Positionless Standouts @ the ZG: (C vs. C)
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More names to know from the Zero Gravity Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. The theme of this list, positonless players and two-way versatility! Kur Teng | 6’4” | Versatile combo-guard | Bradford Christain Academy | Rivals | 2024 Kur Teng stood…
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Continue ReadingMore names to know from the Zero Gravity Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. The theme of this list, positonless players and two-way versatility!
Kur Teng | 6’4” | Versatile combo-guard | Bradford Christain Academy | Rivals | 2024
Kur Teng stood out as one of the most versatile players of the weekend, and this translated to both sides of the floor. In transition, Teng not only moved fluidly, but he made the right reads and demonstrated a high-level understanding of spacing. Off the ball, he did a great job of filling the lanes and diving to the corners and thus opened up driving lanes for his teammates. While Teng was mostly playing off the ball as a floor spacer during Saturday’s game, he showed the ability to create for himself off the dribble. He was also one of the more skilled ball handlers of the weekend, especially for his size, as Teng also displayed a fluid stroke and converted on his looks from beyond the arc. On defense, Teng was willing and able to guard both up and down the positional spectrum as he defended the point of attack, followed shooters off screens in the lock-and-trail, and even held his own guarding the post. Teng was another player who showed a lot of focus throughout Saturday’s game. Given his positional versatility, willingness to play both on and off the ball, I’d expect Teng’s stock to be on the rise this summer.
Trenten Mosquera | 6’4” | Versatile wing with big potential | Belmont Hill | Middlesex Magic | 2022
Trenton Mosquera made plays happen with his energy and constant motor. He crashed the offensive glass with intent, moved the ball with purpose, and ran the floor with vigor. A two-way wing with more of a positionless game, I was also very impressed with his fluidity as a ball-handler, as he was able to create for himself when the offense broke down. He demonstrated a willingness to improvise off the dribble, moved the ball, and always looked ahead in transition. He was willing to do the little things to ensure a Saturday victory. Skilled with the ball in his hands, Mosquera also showed a bounce in the layup line. As positionless players become more important, I’d also expect Mosquera’s stock to rise with more reps against high-level competition.
Andre Mills | 6’4” | Guard with wing potential | Archbishop Williams | Boston Warriors | 2024
Andre Mills was dunking everything during a deceive Saturday win, as he was one of most fluid transition movers of the weekend. A lefty shooter with a springy bounce, Mills showed great reaction time on the boards and excelled in the open floor. Another player with the potential to have a more portionless game at the next level. A notable and prolific scorer at the high school level, Mills was a standout throughout the weekend, not only in the scoring department but also just his general ability to outcompete his opponent. His everlasting energy rarely waived during Sunday’s win. Regardless of the score, he was constantly leaking out into the open floor and created several easy looks simply with his motor. Mills also created the advantage in the half-court setting and get to the rim with ease and made several impressive drive-and-kick dimes for open three-point looks.
Jacob Gibbons | 6’4” | Big Guard with wing potential | Exeter | Middlesex Magic | 2021
Another second lefty on this list, Jacob Gibbons, was also another versatile player who constantly pushed the ball in transition. He even showed a smooth finesse Euro-step take on one of his many open floor buckets in Sunday’s decisive victory. I was blown away with his motor and willingness to capitalize on an advantage creation situation, both with the pass and drive. Gibbons played with intensity and focused throughout Sunday’s game as he also knocked down two-above the break three-pointers showcasing an impressive elevation on his shot. With great activity on the defensive end, Gibbons showed active arms on the ball and a willingness to offer help on his paint collapses. A two-way player who can also operate as a small-ball pick-and-pop big, the sky is the limit for Gibbons when it comes to his position at the next level.
Jordan Clayton Jordan Clayton 6'1" | CG Lexington Christian Academy | 2022 NLG | 6’2” | Combo guard who guarded up | Lexington Christian Academy | Rivals | 2022
Throughout Saturday’s hard-fought game, Jordan Clayton Jordan Clayton 6'1" | CG Lexington Christian Academy | 2022 NLG consistently held his own on defense and made winning plays down the stretch that secured possessions. With an uplifting presence on the floor, he was a constant motivator capable of guarding much taller players and making them work to gain extra ground. Willing to also get low in his stance and dive on the ball, Clayton also did a good job of switching onto different defenders and guarding the opposing lead ball handler. On offense, he sacrificed good looks for even better ones, moved the ball with intent, and took shots within the offense’s flow. He did a great job of setting impactful screens, both on and off the ball.
Gabe Copeland | 6’2″ | Big Guard with wing and even small-ball big potential | Beverly | Middlesex Magic | 2023
Having scouted Copeland’ remotely’ during his Sophomore season at Beverly, he brings so much more to the table than just scoring. Down the stretch during a closely contested victory against the Blazers, Copeland created an advantage off the dribble. When the defense collapsed, he fluidly found two consecutive open three-pointers for his teammates. With the ability to score at all three levels, Copeland even took opportunities as a screen-setter, as he was extremely effective in this action. On defense, Copeland’s strength paired with his foot-speed make a switchable defender and player that could even take minutes as a small-ball center. Physical but calculated on defense, Copeland is also a constant communicator, as he plays with a high level of intensity and dive to win.