#3SSB Championships: East Standouts

<p>The adidas 3SSB Championships were the first major shot circuit event for the city of Omaha, and it did not disappoint. The talent was elite, the crowd showed out, and the competitiveness in each game was palpable. Here are the some of the best performances from Eastern region prospects over the weekend:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1025905" first="Jamarques" last="Lawrence"] | 6'3" PG | NY Jayhawks 17U </strong></p> <p>I watched Lawrence face Team Harden in the first round of the championships, and he was the best player on the floor. He was competing at a high level down the stretch in a close game. He scored back-to-back buckets at the rim in the final 15 seconds, the second one through contact plus the foul. He knocked down the game-tying three late with a nasty in and out dribble on the wing. The touch he displayed around the rim, and the toughness he brought on his drives to the hole stood out above the rest.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1121734" first="Zion" last="Stanford"] | 6'5" SG | [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite'] 16U</strong></p> <p>The ability to score all over the court is extremely valuable in todays' game. Stanford knocked down threes off the catch all weekend long, but when he drew a mismatch on a switch he could back down his opponent with his back to the basket and finish with touch. Stanford is also a monster in transition with his size and speed. He can start the break or finish it, and he made good decisions in the open floor on all three days.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991334" first="Xzayvier" last="Brown"] | 6'2" PG | [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite'] 16U</strong></p> <p>Brown was one of the better lead guards in the 16U division this weekend. He made quick and accurate decisions with the ball in his hands and was not one to over-dribble or stall a possession. If there was an outlet available that would lead to an easy bucket in transition, he passed it immediately. If there was a roller or cutter open for the dump off, he patiently waited for the gap to open before dropping it in. When defenses sat on that pass, he had no issue taking it himself and finishing with strength at the rim.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815579" first="Tyler" last="Nickel"] | 6'7" SF | Team Loaded VA 17U (pictured)</strong></p> <p>Not many players commanded more attention from high major coaching staffs than Nickel this weekend. In his first game, he caught multiple bodies on thunderous dunks in transition. When he wasn't dunking, he was finding ways to slither through traffic and finish at odd angles. Getting to his spots was never an issue. Nickel is excellent at using his body to bump defenders and wall them off until he is in a position to rise up and knock down jumpers.</p>