Team Thrill 17U-On The Radar Hoops Summer Finale Takeaways
This past weekend in Tennessee, Team Thrill took stage at On the Radar Hoops’ Summer Finale. They ended the weekend with a perfect 4-0 record earning wins against B. Maze Elite, WAWG, Showtime Ballers and Team Breakdown. I was able…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend in Tennessee, Team Thrill took stage at On the Radar Hoops’ Summer Finale. They ended the weekend with a perfect 4-0 record earning wins against B. Maze Elite, WAWG, Showtime Ballers and Team Breakdown. I was able to access all of the film from these games and gather takeaways. As expected with the months of rust, the basketball wasn’t great at all times. Not only was Team Thrill able to gut out four-straight wins to finish undefeated, but the last two games were much better in terms of execution.
Let’s get into the takeaways
Jarace Walker leads the way
Walker was the highest rated prospect in attendance at this event and was a big reason for Thrill’s success. The 6-foot-10 wing commanded the ball on many occasions in the half court to make things happen. He made shots from outside, got to his spots in the mid-range and finished strong in the open floor around the rim. Where he shined the most was his shot-blocking prowess. If there was ever a shot near the rim and Walker was in the vicinity, it was pretty much a guaranteed block. He kept his body away from the offensive player to avoid contact and kept many of the blocked shots in play. If I had to offer some criticism towards Walker’s play it would be settling too much for jump shots. His frame, athleticism and strength are unlike any other prospect nationally in his class. When he did drive to the rim there was simply no stopping him. When he settles for three’s, more times that not he’s bailing the defense out because of how dominant he could be with a more aggressive mindset as an attacker.
Noah Batchelor Noah Batchelor 6'6" | SF IMG Academy | 2022 State #184 Nation FL has productive weekend
Batchelor struggled to consistently find his mark in the first two contests, but in the second two against Showtime Ballers and a good Team Breakdown squad, I loved the way he got involved. He was extremely effective in the mid-range utilizing Walker as a ball-screen, attacking the elbow and rising over his defender for routine looks. Batchelor did hit his fair share of three’s over the stretch of games, just not as efficient as we’re used to. He showed improvement defensively by taking initiative to guard his man above the three-point line and move his feet without fouling. The 6-foot-7 wing picked up an offer from Georgia as a result of his play.
Ahmad Harrison Ahmad Harrison 6'1" | PG National Christian | 2022 MD as the point
If you’ve watched Harrison play in high school you know that hes played every position from point guard to power forward. Standing at 6-foot-1, it’s evident that at the next level he’ll be expected to play point guard. He supplied excellent defensive pressure throughout, which is an aspect of his game that he’s known for. Offensively he was getting Thrill in sets when they’d opt to slow the pace, had a handful of really nice assists and pick his spots as a shooter fairly well. As most point guard tend to do, Harrison had instances where he tried to fit the ball in small windows that resulted in turnovers. Nevertheless I was impressed with his play overall and his ability to command a team.
Jared Billups Jared Billups 6'5" | SF McDonogh | 2021 State MD hangs his hat
Throughout the weekend it was Billups, Harrison, Walker and Trae English Trae English 5'11" | PG Baltimore Poly | 2021 State MD that provided suffocating defensive performances that ultimately led to a couple of the comeback victories. Billups spent most of his time matched up against opposing guard and was did a nice job of staying in a stance and keeping his man in front. He challenged shots around the rim and made rebounding a priority to help the likes of Walker and company. He struggled a bit shooting from the field, but took advantage of driving lanes where he’d either finish at the rim or draw fouls and was a frequent visitor to the charity stripe.
Mitch Fischer does the simple, effective things
I was interested to see how Fischer would perform in this setting as this is the first live action since he made it known that he would do a post-grad prep year for 2020-21. Last season he was a big piece of the Thrill team that made it all the way to the Final Four for the 17U age bracket. His best game from this past weekend came against Team Breakdown where he was responsible for multiple buckets in crunch time to help seal the deal. The 6-foot-7 forward showed his IQ without the ball offensively and roamed around the baseline area to play off penetrating teammates. He’d make the catch and go up strong, embracing contact on the way. When he collected rebounds on defense he was tremendous in locating the guard for quick outlets and sparking transition situations, which is an area where this Thrill team thrives.
Trae English Trae English 5'11" | PG Baltimore Poly | 2021 State MD leans on his strength
We saw this past season for Poly that English can be one of the most tenacious on-ball defenders. He showed why this weekend against more than a few talented guards. After each make or miss he was tracking the ball handler prior to crossing half court. Throwing stunts, forcing the ball handler to change direction and getting his hands on passes to give the team an boost of energy and open floor situations. English joined Fischer in the final game with arguably his best offensive performance where he finished creatively around the rim to avoid opposing shot blockers. He converted on mid-range jumpers and made sound decisions as a passer.