Double Pump Spring Hoopfest – Under-the-radar freshmen Part 1
My colleagues Devin Ugland and Joel Francisco had a strong breakdown of the top 2021 prospects in the gym during the three-day Double Pump Spring Hoopfest. Aside from those known prospects, there were several players on smaller club programs who stood out.
Here are several names to remember and track from the weekend that was.
Double Pump Spring Hoopfest – Under the radar freshmen
Uryah Rojas (pictured), 5-11 PG, IEBP White
Rojas (Los Osos HS) is a crafty, true point guard who elevates his teammates with his high-IQ. He has a quick first step and gets into the lane with little resistance. Once he attacks, he always has his eyes up to see passing options to open shooters or cutters. While finishing through contact is an issue, Rojas does a good job of avoiding contact and finishing creatively around the rim.
Sheldon Grant II, 6-1 PG, IEBP White
A long, willowy built combo guard, Grant has become much more assertive than previous viewings. He is deceptively quick, and uses his long strides to get by defenders and score at the basket. Grant has always been a solid catch and shoot guy, but he’s adding some nice midrange pull-ups to his offensive package. Adding strength to his frame will only take his game to the next level.
Ryan Moore, 6-3 WF, Red & Black 17u
Relentless is a great word to describe Moore, a 6-3 freshman from famed Salesian HS in the Bay Area. Moore’s motor on defense is nonstop, and he prides himself on guarding the opponents best player. He took turns picking up Christian James and Luke Haupt in the game against College Bound. Offensively, Moore is a work in progress. He has raw feel and his offensive production largely comes off of offensive put backs and spot-up shots from midrange. His frame, athleticism and drive leads us to believe that he will work on his deficiencies on the other end.
David Black, 5-9 PG, Team Fundamentals 15u
While his team was outclassed in a blowout against And1 Academy, it was clear that Black (Bloomington HS) could more than hold his own against the competition. He is a crafty jitterbug guard who uses changes of pace and head fakes to keep defenders off balance, and has a crafty layup and floater package to boot. Black has a tendency to force things, which led to a lot of turnovers in the game, but some of those mistakes were because his basketball IQ was much higher than his teammates. Like Grant, he has a very thin frame, and narrow shoulders.
And1 Academy 15u G Justin Mitchell has made big strides this past yearJustin Mitchell, 5-10 G, And1 Academy 15u
Coming off the bench for And1, Mitchell (Tri-City Christian) might be the best guard prospect of the bunch. The athletic combo guard is a strong on-ball defender, forcing opponents into turnovers at a regular clip. Offensively, he has improved his shot and is solid off the catch. In transition, he showed a solid passing IQ and had a couple of nifty assists and finishes in the open court. Improving his point guard skill set (playing in pick-and-roll, drive-and-kick) will be the next step of this up-and-coming guard’s development.