PrepHoopsTN Recaps: Part V
MURFREESBORO-
PrepHoopsTN / Above The Rim Gym Fall Combine introduced a Dyer County High School starter in Julian Bond, a Team Thad Elite forward in Kam Collier, and a tough, physical sophomore point guard in Cedric Williams Jr.
All three played physical, tough basketball. Determining the levels of each is challenging. Both Kam Collier and Julian Bond are going to struggle with that tweener moniker. Are they forwards? Are they wings? That will be up to college recruiters to decipher, but they each devoted time and energy to competing around the basket Sunday.
Cedric Williams is younger than both and just might be a college point guard. Cedric came to Murfreesboro ranked PrepHoopsTN #43.
Kam Collier 2019 Tipton-Rosemark Academy Forward
A classic high school 4, Kam is one of many plus pieces with Tipton Rosemark Academy. Collier is very powerful with the upper body especially. Though he does win almost all reboundset above him he lacks the springy legs and darting speed to scurry outside his immediate reach. For college Collier’s position is fuzzy. Football training and lifting hwko build him into a massive young man. For basketball purposes he doesn’t look like a college wing, making him a 3/4 tweener. This 2019 prospect showcased very definitive strengths and limitations.
Julian Bond 2020 Dyer County Wing Forward
Rugged. Coaches bounded back and forth between calling Julian a power forward or a wing. Either way Julian Bond was a top 10 rebounder in the gym. He is very strong and courageous in traffic. With his mixture of size and strength he needs to finish more above the rim though.
>Defensive rebounding is a strength though Julian could rebound better outside his area. Every player can improve their pre-rim rebounding reads. Most young players never even give it a second thought, but rebound king Dennis Rodman did two things Julian Bond can do tomorrow, predict and chase.
Cedric Williams Jr. 2021 Cane Ridge Point Guard
Cedric is a tough-minded, physical guard. He plays more like a Northeastern point guard than most in middle Tennessee meaning he values the basketabll at all costs, hates to relinquish the dribble, and embraces any challenge. Williams plays well against players who are better than him. That shows mental toughness.
Cane Ridge High School will benefit from Cedric’s composed possessions this winter. Williams Jr. managed to find minutes last winter as a freshman and with the graduation of two strong starters the minutes are certain to increase substantially.
The upper body strength and lower body balance of Williams Jr. are better than average. He looks stout and powerful on defense. The challenge of working against senior guards every day in practice last year paid off. Now he is able to deter most dribblers or at least delay their penetration.
Pump fakes and simple moves don’t impress Cedric. Judging purely by his defensive style he probably has grown up playing against some older men. He has a lot more calm about him around elementary fakes. His composure on the defensive end is something he can really build off of.
Going forward he should use his chest to block the path along with the customary feet slides. Cedric looks like he might be bigger and stronger than all high school guards as he hits senior season. The center of gravity will help his leverage and defense.