BFL 79 Minnesota Prep Academy 67 – Top Ten Prospect Performances
Friday afternoon BFL knocked off Minnesota Prep Academy as a part of the Grind Session in Arizona 79-67. Who were the top prospects/performers on the day? Prep Hoops looked on closely to give you the rundown. One. Paolo Banchero Paolo…
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Continue ReadingFriday afternoon BFL knocked off Minnesota Prep Academy as a part of the Grind Session in Arizona 79-67. Who were the top prospects/performers on the day? Prep Hoops looked on closely to give you the rundown.
One. Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero 6'10" | PF O'Dea | 2021 State #3 Nation WA of BFL. We detailed his game in the linked story below:
https://prephoops.com/2021/02/chet-holmgren-paolo-banchero-a-5-star-comparison/
Two. Tavion Banks of MPA (6’8 2022 Forward). My first live game viewing (after seeing the highlight clips) of Tavion Banks was a positive one. Coming in I noticed Banks with a 15 point game, an 11 point/8 rebound game, and a 20 point/11 rebound performance recently. The build up was there and facing a five-star, top 2-3 player in the nation Banks produced with 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists (my postgame stats included a three from a different player on accident). Banks has the look of the modern day power forward. He’s 6-foot-8, long, and agile meaning he can move his feet off a ball screen getting his feet and length in the air to stop the turn. He’s also got the face-up agility to play away from the basket. I was most impressed by the ability of Banks to pass the ball from the high post and swing it quickly from the top of the key. Tavion is also an active rebounder and high percentage finisher getting off his feet quickly to complete plays. Everything about this junior says high major potential so that offer list of UMKC should be growing soon.
Three. John Christofilis John Christofilis 6'4" | SG O'Dea | 2021 State #185 Nation WA of BFL (6’4 2021 SG). If Banks is the true under the radar prospect of the game, than Christofilis is the underrated prospect from the game. John has signed with Creighton and I see a perfect fit. The Jays love their skilled, aggressive scoring options and John is every bit of that. He has a clean jumper that can be knocked down at 40 percent with feet set or Christofilis can put points on the board on the move. I was impressed with his ability to run the floor, catch, and compete the play from ten feet and in using the dribble or the body control to catch and complete. John also does a great job moving off screens and either setting feet to shoot or using his space to put the dribble down to get to a good spot to complete. He may not be the truest slashing type for the next level but Christofilis moves better than given credit for and you can score on the move against elite wing defenders without being a player with incredible shake.
Four. Brenden Moss of MPA (6’4 2022 SG). This was a big game for Brenden Moss who scored 17 points. He exploded in the second half for five three-pointers despite BFL putting a defensive target on his back chasing him with fear. Without Moss sprinting to spots to catch and finish MPA would of been blow out. His shot chart showed the five threes from four different spots and I think my biggest take-a-way was how quickly Moss got his feet under him to score off a balanced attempt. Players were scrambling to get to him but Moss made the most of his small window and delivered for his team. Moss made BFL uncomfortable.
Five. #2 on BFL (A combo guard). I really wish I could tell you who I was talking about but after about a 30 minute online search for what sounded like the player’s name on the broadcast I came up empty (I had no roster for the team). #2 on BFL was the main ball handler who played the game with a lot of control, but the ability to make a play out of nowhere. He utilized his one dribble off a rotation, or the one dribble to sunk in the defense as well as anybody plus he scored most of his 11 points using great lift on his jumper. He got back on defense for a number of deflections for a huge block plus this player controlled the pace for BFL making the choices to pounce in transition, or grind down the defense with active ball movement.
Six. Amahn Decker of MPA (6’6 2021 PF). Some day you are going to see Decker playing for mid-major, or a low-major, or if he wants to, a D2 team and for that team he is going to be their leading rebounder, hardest worker, and toughest player. Decker is one of the most relentless rebounders you will ever see out-fighting a five star talent and a D1 mid-major offered four man for a dozen boards. He has a knack for extending the possession or battling for the change of possession and most players at his position can’t box him out much less smaller players dropping down to try and stop him.
Seven. Tre Blassingame Tre Blassingame 6'5" | SG Auburn | 2022 State WA of BFL (6’5 2022 Wing). Tre had trouble finishing so he found other ways to contribute. Tre did a great job helping limit DJ Jefferson, he grabbed nine rebounds, and helped others score with the right passes in scoring spots. It was a business like performance putting aside his offense to help the team in every other way he could.
Eight. Darrion Williams of BFL (6’8 2022 Forward). Williams has had some double-double games this year and although this wasn’t one of them, he still had a solid rebounding game while also scoring four times.
Nine. DJ Jefferson of MPA (6’5 2022 Wing). Jefferson had one of his tougher games. Jefferson had an ankle injury nagging him at one point, he made just 3 of his 13 shots, and had some turnovers. Jefferson’s had a great year for MPA and is rising on the national 2022 lists but this game was tough for him.
Ten. Gob Gob of MPA (6’3 2021 PG). Spot ten for Gob Gob has less to do with his game for BFL – he struggled and was replaced – but more for other recent games he’s had. Coming into Friday Gob used his length and agility to put together a 17 point, 4 assist, and two steal game just two days before.