B.J. Marable Player Evaluation (2020)
In a state light on quality big man Grace Christian Academy (GCA) starts a quality college prospect B.J. Marable. The forward from Knoxville provides the reigning Division II Class A a significant post presence. How good is B.J. Marable now? …
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Continue ReadingIn a state light on quality big man Grace Christian Academy (GCA) starts a quality college prospect B.J. Marable. The forward from Knoxville provides the reigning Division II Class A a significant post presence. How good is B.J. Marable now? How good can B.J. be?
B.J. Marable landed at #54 in the most recent Class of 2020 rankings.
The 2020 rankings will be updated later this month and Marable deserves a deeper look after his 16u summer with EOTO-TN.
Offense (0-15): 9
A little stiff, B.J. Marable instantly gives Grace Christian Academy a frontcourt presence. If he gets the pass up above the waist then Marable is reliable finishing.His upper body strength ranks in the top 20 in the state (2020) and he stands 6-foot-6. Marable projects as a power forward at the college level.
Hands are just ok. Marable is a solid catch-and-score guy. He can finish off a play better than the average high school big. He has good shoulder strength and solid awareness of the rim at all times.
Asking him to give a couple of elusive dribbles is still a bridge too far. Marable projects as a forward with little wing tendencies. He is more comfortable setting a screen and maybe flaring or diving than coming off a screen and dribbling a few times towards the rim.
Marable’s attacks will be most successful when he catches above the waist and keeps the ball high.
Even if he does get looser in the hips the talented forward lacks the elite handle to create for himself in college traffic.
One area of realistic improvement for Marable is back-to-the-basket work. He has a solid frame and appears to embrace coaches. Marable can incorporate more pivots and half-turns on the blocks.
Defense (0-10): 6
Positioning from B.J. is just adequate. While Marable hangs goalside of his man he lags from visual recognition and physical reaction. Marable’s help defensive awareness lacks plenty.
Playing AAU Marable was typically the lone big man and with Grace Christian there are countless lineups within which he is essentially the big man. Playing college basketball someday B.J. Marable will surely play alongside another big man. When this happens Marable might be a better helper.
Currently, Marable needs to adjust to slicing guards and soaring wings on their way to jackpot. He doesn’t do it quickly enough.
He doesn’t prepare to cut off the penetration and any recovery to the preferred defensive chokepoint lags.
Viewed purely under the lens of man-to-man defense Marable is slightly above average. At least at the high school varsity level Marable is physical and a little foreboding.
As a nice athlete Marable could possibly be a shotblocker, on occasion, at the next level. The verticality of his game is merely ok, but the potential for improvement as a leaper does exist.
Rebounding (0-10): 8
Not overly explosive. Most of his rebounds come at nine or ten feet off of the ground. Marable is likely to become more springy in a year or a little over a year, but wings can currently challenge him on caroms.
When rebounding offensively Marable doesn’t move his feet enough to hunt misses.
Marable’s favored technique is leaning on his defender to pin down. Imagine a forward currently blocked out. Most forwards either retreat in anticipation of the ball going through the hoop or the rare rebounders hunt the miss with ferocity. Marable doesn’t really do either just yet in his game’s development.
You will notice Marable leans his weight onto the blockout and hopes for a longer clang. It is not very efficient.
Any future opponent 6’6” or taller will just hold their place and corral the basketball at the rim. A young, promising player Marable needs to be so much more active on offensive glass.
He doesn’t have the brute strength to overwhelm the foe that is boxing him out and he isn’t an absurd leaper capable of hopping over a block out. Activity and height are keys.
Marable has the first, but needs to add the latter.
Passing (0-10): 6
Marable is unselfish enough to be a quality passer. He sees the floor well. Broadly writing Marable’s role with both AAU and high school is more of the finisher than the facilitator making this category difficult to gauge.
B.J. Marable might become a wonderful passer of the Draymond Green-ilk. He has the instincts, just not the inclination or urgency to move the rock.
Intangibles (0-5): 4
Never shows up his coach. Quietly absorbs information and works instantly to incorporate it. Offensively, Marable finds his marks. A fast-moving stageplay involving Marable would unfold swimmingly as he knows the correct movements and assignments.
Energy tepid. Not a relentless worker in the game setting.
Supportive, not greedy. Shares joy in teammate success.
FINAL SCORE (0-50): 33
Growing up within the Grace Christian Academy system, B.J. Marable made varsity well before the playing time was available to him. He watched seniors and gifted juniors for months before he found meaningful minutes. Apparently this left Marable accustomed to limited touches. As a junior himself now the time has come to gain more offensive responsibility. Marable’s buy-in is higher.
The output should be climbing this year for Marable and Grace Christian appears poised to be the beneficiary.
UPDATE: Tuesday December 4th, B.J. Marable recorded a fantastic 14 point, 13 rebound game against Silverdale.
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