Adidas MDC: Undervalued Guards
2020 PG Michael Whitmore (Hype Hawks)- Back with Hype after playing with Game Elite FL most of the spring, Whitmore looked energized and excited to have more opportunities and the ball in his hands. He was especially good in the…
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Continue Reading2020 PG Michael Whitmore (Hype Hawks)- Back with Hype after playing with Game Elite FL most of the spring, Whitmore looked energized and excited to have more opportunities and the ball in his hands. He was especially good in the 2nd half of Hype’s game against Apex, in which they secured a solid OT win. As seen during the high school season with Woodward, Whitmore is an exceptional on-ball defender who anticipates well and can stay with guys the full length of the court. He made some difficult layups in traffic and pushed the pace while still staying under control. Whitmore also connected on a few nifty passes, one to Felix Uadiale was the most memorable. Continuing this type of aggression and overall play should catch the eyes of some coaches.
2020 PG Conner Maciag (Apex Basketball Club)- On the other side in the aforementioned Hype-Apex matchup, Maciag had a good performance as well. He quickly caught my attention with his activity in this game. Maciag was all over the court, impacting the game in a variety of ways. There was one sequence where he flew in for a big block and then took the ball all the way down the court to make a nice play on offense that particularly stuck in my mind. Maciag had a great all-around showing, putting up 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. He can score, rebounds really well for a guard, and finds teammates effectively. He is just solid and his game is mostly free of mistakes. His effort and toughness on both ends left a lasting impression on me and it should do the same for college coaches.
2021 CG Matthew Sells (EAB)- Having battled through injury for a good portion of the spring, it looked like Sells was nearly back at full strength last weekend. He had a solid game that I watched on Sunday night, and after going through some film from the tournament, it seemed like he had a good weekend overall. Sells is a high-level shot maker who gets into his jumper quickly and gets good elevation. Although he’s more naturally a scorer, Sells has displayed some nice vision and passing ability. He is capable of playing the 1 or 2 effectively. Sells also has good leaping ability; he uses it when he slashes and draws contact to get to the FT line very well. I’m not saying they’re the same level of player, but I think Sells has some similarities to Kyle Guy. His shot form, movements, and just overall game resemble Guy in my eyes. He should start to regain attention in June and July.
2021 PG Najhae Colon (Hype Hawks)- There’s no better word to use when referring to Colon than what the title of the article is- undervalued. He’s not going to put up huge numbers or get all the shine on such a talented Hype group, but he is a huge part of the team and their success. Colon sets the tone defensively every game, harassing ball-handlers, getting into passing lanes, and going after loose balls. Against SE United, Colon also stepped up on the offensive end. It was a rough 1st half offensively for Sutton Smith, but Colon came through alongside Matt Cleveland with some big baskets. In the 2nd half, he made sure to find Smith once he got going, helping Hype to pull away for an impressive win. He plays with tons of heart and toughness, which is something I always appreciate and enjoy watching.
2021 G Jason Edwards (Team Forrest)- I really liked what Edwards did earlier in the spring with AC Georgia when they beat EAB, he came through again last weekend with Team Forrest as they took down a big-time Upward SE 2021 team. If you ever watched his brother Nick, Jason’s game should not be surprising at all. In this Upward game, he took over in the 2nd half offensively and was a huge part in the victory. Forrest was down 15 at halftime; Edwards scored in every possible after the break and finished with 18 points. He plays with tons of confidence, is very crafty with the ball, and already knows how to score when taking on taller defenders. Edwards is a reliable shooter from deep and showed some flashes passing as well. I’m interested to see how he continues to develop.