SAAU Championship Performers Under the Radar
During the SAAU Championships, there were ranked and unranked players who played very well. In most cases, the ranked players were the athletes who took their game to another level. However, there were five under the radar players who performed…
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Continue ReadingDuring the SAAU Championships, there were ranked and unranked players who played very well. In most cases, the ranked players were the athletes who took their game to another level. However, there were five under the radar players who performed admirably. These players definitely opened some eyes with the way they played during the championships.
Nigel Brown / Monroe Lightening / 6’1″ / Wing / 2020
At one point Monroe was losing their quarterfinal game by six headed into the final eight minutes. All of the sudden, one player took over. That player was Nigel Brown. His on ball defense was the catalyst in the Lightening pulling out the victory. Brown hounds ballhandlers and has the ability to cause turnovers. He also helps finalize defensive possessions with securing rebounds. On defense he has a knack for making the right play. Offensively he is a strong driver of the basketball. He gets to the rack and takes all contact. When he shoots the corner three, it is usually money in the bank. Brown basically took over the final minutes of the game with his play which got his team the victory. I think Nigel will be a player to watch going forward during the rest of the summer.
Marquarius Johnson / Louisiana Roundballers / 5’10 / Guard / 2022
Johnson is a ligtening quick, ballhandling guard who played point for the 15U Roundballers during the SAAU champioships. While they lost the their contest to Louisiana Xtreme, Johnson showed that he is a hard guard to stop. Various guards were tasked to hold him in the halfcourt and he blew by each one. His ability to make floaters and to get all the way to the rim for layups was special. He stays low to the ground with his dribble and finds ways to use his speed to get by defenders. Johnson still has to tighten up his dribble. There are times when he dribbles loosely and the defense took advantage. Make no mistake though. When he gets that together, he will not be under the radar much longer. Johnson will be a special talent.
Chaun Moore / Louisiana Broncos / 5’11 / Guard / 2020
Even though the Broncos ended up losing in the quarters to the Monroe Lightening, Chaun Moore was one of the better players on the floor during the game. He has a toughness about him that is hard to match. Moore is an in-your-face type of defender and hounds guards into turnovers. With his handle, he has an ability to get into the lane and cause trouble. Moore is also great in the open floor and either finds people running their lanes or scores the ball himself. Simply put, he is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to helping his team. While he might be under the radar now, guards that play Moore will have their hands full on both ends of the floor. He will definitely bring the best out of any guard he is up against.
Eric McKnight / Louisiana Roundballers / 6’2″ / Wing / 2021
The surprise of the weekend had to be the play of wing Eric McKnight. The Roundballers finished in 4th place and McKnight was a big reason why. His athleticism showed in all parts of his game this weekend. He played great on ball defense. Even if a defender got by him, his long arms were able to block shots from behind. McKnight also rebounded the ball and began the break on numerous times. He found players streaking down the court on several occassions. His perimeter shot was falling as well as he shot most of his threes two steps behind the three point line. McKnight also found his way to hole on several instances. If it were not for the play of Kendal Coleman, McKnight would have been the Roundballers MVP. After this weekend, his days under the radar are numbered.
Damon Watkins / Louisiana Cavs / 5’9″ / Point Guard / 2020
Watkins was probably the hardest guard to defend this weekend. During game play he was impossible to stay in front of. He ran the Cavs offense like a true point as well. Watkins knew how to get in the lane and dish the ball off or find shooters spotting up. Taller defenders especially had a hard time with him because they were not as quick as him laterally. Watkins also found his way to the rim on a coulpe of instances. He used creative layups to get the ball on the glass and finish. Watkins proved to be a one man fast break at times as well. His point guard game was on point during their lose to Cenla Green. If he continues to play at this level, Watkins will be on the radar as opposed to under it the rest of the summer.
These five players may have been under the radar going into the SAAU championships. However, after last weekend, they will definitely turn some heads of coaches going forward. With team camps coming up as well, some of these players will be given numerous chances to improve their stock around basketball circles.