Prep Hoops: The Finale – My Top Post Players of the Tournament
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This past weekend’s Prep Hoops event, The Finale, was loaded with talent. Here are some that I came away impressed with from the weekend. These are players who like to play on the block and protect the paint for their…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend’s Prep Hoops event, The Finale, was loaded with talent. Here are some that I came away impressed with from the weekend. These are players who like to play on the block and protect the paint for their respective teams.
(Note: Players who made my all-tournament team are not including in this article)
Yaya Keita Yaya Keita 6'9" | PF Desmet | 2021 State #210 Nation MO , 2021 – 6’9 PF/C – Gateway Basketball Club & DeSmet High School (MO)
Strong, tall, lengthy, and athletic are all attributes that Keita brings to the table for his team. Those attributes allow Keita to block shots regularly at the hoop, and finish around the basket. Overall, Keita is just a presence when he’s on the court for opponents to be aware of at all times on both ends of the floor. He’s good in the pick and roll and creates a large body for the defender to get around in order to stop the ball handler, or an easy dump down to him on the roll if the post guy shows too hard. He also looks to aggressively finish at the rim and could put a defender on blast if he has the chance. With DI offers already in hand for Keita, his next step is to expand his game out offensively and develop to be an all-around player.
Sekou Gassama Sekou Gassama 6'10" | PF DeSmet | 2021 State #166 Nation MO , 2021 – 6’10 PF/C – Gateway Basketball Club & DeSmet High School (MO)
Gassama is the other big post player for Gateway from this weekend who just has a towering presence when he’s on the floor. He has a more expanded game offensively where he can step out and hit a jumper. Sekou projects well to the next level, and showed some nice offensive patience. On the catch he scans the defense and moves the ball well to his teammates, and when he catches it in the post he has a nice power dribble post move to wherever the defenders pressure isn’t. Gassama and Keita are some of the best shot blockers in the state of Missouri, and they put that on display this past weekend. Already holding offers from DI programs as well, Gassama will need to work on expanding his game, and becoming more versatile moving forward.
Daniel Ferrer, 2020 – 6’8 Post – Kansas Pray-N-Play & Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)
Going along with the theme of athleticism and loads of potential, Daniel Ferrer showed that this weekend. He’s a Mid-America Nazarene commit at the NAIA level, but he lives for short corner dump offs where he can go to the basket and either jam it or use his strength and size to finish through contact. With that athleticism and strength comes good defense. Ferrer is able to block shots well and play good post defense. Ferrer will excel at the NAIA level and could grow his game by extending offensively with a 15 foot jumpshot that could go well with his athleticism and finishing ability.
Isaiah Robinson Isaiah Robinson 6'7" | SF Farmington | 2022 State MO , 2022 – 6’7 PF/C – Gateway Basketball Club & Farmington High School (MO)
Isaiah Robinson Isaiah Robinson 6'7" | SF Farmington | 2022 State MO is lean, lanky post player for the 16U Gateway team. He hangs around inside, around the basket looking for dump passes, rebound put-backs, and occasional post ups. Robinson stepped out for a corner three in the game that I was able to watch, which could be an important tool for the forward. He’s a solid shot blocker on the defensive end, and runs the floor well for his team. If he can continue to expand his game and hit jumpshots off the catch consistently and fills out his frame a little more, he has a lot of potential going towards the next level.
Baye Fall Baye Fall 6'11" | C Luthern Christian | 2023 State #13 Nation CO , 2023 – 6’11 C – Colorado Hawks & Lutheran Christian High School (CO)
One of the top prospects in the 2023 class who is being recruited by top programs already, and he’s playing up two age divisions for the Colorado Hawks. Fall calls for the ball on the block constantly and makes himself big when catching it in the post. His team’s offense has times where it runs through him and he can get the ball and make a quick move, pass out to an open teammate, or pass and re-post for another post touch. Baye is most effective at the defensive end where his length brings on many different problems for opponents. He is able to block many shots including floaters without fouling. He runs the floor well and knows how to finish a play at and above the rim. He has a nice turnaround shot in his post game and is always hustling on the court. He’s a must watch.
CJ Powell, 2021 – 6’6 PF – MOKAN & Highland Park High School (KS)
CJ Powell was another impressive member of the MOKAN team who took 2nd in the 17U division. I really liked the way Powell attacked the defense this past weekend, and there was one instance, where he caught the ball, about 15 feet from the basket and took one dribble and slammed home a powerful dunk. CJ brings some grit to the game, and is a competitor when he’s on the court. He knows how put the ball in the basket for his team, but he doesn’t seem to force shots. He gets his shots and points out of the flow of the offense and picks the right times to attack and score. A great attribute for CJ is his rebounding ability. Getting a body on somebody and going to grab the rebound. I think only time will tell how high Powell’s ceiling is.
Weston Teague, 2022 – 6’8 C – AAO Flight & Berryville High School (AR)
Teague jumped out to me first of all with his size and length. He makes it hard to put the ball in the basket and that’s always a positive for a team on the defensive end. He gives it all to grab rebounds, though bulking his frame up will help in the long run to grab more. He likes to go to his strong right hand in the post, and off of offensive rebounds. He sets screens for his teammates to get open and does a nice job rolling or putting himself in the open space of the defense. Bulking up his frame is the main development Weston will need to do, and if he does, he could be a successful basketball player at the next level.
Jack Bjorn, 2022 – 6’7 C – Team KC-Marcus & Park Hill South High School (MO)
Bjorn asserted himself early, in the game I got to watch, in both the 1st and 2nd half. He’s a big, strong kid and muscled himself into a scoring position. He’s a good finisher through contact and converted a bucket and a foul when I was watching that was impressive. He has a developing post game right now, and has the ability to grow that over the next two years. With that, if he can expand his game out to 15 feet and beyond he could be a force on the inside for his team, and get some looks from schools at the next level.
Joe Melton Joe Melton 6'6" | C Ncoe | 2021 State IL , 2021 – 6’6 C – Illinois Bears-Walker & NCOE High School
The first offensive possession of the Illinois Bears game that I got to watch, Melton caught the ball in the middle of the lane, took one dribble with his left hand and spun back to his right hand and completed the move with a nice right handed hook shot. He put the right handed post moves on display this past weekend, and I could see the potential of the big man. He is long and able to block shots on the defensive side of things and can finish above the rim around the basket. He is a hard worker on the boards and competes down low on the block. Though I didn’t see it much, Joe can step out with some soft touch and hit a jumpshot. I think he can find a spot at the next level with some program who needs some help down on the blocks.
Koen Derry, 2022 – 6’6 PF – Archangels 2022 & Galesburg High School
In the game I watched of his, Derry seemed to grow with the game. What I mean is that at first I didn’t really notice him, but as the game went on I started noticing him more. He’s an athletic 6’6 kid who, in this game, did the dirty work around the hoop. He was good at settling in the short corner when his team was being pressed and once the ball went to the middle of the court he busted towards the basket and got either a dunk or a layup. He has nice quick moves towards the basket and can take it off the bounce as well. Has some potential to him with his athleticism to grow into, and should be fun to see where he ends up at the end of his HS career.