Notebook: Saturday at Adidas Gauntlet/Circle City Shootout
INDIANAPOLIS, IN | With Adidas splitting up Gauntlet into Regionals, you were met with a really concentrated amount of talent which made for some great viewing. Saturday was a big day filled with some stellar performances. I spent my morning at Circle City before heading over to Warren Central. Here is our breakdown from Saturday at Adidas and Circle City.
DistinXions C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S Black 2019 duo was Unstoppable
One of the more impressive duos that I saw on the day was that of DistinXions C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S Black 2019. Isaiah Drew of Greenwood (IN) and Bryce Browning of Washington (IN) both really impressed me. Both are small college players with Drew having the higher upside. A solid duo here on this team.
Drew is a solid 5’11 point guard who can really do it all from the guard spot. He shoots it really well and gets back on defense. His energy was really solid all day long. His court vision is impressive and he had close to double-digit assists in the game. He is tailor made for a D3 to run the point and to score if needed.
Browning was a post that I didn’t really know before this weekend but now he is firmly planted on my radar. He scored 12 points but did that at both the rim and behind the line. He’s a strong post who is pretty athletic and can catch you off guard if you don’t expect him to be that athletic. Tough rebounder and plays with a ton of energy. He’s 6’4 and could potentially play at the small forward spot at a small college if you try to go big.
Paxton Bartley Played Like He Is Able
Bartley is a 6’3 guard who can do much more than shoot the ball. He is athletic and can play above the rim. He is really a do-it-all guy with his ability to shoot the ball or drive it. He finishes well at the rim and can shoot it in traffic. He threw down one huge dunk over a 6’7 kid off of the drive and was able to create for himself. Really no weak spot on the offensive side of the ball.
Bartley needs to get better with his defensive IQ as a few times he was late rotating to the ball on help but offensively his game is pretty complete. He is a hustle guy who is able to get those 50-50 balls all the while being a communicator on offense. Could be really good at a D3 or NAIA.
Oscar Tshiebwe is a Man Amongst Boys
When you see a 6’9 guy who weighs 230 and is moving like a wing, you immediately start to watch. The four star prospect has 9 offers and is a treat to watch. He is a very mobile five man who can at times be switched over on guards for short spurts. He has a knack for rebounding the basketball and ability to put the ball in the basket. Tshiebwe had D1 coaches watching him today and buzzing over his performance. He’s one of the strongest players on the floor at all times and pretty much had his way with the 6’10 post that was guarding him.
He’ll fit well in a system that likes to run a bit as he is very mobile and good in open space. Tshiebwe is a back to the basket kind of guy who loves to catch it and go to work. No one can really score on him either as he is so long he can hold down most players and quick enough to switch onto wings and stretch fours sa well as keep them in front of him. The Pennsylvania kid was really solid for the ITPS Wildcats based out of Pittsburgh.