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!!