I’m again within the A.T.L., concluding my summer season journey with the Elite 24, hosted by the Underneath Armour Affiliation. The Elite 24 boys basketball sport is ready for Saturday, August 12 at 8pm ET at Atlantic Station (ESPNU).
It is a three half collection and within the first episode, I am going to discuss three headlines from the 2 follow classes (with some scrimmaging going in direction of the tip of every follow) and a full scrimmage.
Ace Bailey Checks A Lot of Containers
I haven’t had the possibility to see Ace Bailey play a lot this 12 months, however he pops out when he enters the sport. Even within the drills, him elevate and shoot, the fluidity together with his athleticism and deal with was current. An enormous wing at about 6’9 that may create his personal look, make separation off the bounce and is a playmaker within the open court docket, Bailey additionally has positional measurement, sufficient deal with mixed with taking pictures and scoring upside. Bailey confirmed why he’s probably the greatest within the nationwide 2024 class and is intriguing to NBA Scouts.
Zoom Diallo Made Presence Identified in Thursday Afternoon’s Follow
The afternoon session on Thursday was a very good analysis alternative, particularly after a morning follow and an honest break. I used to be on the lookout for which participant’s power would nonetheless be up and who would end sturdy. Zoom Diallo, a 2024 level guard, match that invoice. A robust, pure level guard with good positional measurement, Diallo makes use of his energy to create area off the dribble, albeit with no loopy burst. He’s very shifty although and is an intuitive passer. Diallo additionally finds an off-ball cutter when in isolation or coming off a ball-screen. He additionally excelled when he obtained a paint contact, making no-look passes to the man on the dunker spot or open on the 3-point line. Defensively, Diallo competed and moved nicely laterally. Zoom actually impacted the session together with his passing and paint touches.
Ian Jackson, Vyctorius Miller Present Out on Friday
Going into the subsequent day, Friday’s full scrimmage run was a aggressive one. Vyctorius Miller got here out the gates quick, displaying his sufficient pull-up sport, determination making and poise as the first ball-handler. At 6-foot-5 and labeled as a two-guard, I assumed Miller confirmed the power to play on and off the ball successfully. Streaky as a 3-point shooter, but it surely’ll get higher with reps and time. He has quietly been one of many higher guard performers this week.
UNC commit Ian Jackson, one other one of many nations’ high guards within the 2024 class, made his presence identified. A fast twitch athlete that’s an everyday customer of the paint. Jackson blew by defenders, confirmed dexterity in his finishes and simply is aware of easy methods to end vs. size nicely. Even when guys knew he was making an attempt to get to the rim, it didn’t matter as a result of Jackson flashed his counters, modified speeds and obtained the place he needed.