Colby’s Weekly Evaluations (1/17-1/26)
From here on out, I’ll be releasing a weekly evaluations article for every week that I attend two or more games. This last week, I was able to get out to three total games. Those games include: Poly vs Edmondson,…
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Continue ReadingFrom here on out, I’ll be releasing a weekly evaluations article for every week that I attend two or more games. This last week, I was able to get out to three total games. Those games include: Poly vs Edmondson, New Town vs Dulaney and John Carroll vs Mt. Carmel. I will be breaking down evaluations of what I saw throughout the course of these games.
Justin Lewis | 6’8 | Poly ’20
Lewis was dominant, as was his team, in the game against Edmondson. The 6-foot-8 Marquette commit seems determined to show everyone that his perimeter game has improved as he prepares for the next level. He connected on a single three and showed comfort in his shot from range and being more of a play maker off the bounce. As he always has been, Lewis refused to be denied when he got the ball in the painted area. Although Lewis will be expected to play on the perimeter more at Marquette, he’ll have to dominate games offensively on the block when the score gets close. It’s a more efficient look for both Lewis and the team.
Defensively he was a force. Lewis blocked multiple shots around the rim, but what was more impressive was his impact on the shots that he didn’t even block. Even on lay ups where he was a bit late on his rotation, his presence alone forced the shooter to alter their shot enough to result in a miss. Lewis showcased a quick second-jump off of misses and was always aware of where guards were for quick outlets that eventually led to scores in transition.
Brandon Murray | 6’5 | Poly ’20
Murray was a big reason that Poly got out to an early 16-point lead in the first few minutes of the game. Murray fills lanes in transition and understands spacing during these situations. He exhibited his explosive athleticism by finishing a one-handed lob and a tomahawk dunk off of a steal on defense. Where Murray has turned heads is his efficiency with his shot from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-5 guard connected on three three’s, all of which took place in the first half. Murray catches with his knees bent and quickly can elevate into his jump shot. He gets good elevation on his jumper and at 6-foot-5, makes it difficult to block for opposing defenders. The biggest area that Murray will need improvement in is his ability to play off the dribble in the half court. At the next level, he may be expected to not only make plays for others off the bounce, but also operate in pick-and-roll situations.
Rahim Ali | 5’11 | Poly ’20
Ali showed more of an aggressive scoring mindset on Tuesday. Ali has cemented himself as a top floor general in the area, but it was clear that Poly was trying to get this game over quickly. He finished strong in transition and was effectively getting into the paint in the half court. Ali is extremely shifty with the ball and is always anticipating potential cutting teammates. You can tell he has advanced IQ on both ends. Defensively, he’s at his best in Poly’s trapping defense being off the ball and anticipating traps or ill-advised passes in the passing lanes.
Kwame Evans | 6’8 | Poly ’23
You won’t see many freshman with the size and length that Evans presents. The fact that Evans is a starter on this nationally ranked Poly teams speaks to how skilled he is for his age as well. The slender 6-foot-8 wing showed a quick release on his jumper with textbook rotation on the basketball. He showed capability of grabbing defensive rebounds and initiating the fast break himself, where he made sound decisions of knowing when to hit teammates with advance passes and when to pull the ball out and set up their half court offense. When Evans didn’t have the ball, he filled lanes in transition quickly. In the half court, he moved well without the ball and found openings in the Edmondson 3-2 zone defense. Evans doesn’t try and force situations beyond the strengths in his game.
Trae English | 5’10 | Poly ’21
English was the sixth man off the bench for Poly and immediately made an impact. His consistent, relentless ball pressure was key in manufacturing turnovers for quick scores. English stayed discipline within his guarding of the ball. If his man got an edge on him, English sprinted to successfully recover without fouling. Offensively English was a play maker for others in the half court. He quickly attacked seams in the zone defense and forced the opposing guards to collapse. From there, English quickly located open shooters on the perimeter or teammates under the basket for easy lay ups. English still needs to add some muscle to his frame to prepare for bigger guards and become more of a threat from the perimeter as a shooter.
Ian Wallace | 6’7 | Poly ’20
Wallace came off the bench and knows how to play within his role of being a 3-and-D threat. He made Edmondson pay the two times he was left open in the corner by converting on two three’s Wallace makes quick decisions with the ball off the catch. If he isn’t open for a shot, he makes swift passes to force sound defensive rotations. Defensively, Wallace utilized his length to contest shots and disrupt passes. Looking ahead to the college level, Wallace needs to become more of a threat off the dribble. If his defender has to account for him in both off the catch and off the bounce scenarios, it would make him a much bigger threat on the offensive end.
Eontae Nelson | 5’11 | Edmonson ’21
It’s difficult to get a true evaluation in a blowout loss, but Nelson was a lone bright spot for the Red Storm. With its army of shot blockers, Edmondson players weren’t taking many shots in the paint and that included Nelson. The 5-foot-11 guard did however connect on four three’s that reassured Poly to always be aware of where he was. Nelson’s makes came on catch-and-shoot scenarios. He got his shot off quickly over closing Poly defenders and competed hard throughout the game regardless of score.
Martaz Robinson | 6’2 | New Town ’20
Robinson’s skill set was on full display as he led his team to a win with 28 points. The 6-foot-2 point guard is shifty, yet very controlled and effective with his attack and ability to break down his man off the dribble. He displayed his savvy by getting an advantage on his man and keeping him on his back hip as he dissected the remainder of the defense. Time and time again, Robinson got to his spots in the mid-range where he stopped on a dime and made numerous jumpers. He trailed multiple times in transition and found openings where he would knock down three’s off the catch. Robinson has high basketball IQ on both ends and understands rotations and where people are supposed to be on both ends. If you every had the chance to watch Robinson, you know he was capable of putting together a performance like this in a big time game. It’s good to see him putting it all together as he prepares for Delaware State.
Ryan Conway | 6’1 | Dulaney ’21
Conway is seeing his share of different defensive schemes around the league after pouring in 55 points in three quarters a couple of weeks ago against Hereford. He was forcing the issue early on against New Town. In the second half, he began to settle in an allow the game to come to him but early on, he was trying to split double teams, which often times resulted in turnovers. You could tell he was just searching to make a play to not only help himself, but also his team as they faced a big halftime deficit. As the third and fourth quarters passed, Conway wasn’t as rushed to take his man off the dribble. He waited for the defense to rotate and operated from there on. He was more in rhythm with his catch-and-shoots by correcting his footwork on the catch. Defensively, Conway had an average performance. He shows the effort that’s needed, but needs to improve his lateral quickness and staying committed even when getting beat.
Jaylin Webster | 6’0 | Dulaney ’21
Webster was the most consistent presence throughout the course of this game. He finished with 16 points on the night and similar to Conway, his best play came in the third quarter. Webster exposed slow rotations in the back line of the New Town defense and did a great job of finishing lay ups around the rim in traffic. In other areas, Webster needs to improve on making the simple plays. Too often he tries to throw the ‘home run’ pass. While sometimes the pass results in positive plays, more times than not they result in turnovers and ultimately hurt his team.
Tyson Commander | 6’3 | John Carroll ’22
Commander is a microwave type of scorer has established himself as one of the best three-point shooters in the DMV. The 6-foot-3 lefty recorded 24 points in to lead his team to a win. Six of them came at the most important time when Mt. Carmel cut the John Carroll lead to three with five minutes remaining. Commander nailed two threes on back-to-back possessions to put the nail in the coffin. Throughout, Commander came off of down screens where he’d either immediately rise up for a shot or showcase his patience and attack his defender’s front foot with a sweep through to help him get into the paint where was able to finish consistently. Commander seems to always use his dribble for profit. You won’t see him fiddle the ball in the half court. He’s either shooting, attacking the rim or quickly giving the ball up and relocating.
Deon Perry | 5’9 | Mt. Carmel ’22
Perry was the game-high scorer in the match up with 25 points. 18 of those points came from three, where he was shooting with range from the opening tip. Perry is extremely quick and shifty, which forces his defenders to give him a window of space when guarding him. John Carroll lost Perry a few times in transition and he made them pay. Although he wasn’t awarded with the fouls, Perry effectively got into the paint and drew contact on his attempts around the rim (a bunch of no calls from the referees). Where Perry can improve is his ability to attack off the dribble with his left hand. Going right, Perry is difficult to contain, but teams are starting to realize he limits himself when going left. Also defensively, Perry can improve on his discipline guarding the ball. He’s often times caught gambling, which can put his teammates in tough situations as he rotates back.
Jalen Bryant | 5’11 | John Carroll ’21
Bryant is one of those guys you want on your team. He simply wants to win more than anything and you can tell that with the effort he plays with defensively. He’s a pest and extremely smart when it comes to pressuring the ball and baiting his man into offensive fouls. He gambles when off the ball, but Bryant is one of the few players that can bring positivity more than negativity with his gambles. Even when he misses on steals, Bryant puts his head down and sprints back into the play with active hands. Offensively he can get going from three. But if his shot wasn’t falling (similar to this game against Mt. Carmel), he can create open shots for others with his ability to get into the heart of the defense off of penetration. Bryant is also a good finisher and smart decision maker with the ball in transition.