New 2022s who emerged in the Freedom Classic
Basketball is back in Colorado! Well, kind of. The Freedom Classic brought together some in-state teams for their first piece of the action this summer. I watched some games this past weekend, and there were a couple of standouts that…
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Continue ReadingBasketball is back in Colorado! Well, kind of. The Freedom Classic brought together some in-state teams for their first piece of the action this summer. I watched some games this past weekend, and there were a couple of standouts that caught my eyes. Here are some new names for me who stood out for 16U.
Elliott Cravitz – Pro Skills
Cravitz is the player I may have enjoyed most from Day 1. He plays with an unmatched swagger, he is extremely fast with the basketball, and he finishes exceptionally well around the rim. Cravitz has a bit of everything as he can handle the ball, pressures on defense, but what he does best is shoot the ball. He has a beautiful shooting stroke, he is a knockdown shooter that you cannot leave open, and if he gets in the open court cannot be contained. Cravitz is a player that not only will I make sure to follow this summer, but just by his game, I know I have to get in the rankings. Great weekend for him.
Duke Benson – Pro Skills
Benson is a bucket. Flat out. He is out there flying, playing extremely hard, and if he does so happen to make a mistake, he makes up for it on the defensive end. What I enjoy about Benson is he seems to be learning on the fly and plays with joy. Benson is still raw but has the natural scoring ability and showcased that in both games. Benson knocked down a 3-pointer, put himself in scoring situations, and also had a dunk that came out of nowhere that left even teammates shocked. Benson fits in well with the rest of the team and is an unselfish player that can get it going. Benson is a player that I want to see more of.
Brandon Thompson – Colorado Magic
The Magic did not start AAU season with wins like they anticipated, but one thing that you cannot take away from them is their ability to compete. They play hard. Magic started games out slow, and it put them in a bad spot for the rest of the game but strung along some good possessions. A player that stood out to me was No.24 Brandon Thompson. Thompson is not a player that I have saw play before, but with his ability to make plays as a facilitator, I felt compelled to watch more. Thompson made plays for others and made the extra pass, and those are my favorite type of players. He played under control despite there being so much going on around him.
Kellan Boylan – Colorado Hoops Academy
Boylan is a player that I gravitated towards when he got on the floor based on size. He is 6-5ish with a strong frame and solid base and moved extremely well. Then he got his first block, and then another and made it so that I had to keep watching. Boylan has excellent awareness on defense and is a reliable help-side defender. He altered shots and got out on the breaks, where he was able to come in with a couple of easy finishes. Boylan also was able to put the ball on the floor, which was something I was not expecting from a player with his size. Once he realizes his potential, the sky is the limit for Boylan. I am going to keep him on my radar as a player to watch.
Braxton Jones – Colorado Hoops Academy
Jones is a player that stands out with his size and athleticism, but he also has a high motor on him and gets after it. He is strong and crashes the boards to keep plays alive. On defense, his presence alters shots, and he had a couple of blocks off of the backboard, and he would start the break immediately after. Jones had great positioning when he had a smaller defender on him and went right up with it and scored in short spurts. He is a player to keep on the radar.