#ThePlatform: Sunday morning standouts (16U)
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Steve Samuels | MPJ Elite 5’10” G Jefferson City (MO) ’23 Below-the-rim guard Cerebral, conservative scorer One of the best 6-foot-under guards of the weekend was Samuels, who displayed his crafty, competent skill-set Sunday morning quite well. The junior guard…
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Continue ReadingSteve Samuels | MPJ Elite |
5’10” G | Jefferson City (MO) ’23 |
- Below-the-rim guard
- Cerebral, conservative scorer
One of the best 6-foot-under guards of the weekend was Samuels, who displayed his crafty, competent skill-set Sunday morning quite well.
The junior guard is mostly conservative with the ball, usually selecting shots carefully and taking opportunities only when he feels good about them; this leads to Samuels’ point total being distributed pretty evenly across games rather than dominating the ball in spurts.
As a scorer, Samuels does a great job of using his handle to create angles, slithering around defenders and slipping into cracks when he slashes to the rim. He does a really good job of wrapping around defender from the wing to the far-side and keeping them on his hip. Samuels also finishes strongly through contact and can knock down shots from wide angles.
He shoots the ball well from the mid-to-long-range, but not exceptionally. This is a part of his game in which careful improvements could lead to a prosperous recruiting outlook for the young guard.
Owen Carlson Owen Carlson 6'3" | SG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN | MN Chill Elite |
6’3” G | Mahtomedi (MN) ’23 |
- Slender scorer
- Sharp ball-handler
Carlson displayed a sharp handle and impressive finishing talents Sunday morning against a team from Illinois.
He was able to manipulate the ball to his preference, creating separation against lanky defenders and clearing out a path to the rim habitually. Once he was there, he finished well through contact, was competent with either hand, and put some craft on the ball, at times.
On the perimeter, Carlson knocked down two triples on few attempts, albeit a much-needed triple on a late possession facing a steep deficit.
When assuming a facilitatory role, Carlson also did a great job of finding cutters around the interior and providing easy opportunities to score for teammates.
Molley Komara | MN Chill Elite |
6’6” SF | Park Center (MN) ’23 |
- Energy-generator
- Glue forward
Though he was almost invariably crowded by defenders that bested him by a couple inches, Komara frequently found ways to put the ball in the hoop. He scored 10 points against an opposing team from Illinois Sunday morning.
Komara was excellent absorbing contact and converting while drawing fouls.
Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL | Meanstreets EYBL |
6’7” PF | Simeon (IL) ’23 |
- Versatile big
- Dominant in dunker’s spot
- Cerebral, conscious in high post
You would have struggled to find an athlete as versatile as Rubin on Sunday morning, especially in an 11 a.m. match against a talented Minnesotan foe. He scored 15 points in the match.
Often tasked against the opposing team’s best player, he was outstanding defensively.
Offensively, he made himself a remarkably difficult assignment, setting himself apart from competition by displaying the abilities to score in the post, on the drive and from mid-range. In the dunker’s spot, he needed little space to elevate to score, which was often the case as his fellow guards drew defenders towards them before zipping the ball to him in a gap or tossing up a lob for an easy finish.
Rubin also passed pretty well from the high post, sometimes finding a flashing teammate on the block and providing an opportunity to score or draw a foul.
Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL | Meanstreets EYBL |
6’5” W | Oak Park River Forest (IL) ’23 |
- Superb athlete
- Focused wing shooter
Lewis scored 14 points in the first half alone Sunday morning, as the opposing Minnesotan team struggled to find an answer for him.
An athletically gifted wing with tremendous upside, Lewis knocked down three 3s, a double and a handful of free throws. He can accelerate at an instant and has exceptional power behind his jump, as he often boasts when he receives the ball in the open floor. When compared to his peers, he is notably mature, especially in regards to his pace of play.
Often handling some point guard responsibilities, he assumes a patient style, if not intentionally delayed, to allow defenders to fully commit on him before dishing the ball off to Rubin or another teammate on the wing. He rarely rushes a shot or forces the ball into the lane — that is, until it’s fortuitous to utilize his aforementioned acceleration to exploit relaxed defenders.