#SpringKickoff2019: Floor Generals & Floor Spacers
Guard play was one of the most impressive parts of the day as ball-handlers were getting after it all day. Here is five players who stood out as they were able to run the offense, get others involved and create…
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Continue ReadingGuard play was one of the most impressive parts of the day as ball-handlers were getting after it all day. Here is five players who stood out as they were able to run the offense, get others involved and create on Championship Sunday.
Jacob Mattox – New Mexico D1 Ambassadors
Although D1 lost the game to get to the championship one of the sharpshooters that stood out in the game is Mattox. Mattox was able to get open looks as he found the open spots and ran off of screens. He has smooth shooting mechanics and is a high IQ guard that knows where to be. He fills the lane correctly and is a player that can shoot it as soon as he crosses half court that teams have to keep an eye on. He was able to keep his team around as he had 17 points while hitting five 3-pointers. Once he is in a zone like that the team is really able to flow.
Marcus Scott– New Mexico D1 Ambassadors
D1 Ambassadors ended up falling to Team KC Ball but one guard that stood out all day has been Scott. Scott had maybe the quickest first step in the entire gym and his speed only made things easier for his teammates. Once he is able to break a defender down with his great ball handling abilities he then has the awareness to find an open man. He had multiple flashy passes that left the defense confused on how to slow him down and also has one of the smoothest mid-range pullups which he hit at a high rate. Scott is great in the open court as he is able to push the pace without many turnovers and also finishes well for his size while looking for contact. His change of pace game makes it difficult for opposing teams to keep up with.
Jordan Thompson – Team Buddy Buckets
Thompson has himself another big day. Buddy Buckets were against the ropes and it looked as if they were going to fall to the Colorado Miners but Thompson came alive. The sharpshooter finished with a game high 19-points and also was crucial down the stretch knocking down the final six free throws to secure the victory. He is able to move so well off of the ball that it becomes easy to get into the paint and finish. He was getting ran off of the 3-point line where he is used to dominating from and just adjusted. He got in the paint and had four layups while also setting up his guys inside. He is a guard that can disrupt the defense with his outside shooting but penetrating is where he is also dangerous as he has great vision and is a willing passer. Against Wyoming Power he took on the distributing role as he finished with 11 points and a half dozen assists while also trying to get others involved in the championship loss to Team KC. His shot was not falling in Colorado but that will return and he will get back to lighting up gyms in no time. Take a look at Thompson while you can.
Ethan Scott – Team Buddy Buckets
Last week in Oklahoma Scott had my pick as one of the top shooters in the entire nation and this week in Colorado assured it. Scott is able to take over games with his outside shooting and he has unlimited range. He is always moving and is an excellent passer that makes smart plays. He is able to come off of the screen and shoot it, is lights out by himself and also can create off of the dribble no matter if there is a person in front of him. He can also put the ball on the floor and get inside of the lanes for a finish. In the championship he had 15 points while knocking down three 3-pointers and disrupted the defense with his ability to space the floor. While Scott is a shooting guard he is able to take on the ball handling duties and does not force much. He runs the offense to perfection and has a high basketball IQ while looking for others. Buddy Buckets is a great coached team, but when you have disciplined guards like Pedulla and Scott, running the team becomes that much easier. Scott is a player that schools should have on their radars as he will surely be picked up by summer’s end.
Dalante Shannon – Team Buddy Buckets
Shannon is another guard who emerged for this Buddy Buckets 16U championship team. He is a difference-maker guard who is looking to run. He is a quick guard that creates off of the dribble and is also a confident shooter. He plays with an edge with a nice crossover that frees himself up and he is either going to drop it off to an open man or create for himself. He is a selfless player that is looking to make the right plays but is also explosive which makes it easier for him to finish at the rim. What Shannon does is change things up for Buddy Buckets as he is a versatile athletic guard with speed. He is ultra-aggressive and is able to guard multiple positions. He finished with 11-points in the championship game while getting inside as he his hard to contain. He had a few steals in the open court and ran the lanes well off ball to finish with some easy baskets.