Training Days: Part II
Next Level Skills Basketball Academy Owner Jeremy Pope spent much of August training ambitious basketballers at Valor Academy, a second-year program he coaches just south of I-440 in Nashville. Coach Pope graciously shared some thoughts on the players he worked…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNext Level Skills Basketball Academy Owner Jeremy Pope spent much of August training ambitious basketballers at Valor Academy, a second-year program he coaches just south of I-440 in Nashville. Coach Pope graciously shared some thoughts on the players he worked out recently. These are his words.
Cooper Johnson (2023), 5’11” PG, Valor Academy
His ceiling is very, very high. He is my point guard. He added about 15 pounds of muscle this summer. He is a very, very IQ player. He has a scoring mentality. He tells people, ’Hey, you are working out with me today.’ He tells them. He will just text me with some film at like 10 at night asking questions. He is a real student of of the game. I want to say he has a 3.9 GPA. He took a lot of sophomore’s spots that they thought they were going to get. We pretty much had Cooper on the floor at all times.
Caleb Pica (2022), 6’5” Wing, John Overton
Flat-out shooter. Left-handed. He needs to add some weight. We have been workign on his ability to shoot off the dribble. He is the type of player that, when he catches the ball, defenses have to close out on him. We have been working on being able to shoot off the bounce. His ability to be able to catch-and-shoot at 6’5″ is really impressive. He is going to be an extender. He will be the type of shooter that will really pull teams out because he doesn’t have to shoot on the line. After two years, hopefully, he will be able to put the ball on the ground. Apparently, Caleb is a really good baseball player too. His dad played, he is huge. His dad is 6’8″ or 6’9″. I think D2 or D3 schools are already looking out.
Cade O’Connell (2022), 6’2” SG, Valor Academy
He is one of the best high school shooters I have ever seen in my life. He has the greenest light probably after LaMelo Ball. If Cade wants to pull up at the volleyball line off the dribble, then I don’t say anything. If the ball touches his hand and he shoots the ball most likely it is going in. He is a bonafide shooter. He is Mason McKnatt Mason McKnatt 6'1" | SG Grace Christian | 2020 State TN without the handles. He doesn’t dribble all that great. I would like to get him much better as a defensive player. He can just flat-out shoot the ball. I heard he might the best golfer in the city. Most likely he is going to be a D1 golfer. I don’t think he even touches the ball during the off-season, which is incredible to me. I guess as a golfer, you take them all and you miss them all. You have to guard him at halfcourt.
To share your off-season experiences, please DM @PrepHoopsTN anytime.