Bash in the Desert Day 1: Most Versatile
Versatility is the name of the game at the next level. The trend is for positionless players who can do a little bit of everything. The players below were tough to play against due to their ability to impact the game in an array of ways.
Bash in the Desert Day 1: Most Versatile
Jalen Graham 6’9 PF/C 2019 Mountain Pointe (Grassroots AZ)
Graham’s upside is through the roof. He is long and athletic. Further, he has a good feel for the game and competes at a high level. His footwork is solid and he has a soft touch around the rim. His versatility makes him particularly intriguing for next level teams. As he continues to solidify his shot from deep, his stock will continue to rise as a player who could potential be a lengthy stretch 4 or a 3.
Jerry Iliya 6’6 SF 2020 Phoenix Christian (Powerhouse)
Iliya is one of the most intriguing prospects from the 1st day of the event due to his youth, height, and strength. He is well built, has a good motor, and is long. Defensively, he is a nightmare for opposing teams. He is able to guard 1-5 at the high school level. Further, he is a monster on the glass as he is physical and not afraid to track loose balls. Offensively, he is a little raw, but he finishes well around the rim and attacks with a lot of aggression. His upside is through the roof.
Stephan Gabriel 6’7 SG/SF 2019 Hillcrest Prep (Team Inspire)
Gabriel was without a doubt one of the most versatile prospects at the event as he played 1-3 offensively and guarded 1-5 defensively. While he is not a true point guard, he played that position most of the weekend, and he did it well. He is more comfortable as a 2 guard or on the wing. In these spots, he is a good shooter in catch and shoot situations as well as good at using rip through moves to attack the rim and generate offense.
Keron Bailey 6’7 SG/SF 2019 AZ Compass Prep (Firestorm)
Bailey put the Firestorm on his back all weekend long. He loves to catch on the left wing and square up to attack the rim. His mixture of length, lateral speed, and strength made it extremely challenging for the opposing defenders to keep him in front. Further, he enjoys contact and tries to create it. The defenders who had success against him sagged and did not let him get into their body. As Bailey’s shot becomes more consistent, opposing teams will have to guard him further out which will translate to easier attacks.
Jalen Williams 6’3 PG 2019 Perry (Blue Chip Nation)
Williams was one of the longest guards in the event, and he used his length to be a mismatch nightmare at the point guard spot. He was willing to rise up and shoot over smaller guards, which he did with a lot of consistency. Further, bigger guards struggled greatly with staying in front of him. Moreover, he has a nice floater that is tough for opposing bigs to alter or block due to his length and quick jump.
Jackson Ruai 6’3 PG 2019 Ampitheater (Powerhouse)
College coaches love Ruai because of his length and anticipation on the defensive end. He generated a number of highlight reel plays for himself due to using his length productively. Ruai is still a project, but his uncoachables are through the roof. He has a good vertical, good lateral quickness, good speed, and he is long.
Evan Nelson 6’1 PG 2020 Salpointe Catholic (Powerhouse)
Nelson can do it all at the point guard spot. He is an extremely balanced guard who can hurt the defense in an array of ways. At 6’1, he models what a lot of college coaches are looking for in a guard. Further, he is explosive and has a lot of functional muscle mass that enables him to get into the paint whenever he wants. When he touches the paint, he makes good decisions. Further, he is a knockdown shooter from deep. Nelson has one of the highest ceilings out of any of the point guards in the state.