adidas #3SSB Championships: Friday Standouts
The opening day of the adidas 3SSB Championships in Omaha, NE did not disappoint. Top talent from all over the country played in front of hundreds of college coaches, and we saw several hard-fought battles play out in front of…
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Continue ReadingThe opening day of the adidas 3SSB Championships in Omaha, NE did not disappoint. Top talent from all over the country played in front of hundreds of college coaches, and we saw several hard-fought battles play out in front of big crowds. Here are a few of the best players I saw from day one:
Romad Dean | Grassroots Elite Canada 17U
Dean was all over the court on Friday, blocking shots from the weakside, diving for loose balls, and following up missed shots for putbacks. One such putback was a mean slam plus the foul. He read the court well off the ball, cutting into space when opponents shaded too far towards one of his teammates.
Yohan Traore | Dream Vision 17U
I did not watch a better prospect on Friday than the 6’11” French big man. He has craft around the rim and touch on his jumpshot. He hit a few fading pullups off of one dribble, even when being pushed slightly off his mark. He racked up blocks, ripped down rebounds, and moved very well within his frame. He hasn’t even been in the US for a year yet, and he has already proven to be one of the nation’s best prospects.
Darius Carr | Compton Magic 16U
Carr showed off the explosion with countless rim attacks, the most impressive being a one-handed tomahawk slam off a transition alley-oop. His explosion was obvious, but he didn’t really strictly on athleticism to finish. He showed craft and touch that allowed him to maneuver through traffic and finish at odd angles.
Kijani Wright | Compton Magic 17U
The 5-star power forward was dominant at times in their win over OSA 3SSB Friday evening. It was incredible to watch some of the finishes he was able to put through the hoop despite the hard fouls. He came away with the rebound almost every time he tried for it, and he sent a few layup attempts into the stands.
Jakari Livingston | Next Page Force 17U
Possibly the play of the day came when Livingston flew in from the perimeter on a missed shot and dunked it with two over an opposing big on the putback. That play perfectly encapsulated his athleticism, but it was present on almost every other possession. Quick cuts that you’d miss if you blinked, tough finishes where he hung in the air for an impossible amount of time, and shot contests on defense when you would have thought he had no shot at getting in the play.
Connor Essegian Connor Essegian 6'4" | SG Central Noble | 2022 State #170 Nation IN | Indiana Elite (pictured)
The 6’4” SG from Albion, IN went toe to toe with 5-star Chris Livingston in the final game of the night. He manufactured offense early for himself and teammates with extremely smart cutting. He put together the best shooting performance of anyone I saw today. Contested, fading right or left, off the dribble or spot up. It did not matter, they were all going in for Essegian. He got stuck defending the bigger, stronger Livingston on several possessions and held his own. He picked up a Creighton offer earlier this week, and I would expect several more high majors to come calling if he continues at this pace.