Evolution Basketball: The Ballers Page

  The big man was a dominant presence in the paint on both ends of he floor. Anytime Mehki had smaller defenders guarding him, he went to work in the post. He was not only a threat in the paint, Mehki showed great effort to run the floor, score in transition and occasionally knock down mid-range jump-shots. He was unstoppable in the box! There was a sequence in the game when he scored on four consecutive possessions. Mehki is a great rebounder. He dominated the boards on both ends of the court. A majority of his points came from grabbing offensive rebounds. I feel confident in saying, Mehki finished the game with a double-double in points and rebounds. Defensively, he blocked multiple shots and turned away ABC Young Lions White 15u players when they attacked the paint. Mehki is an excellent player with a promising future in the game of basketball.

 Kaden is a tough combo guard who is capable of playing both positions at a high level. He’s a great scorer and facilitator. The majority of his assists led to easy conversions by ABC Young Lions White 15u teammates. When Kaden moved to the shooting guard position, he became a more aggressive shot-maker. He's a crafty guard who easily beats opposing defenders off the dribble. These attacks led to him finding the paint and scoring floaters or tough lay-ups. Kaden is a slick ball handler who used various dribbling moves to create for himself or others. During the game I watched him knock down short perimeter shots on multiple occasions. He also showed the ability to extend his shooting range beyond the three-point line. Despite being closely guarded by the defense, Kaden created enough space to get his shot off. He’s a tenacious defender who pressed opponents into committing turnovers. Kaden is a promising young player who could become even greater in the future.

  In my opinion, Jayden was the best point guards on the floor against ABC Young Lions White 15u. His overall skills stood out during the Cream City Rise Tournament. This young man is the complete package! He’s a shifty guard with elite ball handling skills. Jayden showed the ability to attack defenders going either right or left. He excelled at using a quick first-step to beat defenders to the basket. Most of his drives led to easy scores at the rim. Jayden showed all the traits of being a great play-maker. His flashy passes always led to high percentage shots for his teammates. He’s a high energy player who looked to push the pace and attack opposing defenses. Jayden also showed the ability to knock down short perimeter shots and occasional three-pointers. Whether it was scoring, assisting or rebounding, Jayden was a major problem for the opposition. He played great on-ball defense and forced opposing guards into mistakes. He was also adept at jumping passing lanes and generating...

 Dawood was the best shooter on the floor in their match-up against 262 All-Stars 16u. Dawood is the type of player that catches fire after he sees a shot go down. After knocking down his first shot, Dawood reeled off another two straight three-pointers. He’s very knowledgeable of finding ways to shake off defenders and scoring points. ABC Young Lions White 15u players and coaches played a vital role in freeing Dawood up for clean looks at the basket. These were done by setting screens and running a motion style of offense that allowed him to be effective. Dawood was not relegated to just shooting three-pointers. He showed the ability to get into the paint and score floaters around the basket. Dawood is a legit shooting threat who every coach loves to have. He's a great scorer who could be the catalyst to his team's success this AAU season.

 Lavant is a great  scorer and facilitator. He was un-guard-able in the game against ABC Young Lions White 15u. Lavant made scoring look easy compared to other players on the court. He’s a tough shot-maker who had a knack of blowing by opponents with a great first-step. The quick move allowed him to attack the paint, score points or dish out passes to his teammates. When he was in the game Lavant dictated how he played. If he needed to be aggressive, he attacked. In other moments he became the team facilitator. Lavant also showed a great shooting touch from the three-point line. He was able to knock down two of them with a host of mid-range pull-ups. As I said, Lavant was hard to stop regardless of who defended him. Lavant is an awesome player who I really enjoyed watching! He has a great future ahead of him in the game of basketball. Lavant had a highlight moment in the game when he finished the 1st half with a two-handed slam.

  I enjoyed watching this young man play basketball. Kalvin showed off a nice touch from the perimeter. It didn’t matter if he scored in the post, nailed mid-range shots or converted three-pointers, Kalvin had the complete package working for him. In the post he used his size to effectively score on smaller defenders. I was surprised by his ball handling skills. Kalvin used a variety of hesitation moves to easily get around defenders and make plays. These one-on-one moves led to easy scores at the rim. I truly appreciated his ability to score from mid-range. Kalvin was very effective within fifteen feet of the basket. The mid-range game doesn’t exist much in today’s game. It was refreshing to see a young player taking advantage of converting easier shots. Kalvin is also a great rebounder. He had no problems using his physicality to dominate the glass on both ends of the court. After watching the energy he played with, I believe Kalvin a great all around player. He's multi-skil...

  Caleb was the hardest working player on the court Sunday morning. He has a great basketball IQ which allowed him to make plays at a high level. Caleb has the skills to pass, rebound, set screens, score and do all the intangibles. He’s an excellent post player who dominated smaller defenders as a legit scoring threat. I was thoroughly impressed with his ability to run the court and score transition baskets. This showed his effort to do whatever it took to be make a difference on the basketball court. Whether it was grabbing rebounds, taking defenders to the basket or knocking down free-throws, Caleb proved to be a vital player for the team. Defensively, he patrolled the paint and blocked multiple shots. Whenever opposing players attacked the paint, Caleb was always around to alter the shot. Keep it up Caleb!!

 Dominick is an athletic player who beats defenders to the basket, rebounds, knocks down threes and defends. There was a sequence in Sunday's game against Racine Truth 13u where Dominick reeled off three consecutive shots on offense. He started by knocking down a contested three-pointer. The next two possessions saw him getting to the basket and nailing another three. Dominick is a dynamic wing scorer who showed the ability to make shots from every area of the basketball court. He also scored transition points when the team had fast-break opportunities. Dominick is an excellent rebounder who dominated the glass on both ends of the basketball court. On defense, he blocked a shot, forced turnovers and made ball handling difficult for the opposition. Dominick is a skilled player who could be a viable threat on defense or offense.

  Corey is a play-making point-guard who attacks the basket, knocks down jump-shots and involves teammates offensively. I was pleased to see Corey have the mentality to stay aggressive throughout the game. He applied constant pressure on the All In E32 Wolff 14u defense by staying in “attack mode” on every play. Corey easily beat defenders to the basket and knocked down mid-range shots when he had the opportunity. When he had a chance to knock down threes, Corey did not hesitate to let it go. He was great at drawing contact whenever he attacked the paint. Corey calmly stepped to the foul-line and converted all his attempts. When Racine Truth 13u had an opportunity to make plays in transition, Corey was always the catalyst who pushed the pace. He scored or dished out assists to teammates who finished strong at the rim. On defense, he forced a couple of steals and excelled at playing the passing  lanes. Corey already shows all the traits of a a great leader. He has elite talent ...

  Zakhye is a great scorer who plays with a ton of confidence. He scored in various ways throughout the game. Zakhye attacked opponents off the dribble and drove to the basket. He also put up points in transition and knocked down short perimeter and three-point shots. Zakhye is what I call a “ jack of all trades.” He’s a fundamentally sound player who did whatever it took to help Racine Truth 13u win. Whether it was setting screens, taking charges, grabbing rebounds or defending, Zakhye was involved in every facet of the game. He had a knack for scoring on acrobatic drives to the rim. Some of his finishes were crafty and effective. On most occasions, he showed his dominance in the paint by grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring put-backs through contact. Zakhye generated multiple opportunities to convert three-point plays at the foul-line. He’s a talented player who has a chance to become even greater in the future.  

 John is a good all around scorer who can make shots everywhere on the court. Whether it was scoring on tough dribble drives in the paint, knocking down mid-range shots or extending his range beyond the three-point line, John proved to be hard to handle for the Pro Lane 12u defense. He’s an excellent rebounding guard who battled Pro Lane 12u players for every board he got his hands on. Some of his scores came by grabbing offensive rebounds and converting them around the rim. John is a great passer who has play-making abilities. On most occasions, he managed to find his teammates with precise passes. He's a tough combo guard who gave maximum effort on both ends of the court. John is an important player who could be vital to the success of Road to Greatness this AAU season.

  After watching Saturday's match-up with two 12u teams who played an entertaining game. I quickly learned who Pro Lane 12u's designated shooter was. Ben is a three-point shooter who takes a large volume of shots. I loved how he showed no hesitation in regards to putting them up. I clearly saw how the team relied on him to make shots. Especially from the three-point line. On Sunday morning, his shot was not falling as much. With his three point shot being off, Ben did most of his damage from mid-range. Ben is also a good rebounder. He battled Road to Greatness 12u players for rebounds on both ends of the court. Some boards led to second chance shot opportunities for his teammates. Ben was able to convert four threes by finding ways of getting open within the Pro Lane 12u offense. I believe he's the type of player who could make five to eight threes once he gets on a roll. Ben has a superpower that will push him far into the game of basketball. I know he'll take advant...

  Cole was one of the most skilled point guards in his age group. He's an excellent ball handler who plays like a true " floor general." When he found himself in isolated match-ups, Cole easily attacked his defender and scored floaters around the basket. If there were opportunities to knock down three-pointers, Cole did not hesitate. He showed off his skills as a play-maker. A majority of his passes led to easy scores for his teammates. Some were to players cutting down the lane, some along the perimeter. Cole was always in control of the offense. He showed great vocal leadership by staying in tune with his Pro Lane 12u teammates. Whenever the team had chances to score in transition, Cole was always the catalyst leading the way. Cole is an excellent young guard who has the capability of becoming even better as he grows and matures. Keep it up Cole!!

  This young guy was the truth! He’s an excellent combo guard with elite ball handling skills. Jonathan easily broke down defenders, attacked the paint and scored at the rim. He’s a great floor leader who made accurate passes. Most of his assists were converted into easy baskets by his teammates. I can say with confidence, he led Road to Greatness 12u in assists. Jonathan is the type of player who scores  from every level of the basketball court. Whether it was knocking down long distance threes or short baskets on the perimeter, no form of defense could stop him. During the game, Jonathan was great at getting to the rim and absorbing contact. The majority of his dribble drives led to him drawing fouls. These gave him numerous opportunities to convert points from the free-throw line. On defense, many of his steals led to transition scores for himself or teammates. Jonathan has a bright future in the game of basketball. With his continued growth and maturity, he could become an...

  Dylan is a tough player who stayed in “attack mode” throughout the game. He was great at keeping pressure on opposing defenses. This young man never stopped going at his opponent. Dylan always seemed to make the right plays for the Jr Raptors team. Whether it was scoring, rebounding or defending, Dylan was always in the right place, at the right time. He was great at getting into the paint and scoring. As I said, he’s a tough player who excelled at going at the opposition. He’s a great shooter from mid or long range. During the game, I watched him knock down two three-pointers despite having a hand in his face. The shots he scored from mid-range were a host of floaters and pull-up jump-shots. On defense, Dylan forced multiple steals with excellent on-ball pressure. Dylan is a hard-nosed player who is great on both sides of the ball. He will easily transition into a top two-way player in the coming years.

  Weston is a player who has the length to be effective on offense and defense. Offensively, Weston attacked every opponent who attempted to guard him throughout the game. Sometimes he drove the ball into the paint, other times he showed play-making skills. These drives into the paint allowed him to pass to his teammates for scores near the basket. Weston also has a nice mid-range shot to fall back on. As I said, this young man extends himself on both sides of the ball. Defensively, is where he truly excelled. Weston forced multiple steals using his length to be disruptive. Whenever the ball was lazily thrown, Weston jumped passing lanes and started fast-break opportunities for Team 1848 13u. He also finished the game with a couple of blocks. Weston is a great all-around player who is capable of being a star player in the future. Keep it up Weston!!

  A physical guard who played with aggression on both ends of the court. Joshua was great at getting to the basket and scoring through contact. There was a play where Joshua took on multiple defenders and scored while being fouled. He calmly stepped to the foul-line and converted the three-point play opportunity. Joshua is a great rebounder who attacked the boards on offense and defense. In my opinion, he was one of the best in his age group. Joshua had no problems attacking the glass regardless of who he went against. I was thoroughly impressed by his defensive tenacity. He generated multiple steals with great on-ball pressure and the ability of using his quick hands. Some of those steals were made by jumping the passing lanes. Joshua is a hard-working player who has a chance of becoming great in the future. I believe he’s already an elite defender. Keep it up Joshua!!

  Caden  is an excellent combo guard who is an effective scorer. Offensively, he showed the ability to get to the basket, make precise passes and knock down three-pointers. Throughout the game, he converted three shots from well beyond the arc. When the little guy had one-on-one match-ups, he effectively created the space he needed with hesitation dribble moves. The move allowed him to get off three-pointers or attack the paint. Caden also scored in transition when opportunities were available to run the floor. Caden is a player who did whatever it took to help the team's success. If True Hoops 13u needed points or assists, Caden showed a knack for making plays. On defense, he was great at playing the passing lanes and defending on the ball. In my opinion, Caden is a young talent who has a bright future in the making.

 In my opinion, Jarell performed like the best point guard in his age group. He’s an excellent ball handler who facilitates and scores whenever he needs to. Jarell easily broke down the opposing defense and made plays. Whether it was getting to the basket, dishing off assists or knocking down three-pointers, Jarell always found ways to be effective on the basketball court. He’s an awesome play-maker who always managed to show up in the biggest moments of the game. Jarell was the quickest player on the floor. On many occasions, he was able to beat opposing defenders to the basket and scored through contact. This often led to three-point play opportunities from the foul-line. Defensively, he excelled at pressing opposing guards into mistakes. Some of those steals led to transition points for himself and other teammates. I enjoyed watching this young man play at the level he showed Saturday afternoon. Jarell is a great player with a bright future ahead of him.

 Demetri continues to be a dynamic player who can do it all on the basketball court. This is my second write up of Demetri since I watched him play at the Prephoops Summer Slam tournament last summer. He was a fierce competitor who did whatever it took to win. After watching him play Saturday afternoon, I clearly saw nothing has changed. He’s become a better ball handler and facilitator. Demetri's play-making and assists led to high percentage shots for his teammates. In regard to scoring, he continues to be a player who can make shots from all areas of the court. Whether it was attacking the paint, beating defenders off the dribble, scoring from mid-range or knocking down threes, Demetri was tough to handle for the opposition. Defensively, he continues to be aggressive on the ball. Demetri forced opposing guards into turnovers with quick hands and great timing. I expect big things from this young man in the coming years. Keep it up Demetri!!

  Carvell is a dynamic scorer who had a knack for breaking down opponents and attacking the paint. He’s a great perimeter shooter that capitalized on creating space for clean looks at the basket. Carvell is a excellent one-on-one player. Whenever he had defenders isolated in scoring positions, Carvell immediately took advantage of the situation. There was a point in the game when ABC Young Lions Teal 15u needed a basket. He used a great cross-over dribble to shake his opponent, drive into the lane and finish strong at the rim. The score led to him being fouled by a Team 1848 15u player. Carvell calmly stepped to the foul-line and converted the three-point play. I was impressed with his ability to play the point forward position. His skills were showcased as a scorer and facilitator. Most of his passes led to high percentage shots for his teammates. On defense, he was tenacious. He played great on the ball and forced multiple steals from Team 1848 15u players. Carvell is a great pl...

  This young man was literally everywhere on the basketball court. Kamden is what I call a “glue guy.” He’s a player who hustles to make plays all over the court. Kamden is a physical player who seemed to relish the contact from opposing players. He showed the ability to score in the paint by beating defenders off the dribble. Kamden also excelled at scoring put-backs from the missed shots of his teammates. He's a great rebounder who attacked the glass on both ends of the court. I feel confident in saying Kamden finished the game with a double-double in points and rebounds. When there were chances to run fast-breaks, Kamden made a point to finish strong at the rim. Defensively, he was a problem for ABC Young Lions Teal 15u. Kamden's defensive tenacity led to him blocking multiple shots and forcing three steals. I believe his mentality to play hard and get the job done could raise his skills to the another level.

  Daniel is a do-it-all type of player that excelled at all facets of the game. He’s a shifty combo guard who found ways to be effective on the basketball court. Whether it was getting to the basket, assisting teammates with precise passes, scoring in transition or knocking down perimeter jump-shots, Daniel proved to be a tough cover for opposing defenders. There were points in the game where he scored tough baskets in the paint. He fearlessly drove the ball at the opposing Center despite being undersized. Of course, the hard-nosed guard finished with a nice floater over the top of him. Defensively, Daniel had at least two steals by jumping the passing lanes. Some of these turnovers were fast-break starters that led to transition scores for his teammates. Daniel is a skilled player who should have a major impact this AAU season.

  My first impression of Cody was his skills as a scorer and defender. Throughout the game he showed why he was a legit scoring threat from everywhere on the court. He finished the game with three long range shots. Cody showed no hesitation when it came to knocking down shots on the perimeter. Cody is a excellent ball handler who has the ability to create off the dribble. He made it happen by attacking the basket and scoring mid-range jumpers. Cody is a great rebounder who aggressively battled opposing players in the paint for boards. Especially on the offensive side. The majority of his rebounds led to second chance shot opportunities for himself and others. On defense, Cody was disruptive towards opposing players. He forced multiple turnovers and had a blocked shots. He’s a excellent two-way player who has an opportunity to become even greater.

 Aden was a dominant presence on the basketball court Saturday morning. Whether it was scoring, rebounding, passing or defending, Aden made sure he was always in the vicinity of the basketball. He often used his size to take advantage of smaller defenders in the paint. The big man showed the ability to be a multi-dimensional scorer. He scores points in transition, dominates around the basket and occasionally knocks down mid-range jump-shots. A couple of his fast-break scores led to three-point play opportunities from the foul-line. Aden had the strength to finish strong through contact despite being fouled. He's a great rebounder who excelled at grabbing boards on both ends of the court. Defensively, Aden was a menace towards opposing players. He blocked shots, protected the paint and altered most shot attempts that came his way. Aden is a strong player who is capable of becoming a special talent in the future.

  Jace played with the ultimate score’s mentality Sunday morning. He aggressively looked for his shot in the game against True Hoops 13u. He scored the ball in a variety of ways by utilizing his ball handling ability. Jace easily won his one-on-one match-ups against the opposition. He consistently attacked the basket and scored. There were moments when he used step-back dribble moves to convert mid-range jumpers. Jace also showed the ability to extend his shooting range beyond the three-point line. He knocked down multiple shots from deep range throughout the game. On defense, he excelled at pressing opposing guards into mistakes and turnovers. These actions led to positive outcomes for 815 Certified Basketball 13u. Jace is a legit scorer who will only progress in the years to come. Keep it up Jace!!

  One of the best young defensive guards I watched over the weekend. Ameer is an unselfish player who facilitates and makes everyone around him better. The majority of his passes were on the money. His assists led to high percentage shots being made by his 815 Certified 13u teammates. He showed the ability to get into the paint and score floaters around the basket. Where I was thoroughly impressed, is the defensive end of the court. Ameer is close to being an elite defender already. He was able to wreak havoc on the True Hoops 13u guards with great on-ball pressure. Ameer finished the game with four steals. It feels like he truly enjoys focusing on defense. The area he needs to work on is his ball handling. He had too many turnovers to go along with the assists. Once he fixes this issue, I have no doubt Ameer could be one of the best upcoming point guards in his class.

  I truly enjoyed watching this young man play Saturday afternoon. His Wisconsin Play-makers 16u team was clearly overwhelmed by 262 All-Stars 16u. Despite the mis-match between the two teams, Isaiah gave his best effort to stop them. This guy was everywhere on the court! I’m not exaggerating when I say, he literally guarded every position on the floor. Whether it was defending both guard positions, the forwards or the center, Isaiah made his presence known. Sometimes he made stops, sometimes he didn’t. The point is, his effort was off the charts and he’s the type of player every coach wants to have. Isaiah plays the game with no fear and I truly appreciated the effort I witnessed. He aggressively attacked opposing players throughout the game. Isaiah scored multiple lay-ups off strong drives into the paint. Some of his offensive rebounds led to put-backs around the basket. If there was an All-Effort Team, Isaiah would live on it!

  Aaidyn is a balanced player who is excellent in all phases of the game. Especially on the offensive side of the ball. He showed the capability of doing whatever he wanted on the basketball court. Whether it was scoring, rebounding or dishing out assists to his teammates, Aaidyn was a major factor to 262 All-Stars 16u’s success. He’s a great ball handler who showed the ability to create off the dribble. Aaidyn was a mis-match for his defender on most occasions. He used a variety of dribbling moves to either attack the basket or knock down perimeter shots. He’s also capable of extending his range to the three-point line. Aaidyn finished the game with multiple conversions from this distance. Defensively, he’s a great shot-blocker. Aaidyn turned away multiple players attempting to score in the paint. He also showed his versatility by defending smaller players on the wing. Aaidyn is a special talent who has all the traits of a star in the making.

  After watching him play, I feel confident in saying that Anthony is an outstanding player. He showed great leadership to go along with scoring, involving teammates and overall play-making. Anthony has a smoothness to his game. He easily beats defenders to the basket for easy scores. The quick first-step he showed was lethal against the opposition. He’s also capable of knocking down mid-range jumpers and long distance three-pointers. There were moments in the game where Anthony was un-guardable! He scored on three straight possessions before leaving the game to rest. These were two consecutive dribble drives and a 15 foot pull-up. On defense, he used quick hands and great footwork to be a nuisance towards the Wisconsin Play-makers 16u guards. Anthony forced three steals and pressured them into mistakes. In my opinion, this young man has an attitude that’s even keeled. He lets the game come to him and doesn’t force the action in a costly manner. Anthony is already an elite guard fr...

  I enjoyed watching this young man play Saturday afternoon. Jaedon is an aggressive combo guard who looks to attack opposing defenders at all times. He’s an excellent ball handler who easily beats opponents off the dribble. This led to numerous scores in his one-on-one match-ups. Jaedon excelled at getting into the paint and scoring floaters or tough lay-ups around the basket. When he had an opportunity to knock down three-pointers, he did with extreme confidence. A number of his scores came in transition with great finishes at the rim. Defensively, he forced multiple turnovers with quick hands and great on-ball pressure. Jaedon is a awesome player with an excellent all around game. With continued growth and maturity, I believe he’s capable of becoming a great two-way player in the future. 

Evan is a great overall player who does everything on the basketball court. Whether it’s scoring, assisting, rebounding or defending, Evan was constantly around the basketball. He’s a natural play-maker who succeeds at either guard spot. Evan is one of the top play-makers on the Team 1848 14u team. He started the game by dishing off accurate passes to his teammates. As the game went on, Evan eventually picked up his scoring. He’s great at breaking down defenders, getting into the lane and scoring tough baskets. Evan also showed the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers and extend his range beyond the three-point line. Evan is an excellent rebounder who did not mind battling opposing players in the paint. On defense, he excelled at pressuring opposing guards into turnovers. A number of steals he forced, led to transition scores for other Team 1848 14u players. Evan is a great talent who has a bright future in the game of basketball.

  Aaden was a monster in the paint Saturday morning. He dominated smaller defenders by using his height and length to effectively score on offense. The majority of his points were scored by grabbing offensive rebounds or cleaning up missed shots by his teammates. Aaden is a fundamentally sound player who was great at setting screens, passing and making all the type of plays that help the team win. His screens were effective enough to free up other ABC Young Lions Black players for high percentage shots. In some instances, Aaden showed the ability to score on pick and roll plays. He’s an excellent rebounder who dominated the glass on both ends of the court. Defensively, he was a serious presence in the paint. He blocked multiple shots and contested every player who attempted to score. When Aaden develops more as an offensive player, he could be unstoppable. I look forward to seeing how much he progresses in the coming years.

Feranmi was un-guard-able whenever he attacked the basket. He’s an excellent ball handler who easily beat defenders off the dribble. When he attacked the paint, he either scored or dished off passed to his teammates. There were moments in the game where Feranmi made plays from all levels of the basketball court. He showed the ability to get to the rim and make tough shots. When he saw a teammate cutting down the lane, Feranmi hit them with a nice pass that led to a score. If he was given open looks from behind the three-point line, Feranmi knocked them down with no hesitation. He had a highlight play at the end of the first half. Feranmi was able to knock down a long distance three at the buzzer. That play gave West Irving Gold 13u a momentum swing going into the second half. On defense, he was a ball-hawk. Feranmi applied great on-ball pressure to the opposition. His aggressive play style led to numerous turnovers and mistakes from Team 1848 14u guards. Feranmi is a skilled player wh...

  I was thoroughly impressed by Nolan's performance Saturday morning.  The big man showed great passing skills! Whenever he received the ball in the post, his passes led to easy scores by his teammates. He was able to hit West Irving Gold 13u players cutting to the basket or along the perimeter. Nolan was a dominant force in the paint. He often scored around the basket and showed a great shooting touch on the perimeter. In the match-up against Team 1848 14u, he knocked down multiple jump-shots from mid-range and beyond the three-point line. I was shocked when Nolan put the ball on the floor and drove the ball to the rim for a tough lay-up. I did not expect the big guy to be so skilled and agile. Well, I guess I was wrong. I loved the energy he showed on the basketball court. Defensively, Nolan was great at protecting the paint. He blocked a shot and made scoring difficult for opposing players. Nolan is a skilled big man who will continue to flourish with any team he plays wit...

  Riley played like a "man among boys" in their match-up against West Irving Gold 13u. He’s a great scorer who led his team in points. I feel confident in saying Riley scored over 20 points  throughout the game. In one-on-one match-ups, he easily went around the opposition, attacked the paint and scored the basket. When Team 1848 14u had an opportunity to score in transition, Riley easily finished at the rim. There was a moment in the game where he scored on three straight possessions. They were all strong dibble drives to the basket. Riley is also a strong rebounder who did it on both ends of the court. I believe at least 10 of his points came from grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring put-backs around the basket. On defense, he was a force in the paint. He blocked multiple shots and altered every scoring attempt that came his way. Riley is a great player who has all the capability of becoming elite in the coming years.

  KJ is an excellent shooter, scorer and facilitator. He showed the ability to score from all areas of the basketball court.  KJ was great at beating defenders off the dribble, attacking the paint and dishing off passes to his Takeoff Basketball 12u teammates. The majority of his passes led to positive plays for the team. KJ is a three-point assassin! He has the perfect set-shot with a great shooting form. The shot always looked good. Even the ones that missed. He finished the game with three conversions from beyond the arc. KJ also scored from mide-range by using various dribbling moves to free himself. Gaining the extra space away from opponents, allowed him to get clean shots at the basket. On defense, he stayed attached to Chapman Basketball 12u guards by poking at the ball and giving them no room to operate effectively. KJ is a promising player who could become special with growth and maturity. Keep it up KJ!! 

  I admired the mentality of this young man Saturday morning. Marvell stayed in constant “attack mode" throughout the game. He scored many of his points off tough drives to the basket. Some led  to him converting three-point plays from the free-throw line after being fouled. Marvell also showed great play-making ability by hitting other Takeoff Basketball 12u players with accurate passes. These assists often led to easy scores for his teammates around the basket. He was great at drawing in the defense off dribble drives. This helped free up others for open looks at the rim. Marvell is a tenacious rebounder who did not mind being physical in the paint. He attacked the boards with as much ferocity as he did when he looked to score. Marvell is an excellent young player who could become a great two-way player in the future. Keep working Marvell!!

  Clay is a great rebounder who has a knack for grabbing boards and scoring around the basket. He did this on multiple occasions throughout the game. Clay also showed the ability to take his man off the dribble and score in the paint. When Chapman Basketball 12u had opportunities to run the floor, Clay had no problems finishing strong. Another strength to his game was his ability to knock down mid-range jumpers. He made this happen numerous times despite having a hand in his face. On defense, he gave maximum effort by poking the ball away from defenders. He also challenged their shots at the basket. After watching him play, I viewed Clay as a hardworking player who did anything  to help Chapman Basketball 12u win.

  He’s an excellent ball handler who showed the ability to make plays all over the basketball court. Whether it was attacking defenses, getting to the baskets, assisting teammates with great passes or knocking down three-pointers, Crew was a problem for the Takeoff Basketball 12u defense. There were numerous occasions where Crew easily beat his opponent on dribble drives into the paint. This led to him scoring floaters or dishing off passes to his teammates. He knocked down multiple threes and scored a number of times in transition. Defensively, Crew was great at applying pressure on Takeoff Basketball 12u guards. The constant harassment led to many steals. These turnovers provided positive outcomes for Chapman Basketball 12u. Crew has a bright future in the game of basketball. Keep it up Crew!!