Standouts At The Big Orange Classic
There were a lot of holiday hoops in December, and the Hoover Big Orange Classic showcased a lot of teams and talented players. Let’s look at a few standouts that were at the #BigOrangeClassic. De’marreon Baldwin (6’4/Small Forward/2023) School:…
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Continue ReadingThere were a lot of holiday hoops in December, and the Hoover Big Orange Classic showcased a lot of teams and talented players. Let’s look at a few standouts that were at the #BigOrangeClassic.
De’marreon Baldwin (6’4/Small Forward/2023)
School: Shades Valley HS
Instagram: Beezy2_
Twitter: @DemarreonB
De’marreon was one of the most electrifying and dangerous shot makers I saw at the #BigOrangeClassic. His ability to score the rock in so many different ways makes me wonder why his name hasn’t been discussed more amongst grassroots basketball in the state. He is a slasher that thrives in the open court. He brings a lot of energy to the court and plays with a high motor.
He has a striking blend of speed, vertical explosion, and physical play that allows him to put crazy pressure on defenders.
He dropped 21pts against Central-Tuscaloosa, and he did it in a variety of ways, at all levels. Defenders often thought twice before challenging him at the rim because I am sure the thought of being a poster on social media crossed their mind. He impressed even more as he brought just as much energy on the defensive end of the court as he did on the offensive end. As he continues his junior campaign, you will definitely be hearing more about him.
Joshua Williams (6’2/Shooting Guard/2024)
School: Helena HS
Instagram: Joshua.williams1456
Twitter: @dolph_williams
Joshua, hands down, is one of the most lethal shooters in the state. He doesn’t need a lot of space to get his shot off, which makes him a threat in transition and c&s situations. Against ACA, he showed more than just letting it fly from behind the arc, as he took his man off the bounce a couple of times.
If he can find a balance in the two, it will open up his game more, as defenders have to respect the trey ball, and when they know he will attack off the bounce, it will put them in an uncomfortable spot.
Josh has good upper body size and strength, and if he can learn how to use his body off his attack and jump off two feet, he will be just as dangerous when penetrating to the cup. Defensively, J has to continue to work on his on-ball D, as he has the size to be a player that can cause problems on the defensive end of the court. He is a three-point specialist right now, but if he can morph into a player that can create an avenue to score from anywhere on the floor, his stock is going to rise significantly.
Davis Glynn Dare (5’9/Point Guard/2024)
School: American Christian Academy
Instagram: Davis_dare_2
Twitter: @Davis_dare_1
Davis was one of the most electrifying PGs at the #BigOrangeClassic. Finishing with 15pts against Helena, he has a good balance between scoring and facilitating. I believe if Davis had been more aggressive in looking for his shots, he was in the zone to have an unstoppable night. He is small but is tough on both ends of the court.
He comes at you on O and won’t back down on D.
He plays at a nice place, is confident in his abilities on the floor, and showed a variety of ways to score. At 5’9, he is not afraid to mix it up in the paint and has a killer bucket getting prowess inside the arc. Davis knows how to get buckets but is also a very reliable floor leader for his squad. He is definitely one of the top rising PGs in the state if he can keep developing.
Julius Clark Julius Clark 6'5" | PF Mountain Brook | 2023 State AL (6’6/Small Forward/2023)
School: Mountain Brook HS
Instagram: 99_north
Twitter: @Julius17wolf
Everyone in grassroots basketball heard that JC was out due to a leg injury. Well, he is back, and he played some heavy minutes in the match-up against Northridge. He is still getting his legs under him, making his way back into the flow of the team, and getting a feel of game action.
JC is a huge piece to the success of the Spartans season, and I am sure that Coach Davis is relying heavily on Julius being close to 100% by the time the area tournament begins.
JC was active on the glass on both ends of the court. He missed a couple of bunnies that you can chalk up as getting his legs under him, but other than that, you can tell he has been away from action, and putting a full eval out on him at this moment would not be fair to the JC. More ink will be put on him, as the Spartans are expected to make a deep run in hopes of repeating as state champs.
Kentrell Bonner (6’6/Small Forward/2022)
School: Center Point HS
Instagram: Kentrell Bonner
Twitter: @KentrellBonner
This was my second time putting eyes on Kentrell, and what I saw the first time was a carry-over into his play at the #BigOrangeClassic. He is a long, athletic forward that causes problems on both ends of the court with his length. He is a versatile and effective defensive player that protects the rim by altering and contesting shots. Offensively, his comfort is in the paint and around the rim.
He is active on the glass, especially on the offensive end, and he has a knack for getting easy put-backs.
He showed that he can finish above the rim but is still developing as a solid big man, which he will have to expand his game outside the paint for a chance at the next level. If KB can hone in on a specific skill and role, his athleticism and versatility can help him get to the next level. The continued development of his offensive repertoire is not only going to be needed for the next level but is going to be needed if Center Point plans to make noise in the playoffs.
More is coming from the #BigOrangeClassic