#PHThePlatform Standout Post Play
The big boys holding down the paint would not be outdone in a tournament dominated by guard play. Let’s look at some of the players that stood out at the post position… Quinten Blackburn (6’8/PF |C/2023) Team: Hardwood Elite…
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Continue ReadingThe big boys holding down the paint would not be outdone in a tournament dominated by guard play. Let’s look at some of the players that stood out at the post position…
Quinten Blackburn (6’8/PF |C/2023)
Team: Hardwood Elite ’23
Instagram: quinblackburn
Twitter: @quin_blackburn
Quinten was one of the best post players at #PHThePlatform, and with a tournament loaded with talent at the guard spot, he stood out with his performance. Quinten showed that he could do a little bit of everything on the court.
He has a nice touch as he shot the ball well from 13-15 feet, passed out of doubles well, played with his back to the basket, showed his face-up game, and dominated on the boards.
He is not the most athletic or mobile post player, but he understands how to maneuver in the paint on both ends of the floor. He has to get better with his foot speed and his explosiveness at the rim. His lack of foot speed makes it difficult for him to defend the pick and roll as he normally is in drop coverage, which gives the ball-handler open looks coming off the screen. Despite weaknesses that can be fixed, his presence in the paint was felt in every game his squad played. In the 75-80 loss to T-Town Kings, he finished with 11pts.
Team: UWIN Servants
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: @riley_mcgehee
Riley is listed as a center, but standing at 6’6, he is undersized at the position. Being undersized may be why Riley plays with such an edge, as he hits the boards with reckless abandonment. If I was giving out glass cleaner awards, Riley would be in the running to receive one.
Defensively he plays very physical in the paint and doesn’t give opponents anything easy, as everything is earned near the basket.
Riley’s offensive game is still developing, and as a ’24 prospect, he has another year to develop his offensive repertoire and show coaches at the next level a more complete package.
Michael Armstrong (6’5/F/2023)
Team: Premium Ballerz Youth Organization
Instagram: Jus.razz
Twitter: @razarmstrong11
Michael is a versatile forward with a lot of talent. He is an athletic high riser that plays above the rim. His versatility was really seen on the defensive end of the floor as he defended the post and out in space. His energy on the defensive end of the floor was contagious and got teammates putting forth a better effort. Michael’s offensive game didn’t jump out at me on day one when I watched his squad play, but he was a lot more aggressive on day two and showed explosiveness off the bounce as he put pressure on the rim.
He has some intangibles that make him an intriguing prospect.
Still, he will have to be more consistent in his play and show up in a more significant way against more formidable competition.
Team: NYBA
Instagram: Meek_ater
Twitter: @Meekater
Meek was among the more unique prospects at #PHThePlatform as he played with a high motor and gave ultimate effort on both ends of the floor. He is an absolute menace on the defensive end of the floor as he showed his versatility in defending in the post and on the perimeter. He still has to learn some on-ball techniques, but that is a teachable fix. With his physical gifts, he should quickly pick up on the teachings and become even more disruptive on D. Despite needing to improve in that area, he was the defensive backbone for NYBA.
He plays a physical style which is seen in his play on the glass as he goes hard to the boards and secures the board with aggression.
Offensively, he still is developing as he has to learn to leverage his size against smaller players. With so many teams playing small ball, Meek can be a hidden gem for a team looking for a versatile and athletic post player. His contributions as a rebounder and a shot-blocking presence, along with his potential to develop his offensive toolbox, make him a prospect that at least deserves more than just interest from the next level.
Team: Team TakeOff
Instagram: iiam.tre23
Twitter: @trentkindred
Trent is a player with a developing physical frame that is ripe for adding more muscle in the upper body. I mention that as he plays a physical style and as he gets stronger, it is going to make him a physically imposing player. Offensively he is aggressive on his drives to the basket as he is a dominant lefty. If it was not for his brute force and attacks off the bounce, defending his drives to the left would be easy, but he initiates contact and bullies his way to the basket.
He also showed his ability to knock down the 12-15 footer.
Trent does have a concerning habit when he is in the paint as he tends to fade on his shot, trying to avoid shot blockers. When I locked in on this habit, I noticed that he did not make one basket shooting in that manner, but when he elevated and went straight up and shot over the defender, he scored more times than not. He has some questions about his game, but they are fixable. He must continue working on his handles and balancing his attacks between off the bounce to the left and off the bounce to the right.
Edwin Spencer Strickland (6’5/PF/2023)
Team: UWIN Servents
Instagram: sstrickland_15
Twitter: @SpencerStrick23
Of all the players listed in this article, Edwin was perhaps the best to be able to step out and knock down the trey ball. He showed efficiency in his c&s opportunities and has a nice touch from behind the arc.
He is active on the glass with a lot of energy and effort and got several putbacks because of his activity on the boards.
He has a quiet toughness about him and doesn’t back down from physical play. He defends the post well and battles hard, establishing his defensive presence in the paint and on the low-block. He understands his role and plays within that role, making him a valuable asset to his squad.
Team: H.G. Tigers
Instagram: bdortman3
Twitter: N/A
Yes, that is correct: Brock is a 6’0 power forward. Undersized is an understatement, but what is not lacking is his effort and fight. Even though he gave up several inches throughout the weekend, he did not back down when guarding bigger and stronger post players. He made it very difficult for post players to establish position and made it very uncomfortable for the ball-handler to attempt the post feed. Maybe because he had to make up in other ways what he gave up in size, he played with an incredible tenacity on both ends of the floor.
Offensively he played with a combination of power and strength and used both to finish plays in the paint.
He was making plays off the bounce for himself and his teammates when he wasn’t finishing at the rim-thru contact or finishing with a floater in the paint. He is a good decision maker with the ball in his hands and was a key piece to the H.G. Tigers squad.