Bryce’s Notebook: Early 17U standouts from the #GrindSZNKickoff
Nate Goodlow 2020 Team Griffin point guard
Nate Goodlow was playing some of his best basketball on Friday evening for Team Griffin’s incoming senior squad. He picked off passes and finished on the opposite end often, and though we didn’t officially keep stats, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Goodlow had a double-double in steals and points. He was a defensive nightmare, but his scoring didn’t begin and end on fast breaks; Goodlow stood out on the offensive end, as well, as his jumper was falling all afternoon.
Alex Krogmeier 2020 Kansas Grind Elite wing
Alex Krogmeier was amongst the most elite shooters on the opening night of the #GrindSZNKickoff as he knocked down six 3-pointers in his first game. Krogmeier, listed at 6-foot-4-inches, had the shooting success he did in great attribution to his height. Elite reach allowed him to elevate and finish his jump shot over defenders. However, nobody develops an elite-level shot without spending his share in the gym, and Krogmeier showed that his gym time is well spent. Few guys can hit shots with heavy contest to the degree that he can.
Christian Cook 2020 Team Buddy Buckets wing
Christian Cook had an outstanding day for Buddy Buckets on Friday. He was an incredible scoring threat as his hesitation move was working like a machine to help him blow by defenders. Few players can go up with Christian Cook and stop him from scoring at the rim or committing a foul, making Cook one of the deadliest scorers in the 17U bracket.
Carlos Miller (AR) 2020 All Arkansas Red guard
Carlos Miller was a scoring problem for defenders pretty much any time he had the ball in his hands. The 6-foot-3-inch standout combo guard could shoot the ball from 3-point land, drive in to hit the floater, or share the ball with his teammates out of the dribble. In the same realm as his scoring abilities, Miller was able to finish at the rim with both hands, even whilst taking heavy contact. Though he wasn’t the tallest player on the floor, he certainly made up for it with his poise to score.
KD Jolly 2020 Team Buddy Buckets point guard
Heart over height is certainly the mantra of KD Jolly. The 5-foot-8-inch junior stood out as a scorer, specifically, but was extraordinary on the defensive end, as well. Jolly hit the 3-ball well out of the catch, but also blew by defenders to finish at the rim as well. Defensively, he was pivotal for Buddy Buckets in limiting opposing ball-handlers. His lateral quickness and ability to stop scorers one-on-one was a huge safety net for his team.
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