Colby’s Film Findings (Part 1)
It’s not secret we are in a unique time not only in the world, but the high school basketball world. While there’s been events being held in certain parts around the country, most weekends have been utilized to scrimmage other…
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Continue ReadingIt’s not secret we are in a unique time not only in the world, but the high school basketball world. While there’s been events being held in certain parts around the country, most weekends have been utilized to scrimmage other AAU teams in a controlled, safe environment. That was the case this past Saturday for Team Durant and Boo Williams. The 16s and 17s faced off as a tune-up before they take the court in the coming weeks for games that will “count.”
For this particular piece, I’ll focus on the takeaways from the 17s contest.
Aminu Mohammed is a blur
Mohammed has been a familiar name and face since hitting the high school scene as a freshman. The 6-foot-4 guard showed why so many high-major programs are hoping he selects their program when he finally makes his decision. Throughout the contest against Durant, Mohammed feasted in the open floor where he used his blazing speed to attack the rim for scores. In the half court he would operate mainly in isolations or ball-screen actions, both of which he’d make one quick move, blow by his defender and get to the rim before you could finish blinking. He’s a tough-nosed guard that doesn’t shy away from contact on finishes.
Dariq Whitehead shows out
Whitehead is considered a top-10 player in the 2022 class nationally and for good reason. The 6-foot-5 Montverde Academy product took the horns as the primary scorer for a talented Durant team. While some shots were not ideal, Whitehead stayed efficient throughout when considering his attempts. In the open floor he had the mentality of dunking on anyone in his way, which he did in the first half. He also converted on a few three’s off the catch and mixed in his patented mid-range jumper following a quick first step. Whitehead also made his presence felt defensively off the ball. His ability to anticipate passes and intercept or deflect to produce fastbreak opportunities is second-to-none.
David Jones is a grown man
I really liked the approach shown from Jones for this Boo Williams team. At 6-foot-6, he’s a versatile wing who’s strong enough to guard fours and even in some scenarios, centers. Offensively he was a bull in a china shop who attacked the rim with vigor, embraced contact on the way and finished at an alarming rate. The lefty also displayed his athleticism with a couple of finishes over the rim.
Jalen Warley’s poise
I’m a fan of Warley because of the calming presence he brings to his team from the point guard position. Boo Williams provided endless ball pressure and threw a number of looks that caused Durant to have some trouble in the early goings, but it was Warley who took control to ensure his team execution in the half court. On occasion Warley took advantage of the pressure by using his length and change-of-pace dribbles to get an edge on his defender in order to get in the paint and either makes plays for teammates or finish the job himself. His poise throughout the game was crucial for Durant.
Zion Harmon is electric
There have been a few small point guards over the last decade who get you excited every time the ball is in their hands. Zion Harmon is one of those players. The 5-foot-9 quick-twitch guard seems to have an endless amount of moves with the ball and can get his shot off quickly. He hoisted up a few NBA range three’s late in the scrimmage that probably weren’t what the coach was looking for, but he offsets those questionable attempts with his playmaking throughout the course of a game
Ayomide gains steam
Team Durant big man Samuel Ayomide picked up an offer from Kansas yesterday. I’m not saying it was because of his performance on Saturday, but my assumption is it’s based off of his steady progress this spring and summer. The 6-foot-11 center presents all of the characteristics that the Jayhawks like when developing bigs out of high school. Ayomide is physical, has a great motor and can be the anchor for a team defensively. While Ayomide boasts a long list of offers from Power 5 programs, Kansas was his first blue-blood offer. It’ll be interesting to see if any other decide to get into the mix.