Our summer season scouting collection debuted earlier this week, starting with a glance at one of the best frontcourt prospects, after which one of the best wings within the Underneath Armour Affiliation.
That is an annual collection that serves as a precursor to our up to date rankings and permits us to do a deep dive into the highest rising seniors in every respective circuit, by supplementing what we noticed in individual with the stats and video that’s out there on Synergy Sports activities.
Up subsequent is a have a look at one of the best guards within the Underneath Armour Affiliation, and the UA Rise Circuit by extension. The place, sadly, one of the best true level guard missed the month of July with damage.
Probability Mallory, PG, Staff Thrill
7 video games within the 2024 UAA Circuit: 21.6 factors, 45% FG, 38% 3pt, 90% FT, 3.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 0.4 blocks, 1.6 steals
Present 247Sports Rating: No. 59 general, No. 9 level guard
Mallory could also be undersized and play below the rim, however there are few extra dependable true level guards within the nationwide class. His talent degree with the ball is actually elite. He has full command of his deal with and a pure launch on his jumper. He not solely shoots it with deep vary, however is equally comfy off the catch or the dribble, and has the easy fast launch to get it off regardless of his lack of dimension. Mallory can cease rapidly for mid-range pull-ups with misleading raise and in addition has a deep bag of floaters and runners that he can make the most of with out breaking his stride inside a crowded lane. Whereas he solely performed seven video games within the UAA this season, his 45/38/90 capturing splits are indicative of what we’ve got come to anticipate.
Concurrently, Mallory can be exceptionally dependable with the ball in his arms. He is extraordinarily robust with the ball, not often rattled by strain, an excellent passer, and a pinpoint lob thrower (4.2 assists vs. 1.7 turnovers). He is even beginning to present extra creativity and playmaking with the ball in his arms, all with out limiting his effectivity.
Mallory can be a diligent defender who can decide up the ball for the size of the ground, struggle over ball screens, has good arms (1.6 steals within the 2024 UAA and a pair of.1 in 2023), and can dig out lengthy rebounds. Whereas there are prone to be some moments on the subsequent degree the place his dimension will restrict him on that finish of the ground, it will not be because of an absence of struggle or mind.
Mallory’s worth can be magnified by his wealth of intangibles and true management expertise. He is not solely a throwback true level guard, however one of the vital expert gamers within the class, with the perfect psychological make-up to compensate for no matter he could also be missing by way of bodily measurables.
King Grace, SG Texas Affect 4:13
17 video games within the 2024 UAA Circuit: 20.7 factors, 49% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.4 turnovers, 0.5 blocks, 1.4 steals
Present 247Sports Rating: No. 39 general, No. 8 capturing guard
Grace is a talented scoring guard who places up massive numbers whereas enjoying throughout the stream of the sport and never dominating the ball. His jumper is his first offensive weapon, and though he has little or no raise into an unorthodox launch (together with his weight totally on his left leg), he is an environment friendly shot-maker even in high-volume (49% FG, 37% 3pt, 81% FT).
He is removed from one-dimensional although, and really turns into rather more harmful off the bounce. Grace picks his spots properly, however has a sneaky fast first step, assaults unhealthy close-outs, and could be very environment friendly together with his bounces, very not often losing any dribbles. He’ll flash some occasional passing potential off the dribble and can be beginning to get some reps coming off ball screens, the place he makes use of his physique properly. Grace continues to be extra of a standard two-guard than true combo, and would do properly to develop some dependable mid-range weapons, however cuts properly off the ball and is able to making totally different reads inside numerous offensive actions.
Grace might not be a naturally dynamic athlete, however he has good positional dimension, broad shoulders, and is making constructive strides together with his physique. He is gotten noticeably faster within the final 12 months or so, extra fluid athletically within the open ground, and has reportedly continued to develop although the 12 months. He runs onerous in transition and steals straightforward baskets when he sees a possibility to leak out.
It is a comparable story defensively for Grace the place he is not probably the most naturally fast or fluid lateral mover, and will not have nice flexibility in naturally wider hips, however he guards deceptively properly. He is absolutely engaged, proactive in getting round screens, sensible together with his positioning, comparatively fast together with his arms, and works to remain in performs even when he will get deprived.
The underside line is that whereas Grace would not have obtrusive bodily upside, he does have simple sheer productiveness as a talented scoring guard with rising versatility. He continues to enhance each his general sport and his physique.
Mazi Mosley, SG, West Coast Elite
18 video games within the 2024 UAA Circuit: 11.7 factors, 41% FG, 28% 3pt, 70% FT, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 0.5 blocks, 0.7 steals
Present 247Sports Rating: No. 49 general, No. 10 capturing guard
Mosley is a late-blooming massive guard who is barely simply starting to fill out his body, however possesses a really intriguing long-term mixture of perimeter dimension, talent, and fluidity. He shoots a really handsome ball from long-range, however solely made 28% of his threes on this 12 months’s UAA season. He could be a “shooter who would not make sufficient pictures” at occasions. Whereas he usually performs off the catch from the wing space – the place he has a great sense of spacing, play off different individuals, and a complimenting pull-up sport – he is additionally proven some indicators of playmaking and passing off the dribble extra just lately.
Mosely’s bodily development is a crucial long-term key, each to his playmaking potential and complete ground sport. Whereas he has good positional dimension, he lacks very best size. He is not but absolutely explosive or robust sufficient to constantly play via contact. As a handler, he lacks an incredible first step, however will be fluid together with his secondary strikes if he is in a position to get an preliminary angle and make some primary pick-and-roll reads. Proper now, Mosely will also be overpowered at occasions defensively and must commit himself to bettering on that finish.
Persistence goes to be a long-term requisite in Mosley’s growth, however there are numerous causes to be optimistic given his perimeter dimension and talent degree, particularly if he can evolve from extra of a catch-and-shoot wing participant into extra of a multi-dimensional massive guard.
Josiah Sanders, CG, Mountain Stars
17 video games within the 2024 UA Rise Circuit: 18.7 factors, 38% FG, 23% 3pt, 75% FT, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.6 turnovers, 1 steal, 0.1 blocks
Present 247Sports Rating: No. 139 general, No. 16 combo guard
Sanders is an enormous and robust lefty guard who performed virtually solely with the ball in his arms this spring and summer season. He performs with an attacking mentality and creates all sorts of mismatch issues for opposing guards who cannot contend together with his dimension and energy. Sanders can each get downhill to place strain on the rim, and in addition has a terrific change of tempo off the dribble with the physique management to take care of his stability via contact. He will be very artful getting paint touches and enjoying in assault mode, with out getting sped up, and is aware of each get himself to the free-throw line and create for others.
Sanders can be a superb rebounding guard who likes to take it off the glass and instantly push the ball to start out the break. He may rise-up for some loud dunks. Defensively, he is equally aggressive and bodily aggressive, with particular potential to protect a number of positions on the subsequent degree.
Whereas Sanders can stuff all columns of the stat sheet (18.7 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists within the UA Rise), he wants the ball in his arms to do it, and will also be inefficient at occasions (38% FG). He is not a pure shooter and made simply 23% of his three-point makes an attempt, regardless of having the liberty to aim virtually 5 threes per sport. It stays to be seen if his sport interprets into being a real massive lead guard on the subsequent degree, or if he is higher utilized as an final utility guard, when surrounded by higher gamers, the place he can probably play and defend all three perimeter positions.
It is also notable that whereas he appears to be like absolutely mature, he is younger for his grade, which means there might be an elevated probability for untapped upside.
Adrien Stevens, SG, We-R1
17 video games within the 2024 UAA Circuit: 12.8 factors, 42% FG, 34% 3pt, 70% FT, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Present 247Sports Rating: No. 94 general, No. 18 capturing guard
Stevens is a big-bodied two-way guard with good dimension at 6-foot-4 and a powerful, 195-pound body. Offensively, he is at his greatest when attacking off the bounce. He is very harmful with the ball within the open courtroom, but additionally has a knack for instinctively making his approach via site visitors within the half-court. Stevens has the energy and physicality to soak up contact and preserve his angle on the best way to the rim, and has began to point out extra potential to make performs for others as a passer off the dribble. He is additionally keen to take smaller guards into the mid-post and exploit mismatches there. Stevens is a succesful three-point shooter with room and rhythm, having transformed 35% of his makes an attempt from behind the arc in UAA play, however not but fairly as constant when capturing on the transfer, with a launch level that may drift to the left aspect of his head.
Defensively, Stevens has the potential to be an actual distinction maker as his dimension, energy, and motion expertise enable him to protect a number of positions and push opposing handlers off their spots, whereas he additionally has a very good nostril for the ball (he averaged 1.7 steals per sport in UAA play). Lengthy-term, he has an opportunity to become an actual stopper on that finish of the ground. He is additionally an excellent perimeter rebounder, who averaged 4.5 boards per sport in UAA play, and loves to start out the break himself.
Omari Witherspoon, CG DC Premier
16 video games within the 2024 UAA Circuit: 14.7 factors, 41% FG, 26% 3pt, 73% FT, 4.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.3 turnovers, 0.5 blocks, 2.0 steals
Present 247Sports Rating: No. 30 combo guard
Witherspoon is a bigger-bodied guard with backcourt dimension, a naturally broader body, large arms and ft. He is not a dynamic athlete however creates mismatches together with his dimension, physicality, and well-rounded talent set. When he is at his greatest, he is making pictures from three, which might open up the remainder of his assault. His mechanics are typically clear, though he can comply with via down on his launch a bit, and he is a menace to make deep threes when he will get it going. However his capturing inconsistencies (26% from three-point vary on virtually six makes an attempt per sport within the UAA) and excessive turnover fee (3 assists vs. 3.3 turnovers) could make him inefficient at occasions.
Witherspoon lacks step one to get by most set defenders cleanly, and often requires a second transfer. So, whereas he has some on/off ball versatility, he is at his greatest on the second aspect of the ground – the place the protection has already been in movement and he can overpower smaller guards as a bodily driver, be a secondary pick-and-roll menace, or assault a close-out. He is not often an above-the-rim finisher, however nonetheless pretty environment friendly within the lane together with his physique management and talent to contort his body as a finisher (53% 2pt FG vs. 41% FG general).
Defensively, Witherspoon is aggressive, bodily, and has good arms (2.0 steals per sport), however not particularly fast. He is a gritty quarter-court defender and switchable up the line-up, however extra prone to being crushed by faster guards when too far prolonged or pulled away from his assist. He is additionally a priceless rebounding guard (4.2 rebounds per sport).
Better of the Relaxation: Cam Miles, SOH Elite; Shane Cherry, B. Maze Elite; Juan Hernandez, Wisconsin Playground; Simon Walker, Professional One; Marcus Gillespie, Atlanta Xpress; Montana Wheeler, Gulf Coast Blue Chips; Curtis Stinson, KC Run GMC; Cam Wallace, Philly Satisfaction, Dedicated to Temple.
