense, staying in motion or setting screens whenever he can. Bean also has one of the best pure strokes in the country, as he connected on 46.9% of his 98 3pt attempts this season, which was a significant improvement from years past. The main question mark will be whether or not his release point holds up against lengthy defenders, as he tends to shoot the ball out in front of his face, making it easier for defenders to recover onto him and disrupt his shot. Bean also possesses a decent handle, and uses it to create a rhythm, shooting midrange jumpers when he is run off the line. He is also effective taking the ball all the way to the basket, using his long strides and good length to beat his man to the rim. Bean can shoot off the bounce and has an excellent array of one on one moves to beat his man, including a reliable back down post game. He can operate in pick and roll sets, and does a nice job fading out for open 3pt looks. Taken altogether, Bean was remarkably efficient from the field for Utah State this season, posting a 58.9% eFG%, which was top 100 in the nation according to kenpom.com. Bean is a willing passer and will look for open cutters when going downhill, or simply kick it out for an open three. His spatial awareness is very impressive, and this is why he is so adept without the ball. On the glass, Bean is an opportunistic rebounder who uses his length to collect boards, posting a 24.2% defensive rebounding % this season, 60th best in the country. On the defensive end, Bean is a bit of a mixed bag. While he possesses good length and does a nice job angling his opponent away from the basket, he is not as laterally quick as most wings. As such, he tends to get beat, but then recovers for blocked shots. His 2.7% steals % despite only 2.2 fouls committed per 40 minutes (according to kenpom.com) attests to his disciplined D. Scouts will be curious how he defends when iso'd on switches, as well as in the post. 

Abu Kigab, Boise State - Kigab is one of the most versatile offensive weapons at this event, and he has a good amount of pro upside left in his game. While Kigab's handle has come a long way since he came to Boise State, he still is most comfortable driving right. How will he respond when defenders take that away? Importantly, Kigab looks like a pro creating space. When he drives the lane and comes to a jump stop, he attacks the body of the defender before connecting on some difficult fadeaway jumpers. He is also highly capable backing down his man and either attacking him directly or fading for a balanced jumper. While his first step is just above average, Kigab is incredibly crafty and does a nice job of angling his body to the basket, while shielding the ball. He is physical and attacks his defender's body with reckless abandon, drawing 5.9 fouls per 40 minutes, good for 53rd best nationally according to kenpom.com. If he does not want to attack the shot blocker directly, Kigab also has a reliable floater in his arsenal. Additionally, Abu Kigab is a good rhythm shooter in the midrange and can also connect from three point range, albeit at a lower rate. Scouts will be looking to see if Kigab can shoot better than his 30.0% 3pt % from a season ago. Importantly, Kigab is an excellent transition scorer and one on one weapon. He has good body control attacking the basket and easily scores in one on one situations. In terms of passing, Kigab is a very good passing on the move and regularly finds open shooters. He swings the ball side to side and finds teammates cutting to the basket. Kigab uses high ball screens to attack the basket most of the time. At the next level, he will need to find open teammates on the screen and pop. The PIT would be a good place to demonstrate this skillset. On the glass, Kigab is very aggressive corralling defensive rebounds, posting a 20.0% defensive rebounding % (according to kenpom.com). Kigab is aggressive defensively and does a nice job closing out onto shooters. Though he is only average laterally, he compensates with length and very good hands, as evinced by his 2.6% steals % overall, 20th best in conference play. With that said, he at times gets caught up on screens, and must show scouts at the PIT that he can fight through them.  

Trevor Hudgins, Northwest Missouri State - Trevor Hudgins is one of the most decorated D2 players of all time and won the prestigious Bevo Francis Award, which goes out to the top non-D1 college basketball player. Over his four years, he never missed a game, and his Northwest Missouri St. team was 131-8 - never losing in the NCAA tournament. With Ryan Hawkins' departure to Creighton, Hudgins had to carry a greater portion of the offensive workload this year, and he delivered. His 168 3pt field goals set a new single season record for D2, and he connected on an outstanding 41.5% of his attempts. Given the incredible usage and workload, it is more likely that Hudgins is closer to a 50.0% 3pt field goal shooter, as he hit 50.8% and 53.3% from long range in his prior two seasons. As such, it is clear that scouts will be looking to see how Hudgins shoots the ball against longer, more athletic defenders. While his size at 6'0 will certainly be a hurdle he will have to overcome at the next level, Hudgins possesses an elite handle, with a patented stop and go move and a deadly crossover. He uses both of these to create space, and if he picks his spots appropriately, Hudgins should have little trouble getting his shot off at the PIT. As he continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how much he opts to use a floater in the lane. In terms of his passing ability, Hudgins has one of the highest basketball IQs at this event, and should have no issue distributing the ball. He does a nice job of driving and kicking it back out along the perimeter. Interestingly, the PIT committee paired him with former teammate, Ryan Hawkins - a move which could enable him to thrive. While scouts will be looking to see how he operates in pick and roll sets with a legit big man, Hudgins should have no trouble adjusting to this landscape and functioning more as a facilitator. Importantly, he does not need the ball in his hands to be effective, and the threat of his three point shot should open up the lane. On the defensive end, Hudgins might struggle initially against superior size and length. While he does a nice job closing out on shooters, his size hinders him a bit in this respect, although he does have good quickness staying with his man. With that said, Hudgins has extremely quick hands and if the ball is lowered for a second, he will deflect it and push the ball ahead for an easy transition opportunity. Overall, with how fundamentally sound he is, Hudgins is reminiscent of a smaller Jalen Brunson, particularly with his use of the shot fake. It will be interesting to see how one of the highest IQ players at this event adapts against stronger competition.

Jimmy Boeheim, Syracuse - Cornell transfer Jimmy Boeheim, the eldest of Coach Boeheim's sons, is a polished 6'8 shooter/scorer, who could make a name for himself on the offensive end at the PIT. Boeheim shot 37.9% from 3pt range for Syracuse this year, and excelled making shots off the catch and out in transition before the defense could get set. He utilizes the threat of his shot to drive the lane, and he does a great job of getting the defender on his hip, before shielding the ball and finishing through contact. He is fearless driving against some of the top bigs of the ACC, and is versatile enough of a scorer to make them pay with his array of shot fakes and spin moves in the lane. When he has the size advantage inside, Boeheim is quick to exploit it by either shooting over the top of the defender, or by shot faking and driving it to the rim. Importantly, he can make some tough shots in the lane through contact, fading right or left. When the defense overplays him, Jimmy is also a rhythm shooter and can step in to an easy jumper in the midrange. Boeheim is a very good one on one scorer, and he is crafty enough to utilize whatever advantage he has against his opponent. He rarely turns the ball over and is also a willing passer, who will drive and kick the ball back out to an open shooter. Jimmy competes on the glass, employing his solid length, but this is not the strongest part of his game. On the defensive end, there are significant question marks due to Syracuse's zone scheme. While he definitely put in effort on closeouts, Boeheim was often slow to recognize open shooters when collapsing down in the post. While he does a nice job using his length to contest, he has a tendency to jump into or near the shooter. Against savvy veterans at a pro level, they would easily be able to draw a foul from beyond the arc. Boeheim does not have the best lateral quickness, but I imagine he might be effective switching on defense due to his good length and willingness to compete on this end of the floor. Ultimately, scouts will be looking to see how Boeheim shoots on screen and fade opportunities and how he defends one on one and on switches.

Cole Swider, Syracuse - Villanova transfer Cole Swider is one of the best pure shooters at this event. Standing at 6'9, Swider is difficult to contain when he gets his feet set. Just as he did at Villanova, Swider spaces the floor, and oftentimes becomes a screener in order to free himself for an open look. He has very deep range and he is very balanced on his shot. He is also capable from the midrange and occasionally he will back down as a post option. When this happens, he often gets double teamed and is a bit turnover prone. While he does not get to the line often (only ~2 FT attempts per game), Swider connected on 86.6% of his attempts from the charity stripe this season. While his handle is not overly complex at this point and he does not have great burst, Swider utilizes the threat of his shot to get in the lane and rise up for balanced midrange jumpers. He has a nice fadeaway out of the post too. If he is consistently overplayed, Swider will backdoor cut for an easy basket. On the defensive glass, Swider does a good job competing, though he is not a great rebounder relative to his size. In terms of his passing, Swider is unselfish and frequently looks for his teammates, moving the ball along the perimeter. In the vein of most Villanova players, Swider rarely forces plays, despite being given more of a free reign to shoot at Syracuse. While Swider has typically operated as a floor spacer in spread concepts, he is a good pick and pop option, and does a nice job of setting his feet. On the defensive end, it is difficult to glean much from his play this year in the 2-3, other than that he was probably not the ideal player to use in the middle of the zone, due to his poor closeout speed. As a one on one defender, Swider competes hard, dating back to his time at Villanova, and anticipates plays well. While he lacks the lateral quickness and athleticism to stay with elite athletes, he has experience in a switching scheme and was able to get by during his time at Villanova. Ultimately, scouts will be looking to see how he closes out on shooters and how he shoots the ball out of screen and fade opportunities.

Ty Gordon, Nichols State - Ty Gordon is probably the fastest player at this event not named JD Notae. He also has one of the best handles and an extremely quick first step, which will get just about anyone at this event off balance. Despite his size at 6'1, Gordon is a score-first lead guard who can shoot from just about anywhere on the floor. His handle enables him to split double teams, and he uses high ball screens to gain a step and attack the basket. For a player with his slashing ability, he surprisingly does not draw that many fouls, drawing 3.6 per 40 minutes according to kenpom.com. With this in mind, this means that Gordon has a great deal of untapped potential scoring the ball. As a shooter, Gordon hit 34.2% of his 3pt attempts, despite posting a 31.9% usage, good for 41st in the country according to kenpom.com. While these numbers do not jump out on paper, Gordon is an extremely twitchy athlete, who can get his shot off rather easily. When he does, though, he must stay on balance. Factoring in the degree of difficulty on many of his shots, Gordon is probably a 40%+ 3pt shooter if he was not responsible for such a lion's share of the offensive burden. In terms of his ability to get to the rim, Gordon has a decent stop and go dribble and his first step is one of the quickest at this event. When he gets to the rim, he does a good job finishing. Gordon must prove to scouts that he can run the show and involve his teammates, while not forcing drives to the basket. He has a tendency to blow by the initial defender, but then has difficulty averting the help, leading to charges. On the defensive side of the ball, Gordon has the lateral quickness to stay in front of most players, but he is not often physical enough cutting off their angle to the basket. Instead, he tends to react versus leading the ball handler away from a straight line drive. He does have fairly quick hands and can poke the ball away, but he only posted a pedestrian 2.2% steals %, 18th best in the Southland conference. Finally, Gordon will have to demonstrate to scouts that he can do a better job disrupting shooters on closeouts and not get hung up on ball screens.

Rocky Kreuser, North Dakota State - Kreuser is a 6'10 stretch big with the ability to straight line drive it to the rim if the defense overplays. Importantly, he got much of his offense off of pick and pop opportunities, and he does a nice job of fading far enough away to get an open shot. He connected on 37.3% of his 3pt attempts, on 27.3% usage, according to kenpom.com. This is excellent for a stretch big. While his handle is only functional at this point, it gets him to where he wants to go on the court, as Kreuser possesses a good understanding of angles. He does a nice job of driving one way and then cutting towards the basket at the last moment. He often catches his defender off guard. He also employs a jab step when attacking and beats his man due to the threat of his shot. While he does not finish well through contact when going downhill, he is able to draw fouls, as evinced by his 5.2 fouls drawn per 40 minutes, third best in the Summit League according to kenpom.com. Despite not being an elite vertical athlete, Kreuser is often in "cruise control" when attacking the rim, due to his willingness to finish through contact while shielding the ball. In terms of his decision making, Kreuser is a willing passer along the perimeter and will kick the ball out on his drives. He does a nice job of moving without the ball in order to help rotate the defense and keep them off balance. In the post, Kreuser almost always faces up before trying to drive it to the basket. He must diversify his game down low a bit. On the defensive end, despite his average lateral quickness, Kreuser does a decent job defending in pick and roll scenarios, playing in space before looking to jump the passing lanes. He competes in the post, though he will struggle against lengthier bigs with a stronger base. Most importantly, though, scouts will look to see how Kreuser closes out when defending pick and pop opportunities, as he does not have great recovery speed.  

Charlie Moore, Miami (Fl.) - Moore is a 5'11 floor general who has steadily improved his decision making and three point shooting over the years. With the Hurricanes, Moore connected on 36.4% of his perimeter jumpers overall and was better in conference play. Much of his shot selection was from well beyond NBA range, so he should have no problem adjusting at the PIT. While he does not have a blazingly quick first, Moore's good handles and overall speed enable him to attack the basket opportunistically and finish at the rim. Importantly, he shot 50.7% from two point range, indicating that he has been way more efficient than in years past. This is likely because he moved off ball at times for Miami (Fl), whereas he was responsible for most of the shot creating at Depaul. When attacking the basket, Moore can now stop on a dime and turnaround for a fading midrange jumper. He connects on this shot pretty consistently, as it is very difficult to defend. Moore is a very good passer, and he frequently plays within himself, moving the ball around the perimeter, and probing the defense when necessary. Scouts will look to see how he performs in pick and roll sets, and I don't expect him to disappoint in this regard. In transition, Moore does a nice job of pushing pace, and he is tenacious fighting for loose balls. While he has cut down on turnovers, he still attempts to make flashy passes and occasionally drives into double teams. He must prove to scouts that he can play under control and run the show for a pro club. On the defensive end, Moore's size is a great disadvantage, but he does compensate with incredibly quick hands. His 3.7% steals % was the top mark in the ACC and top 70 in the nation. He uses these steals to push in transition, leading to easy buckets for his teammates. With that said, Moore does have a tendency to gamble on the perimeter, which can put his defense at a disadvantage. He closes out hard on shooters, but most guys can shoot over the top of him. Ultimately, scouts will be looking at how he runs the show, his pick and roll effectiveness, and his ability to create turnovers. 

Alex Barcello, BYU - Barcello is one of the best pure shooters at this event. While he is not the best vertical athlete, the 6'2 lead guard is capable of getting his shot anytime he wants. Barcello sports an impressive handle, which he uses to get defenders off balance, before stepping back for fadeaway threes. He connects on a high percentage of these difficult shots and shot 41.3% from 3pt range, with a notable degree of difficulty on his shot selection. Barcello's stroke is extremely impressive. If defenses overplay him, he can step through into the midrange and connect on a jumper or take the ball all the way to the rim. When attacking the basket, Barcello sports a very reliable floater, or he takes the ball all the way to the rim, employing good body control to shield the ball. While Barcello's crossover gets defenders off balance, he is just as effective moving without the ball. Barcello does a nice job of curling to open spots on the floor, faking his man out and enabling him to get easy 3pt looks. He will basket cut and then abruptly retreat back to the 3pt line on in bounds plays, for example. Barcello has good hangtime and craftiness at the rim, though he will likely struggle to produce the same results against lengthy, physical athletes. All in all, though, Barcello drew 4.5 fouls per 40 minutes (according to kenpom.com) and was aggressive when going downhill. Despite his average first step, Barcello projects as a good pick and roll option at the next level, due to the threat of his shot and his willingness to feed teammates. Barcello does a nice job running the show and teams will examine how he operates in pick and roll sets. On the defensive end, Barcello does a decent job closing out on shooters, though his length is not particularly disruptive. While his lateral quickness is okay, Barcello struggles to defend quicker players, as he is not physical enough moving players off their driving angle. Scouts will be looking to see how Barcello shoots, distributes, and defends.

Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco - Bouyea is probably the best NBA prospect at this event, and he has a chance to secure a late first round selection if he is able to impress here and at the G League Elite/Combine. The lengthy, 6'2 lead guard has made considerable strides as a shooter, connecting on 35.6% of his 3pt attempts. The degree of difficulty on his shots was probably the highest of any player at the PIT, though. He does a nice job of staying on balance on his long range attempts. Most significant is his ability to create space like a pro, leading into his shot. Bouyea possesses a good first step and an elite change of pace/change of direction capability. He can finish with either hand at the 'cup', or opt for a floater in the lane. Bouyea's step back 3pt jumper is extremely deadly and practically unguardable at the college level. Bouyea thrives out in transition, where he is easily able to blow by one or two men and get to the basket. He also is a capable distributor, looking to teammates along the perimeter for easy looks or feeding the ball inside. With that said, when Bouyea decides he is going to go downhill and attack the rim, he does at times settle for some bad shots when defenses inevitably converge on him. With better spacing, it will be difficult to contain Bouyea off the bounce. Scouts will be looking to see how he executes half court P&R sets, and whether or not he can hit a high percentage of his three point attempts on better shot selection. Bouyea is also a really good rebounding guard, and he turns these boards on the defensive glass into transition opportunities. On the defensive end, Bouyea has some of the quickest hands, and does a nice job of contesting without fouling. His 2.9% steals % ranked 5th in the WCC and his 1.6 fouls committed per 40 minutes were the least in conference according to kenpom.com. Bouyea also demonstrated an ability to block shots at the guard spot, despite his size. Ultimately, scouts will look to see if Bouyea can do a better job creating contact, minimizing turnovers, and not get hung up on ball screens defending in pick and roll sets.

Lucas Williamson, Loyola (Chicago) - Williamson is a prototypical 3 & D prospect with a strong slashing ability. Williamson is extremely fundamentally sound, as he moves well without the ball, and makes himself available cutting to the rim. He does a nice job of finding holes in the defense and exploiting them, either flashing out on the perimeter or darting to the hoop. When he gets the ball, Williamson utilizes the threat of his shot to keep defenders off balance. He connected on 38.7% of his three point attempts this season, and he has shown notable progression creating separation for a stepback shot, despite the fact that he is still most efficient with his feet set coming off the catch or pulling up on balance. Williamson is an opportunistic scorer and will step in and connect from the midrange when he is run off the line. Importantly, though his first step is not blazingly quick, Williamson is a very good slasher, who does an excellent job finishing through contact at the rim or shooting on the move. He is adept driving either right or left and also will back down his man before connecting on a fadeaway or kicking back out to a teammate. In terms of his passing ability, Williamson does not force the action and regularly drives and kicks to open teammates along the perimeter. Scouts will look to see if he can operate with a big up top in pick and roll situations. On the defensive end, Williamson is a ball hawk who can physically compete with bigger players. He does a nice job of stepping in front of his man and directing him away from the basket. Given his aggressive defensive play, his 2.6 fouls committed per 40 mins (according to kenpom.com) is actually rather impressive. Williamson is laterally quick and disruptive in the passing lanes. He also has excellent hands, as attested to by his 2.6% steals % (15th best in the Missouri Valley). Scouts will look to see how well he competes attacking the basket and defending against lengthier wings at the PIT.

Taz Sherman, West Virginia - Taz Sherman is a rhythm shooter who utilizes his advanced handle to shake his defender and score on three levels. Importantly, while he does not have a blazing first step, Sherman has nimble feet and the handle to get anywhere he wants to on the floor, stopping and raising up at his discretion. Sherman is predominantly a rhythm jump shooter, who dribbles into his shot either from the midrange or beyond the 3pt arc. His favorite move is a dribble step back into a leaning fadeaway jumper, and this move is very difficult to defend. Sherman is also a streaky, but effective three point shooter, who connected on 34.6% of his attempts this past season. Sherman's range extends well beyond NBA range, and he attempted some difficult long range shots, as many Big 12 defenses were geared towards slowing him down. When he drives the ball to the rim, Sherman employs a nice runner or attacks the rim, doing a nice job of drawing contact, with 4.8 fouls drawn per 40 minutes according to kenpom.com. While he is not the best vertical athlete, he can hang in the air and finish through contact, an inevitability for a Bob Huggins coached player. Sherman also became more of a facilitator this season, driving and kicking the ball to open teammates on the wing or just inside the arc. He moved the ball well at times and shows some promise in this area. However, Sherman must cut down on his turnovers, particularly in transition, where he often looks to go 1-on-3 and score before the defense gets set. Scouts will be evaluating his decision making and his efficiency from beyond the arc. On the defensive end, Sherman has decent lateral quickness and good hands, but he has a tendency to get hung up on ball screens, leading to uncontested three pointers. Overall, Sherman competes on this end and will look to demonstrate that he can slow down the more talented wings at the PIT.