3 Takeaways: ACBL 16U Week 3
ACBL was back in action at Bourgade High School. There were a number of noteworthy takeaways as the Factory went 2-0, the Wizards went 1-1, and Team Zona went 1-0 while Be Elite AZ and Team 23 went 0-1. Below are the top takeaways from the night.
5 Takeaways: ACBL 16U Week 3
#1 Shooters!
Jamar Brown 6’1 SG 2020 Hamilton (Arizona Wizards)
Just when the Factory looked like it was going to pull away due in large part to Dominic Gonzalez 28 points, the Wizards hit 5 3s in a row. Jamar Brown went on a tear and shot the lights out of the gym. Further, when Gonzalez missed his first free throw of the night, Brown made the Factory pay by hitting a double-clutch contested 3 pointer. Despite the two point lose, he was impressive in what was the most exciting ACBL game of the night. He followed up that performance by dropping 30 on Team 23.
Dominic Gonzalez 6’3 SG 2020 Ironwood (Factory)
Gonzalez was a knockdown shooter for Ironwood this past season. He averaged nearly 16 a game while shooting it nearly 40% from the 3. In addition to shooting it well from deep, he looked more comfortable off of the dribble as he hit a number of tough mid-range jumpers vs. the Arizona Wizards.
#2 Post Presence
Basil Ribikare 6’6 PF/C 2020 Brophy (Factory)
Ribikare has a long way to go. However, he is long and athletic with a huge upside. Moreover, he competes well on the glass and gets up and down the court well. He also offered solid rim protection for the Factory. With the reps that he is getting with Factory and an increased role with Brophy, Ribikare will take off and become an even bigger name in AZ basketball. Keep an eye on this prospect as his potential is through the roof.
Adam Hamilton 6’7 PF/C 2019 Buckeye (Team Zona)
Hamilton sealed well for space on the block and his teammates did a good job of getting him the ball. It was clear that Team Zona wanted to play through him. They had a lot of success with this as Hamilton was patient on the block. He demonstrated that he is a skilled passer who knows how to utilize his ball fakes to move help side defenders. Further, he has a soft touch and has a nice right hand hook shot. He prefers to turn to his right shoulder at this point, but he has time to continue to balance his game and continue to improve.
#3 High Upside Prospects
JJ White 6’1 PG/SG 2021 Ironwood (Team Zona)
White is long, athletic, and skilled. Further, he appears to be shooting the ball better as he was 3/3 from deep. Moreover, his on the ball defense and overall athleticism are continuing to improve. He has a high ceiling.
Jackson Leyba 5’11 PG 2021 Deer Valley (Team Zona)
Leyba is tough. There isn’t a better word to describe him. He plays the game the right way on both ends of the floor. He does all of the little things to make his teammates better. Despite being the littlest guy on the floor, he scored the majority of his points from offensive rebounds. He is physically strong and skilled – He will be one of the top guards in this classification.
Greg Butler 6’4 SG 2019 Central (Team Zona)
Butler played PG for Team Zona for the majority of the night. He shot the ball well from deep and from mid-range. As he continues to figure out how to use his athleticism and length, he will be more dominant. He has a lot of uncoachables that will enable him to be dangerous as he learns how to use them.
Curtis Nichols 6’4 SF 2020 Valley Vista (Factory)
Nichols is one of the more raw prospects, but has arguably the most upside. He is quick with a high vertical, and he is a quick jumper. Moreover, he moves well laterally and has good speed. Nichols will grow tremendously throughout this club season. He is one of many prospects for the Factory who have extremely high ceilings.