UAA KC: 2022 standouts
(photo credit to Pat Lammer) This weekend I attended the Under Armour Association in Kansas City, MO at the Hyvee Arena. Here were some of the standouts from the freshman class. Jarace Walker Jarace Walker 6'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022…
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Continue Reading(photo credit to Pat Lammer)
This weekend I attended the Under Armour Association in Kansas City, MO at the Hyvee Arena.
Here were some of the standouts from the freshman class.
Jarace Walker Jarace Walker 6'8" | CG IMG Academy | 2022 State #12 Nation FL F 6’6” 220 IMG Academy (FL) (Team Thrill 17U-MD)
-Walker is a thicker forward who can really shoot it out to the 3pt line. He has good body control in traffic and can block shots and rebounds decently in area. He does tend to settle for 3’s a little and plays with an up and down motor at times. That being said he has obvious gifts with his high skill level and great body. He is a current Top-25 player.
Derrian Ford PG 6’2” 194 Magnolia (AR) (Team South 16U UAA)
-Ford can get to any spot on the floor he wants. He is a high level, somewhat volume, scorer. The lefty can shoot it from deep and his mid-range pull-up is nasty. He can carve up space in the lane versus other guards and score it. With his tight handle he gets a lot of paint touches then makes a play. He does have good court vision but his teammates are not on his level yet and needs to score to win these high level UAA games. He already holds an offer from Baylor.
Austin Nunez PG 6’1” 152 Randolph (TX) (Texas Hard Work 17U UAA)
-Nunez is a quick lefty with deep 3pt range. He has great quickness with a fast first step to get by his defenders. He has good court vision and made some nice passes in traffic and on the break. He is good off the catch and can create his own offense a little. He should make strides every year and is already affecting 17U games. The highly skilled lefty holds an offer from UTSA.
Aidan Mahaney PG 6’2” 150 Campolindo (CA) (West Coast Elite Nor Cal UAA 16U)
-Mahaney has an elite feel for the game. He can make players better and get his own. He can pull-up off the dribble any time he wants. He does have a little lower release but highly effective. He is good off the catch and has good open court speed and his passing ability is next level. One of the better freshman PGs in CA.
Jordan Pope PG 6’0” Freedom HS (CA) (Team Arsenal 16U Rise)
-Pope is a scoring PG. He has a good burst and is poised. He has deep 3pt range and makes others better around him. He has good speed and can get into the lane and score it with either hand.
Elijah Saunders Elijah Saunders 6'8" | PF Sunnyslope | 2022 State AZ SF/F 6’6” 205 Rancho Solano Prep (AZ) (Powerhouse Hoops 15U Rise)
-Saunders had a great weekend for himself which included a 35-point outburst. He can shoot it consistently from the mid to the 3pt line. He slowly is getting taller and is now a legit 6’6” and keeps growing plus gaining some more bounce. He can dunk it easier and has a strong frame/build to absorb contact. He can improve his handle in tight spaces but shows a lot of future upside. He picked up his 1st offer this weekend from South Dakota.
Austin Patterson CG 6’2” 165 Sonora (CA) (West Coast Elite Nor Cal 16U UAA)
-Patterson is a cerebral catch 3pt shooter. He can finish with either hand and he plays like a PG with good poise, pace and IQ. He is very competitive, tough and skilled.
Takai Emerson-Hardy SF 6’5” 199 Vanden (CA) (West Coast Elite Nor Cal 16U UAA)
-Emerson-Hardy is a thick athletic wing who likes to attack to the basket. He is a very good rebounder in and out of area. He is very good on the break and scoring through contact. Will need to develop a little more skill moving forward but has good upside with length, body, effort and competitiveness.