Rashad Vaughn: An Underrated Draft Pick

Rashad Vaughn’s stock is on the rise and it’s been on the up and up for over the past month. Despite the fact that the 6’5” shooting guard is now a lock to hear his name called in the first round of the draft, his talents are still being under-valued by scouts and front office personnel.

At this point in time, Chad Ford has Vaughn slotted to the Bulls at No. 22 while DraftExpress has Vaughn going 26^th to Spurs. It wasn’t that long ago when Vaughn’s name didn’t even appear in the first round on those websites. When Ford released his first version of his Top 100 last summer, Vaughn’s name was nowhere to be found and it took until Mock Draft No. 5 to get his name in the first round. Meanwhile DraftExpress started the season with Vaughn in the 20’s, but they soon dropped him to the second round in February before reinstating him in May.

Before We Begin:

Two years ago in the spring of 2013 Rashad Vaughn and Devin Booker were similar players while participating on undermanned teams in the Nike EYBL AAU circuit. Both players had free reign on the offensive end and dominated the ball trying to create off the dribble or from the pick and roll. Vaughn averaged 19.4 points per game on 43% shooting and shot just 32% from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Booker averaged 16.8 points per game on 43% shooting while going 33.7% from three.

Going back just one year, Rashad Vaughn was a fringe Top 10 player in the high school class of 2014 and also was considered the top ranked shooting guard. Now, it’s the 6’5” Devin Booker who is the consensus top shooting guard in the draft after being ranked below Vaughn just one year ago. After an extremely strong one and done season for the 39-1 Kentucky Wildcats, Booker is a projected top ten pick as both mock draft sites mentioned above have him pegged to the Hornets at pick number nine.

What Happened?

When Vaughn chose to play his college ball at UNLV, it wasn’t hard to predict what type of freshman season he would have.

Prior to the 2014-15 season, my scouting report on Vaughn noted the following:

“Vaughn will have free reign at UNLV, which might not be the best thing for his development. While he will score a lot I feel his game might have progressed better in a more structured setting with more talented teammates. Going into the summer before his senior year, Vaughn was “the man” on an AAU team that was less talented than the majority of opponents. He shot 43% with a high turnover ratio. With his ability to get shots from all over the floor, this often leads to forced shots or less than ideal shots during the course of the game harming his overall percentage. He can get hot in a hurry and hit numerous shots in a row, but he can also force a lot of shots trying to find his rhythm. In my mind, Vaughn will have a very high usage rate at UNLV, but his offensive efficiency might leave something to be desired.”

Sure enough, Vaughn averaged 17.8 points per game. Good for first among players at UNLV and second among all freshmen guards. With that, Vaughn shot just 44% from the field. He ended the season with an extremely high usage rating of 29.0 (No. 70 in the country) and a fairly putrid 101.4 offensive efficiency rating.

Contrast those stats with Booker and you see a tale of two different freshman seasons. While Vaughn took 32.7% of the shots at UNLV, Booker only received 21 minutes of playing time per game. In John Calipari’s platoon system he excelled producing 10 points per game with an offensive efficiency rating of 121.0. Booker also shot 41.1% from behind the three point arc and is now basically considered the top shooter in the draft.

UNLV Season:

UNLV started the season off 2-0, but their wins over Morehead State and Sam Houston State by a combined three points were also a sign of difficult times ahead. Soon after their home victories, the Rebels traveled to Brooklyn for the Coaches vs. Cancer Clinic. Playing at the Barclay’s Arena in front of a handful of NBA executives did not go exactly as planned for Vaughn. He went just 2-9 in a blowout loss to Stanford and followed that up with a 2-10 performance in a close win over Temple.

Subsequent to the Coaches vs. Cancer Clinic, Vaughn had his high points which included several key baskets in an upset win over Arizona, a 31 point, nine rebound effort against Utah State, and 30 point game against Colorado State where he went 12-21 and 6-10 from three. He also had additional low points including a 6-16 output against Utah, and an early end to his season with a torn meniscus against Fresno State which occurred after just 23 games.

from www.pointafter.com

Why Is Vaughn Underrated?

In his heart, Rashad Vaughn is a scorer. Not only is he a scorer, but he has ideal shooting guard size, decent athleticism, and oh yeah, he CAN shoot. In 23 games, Vaughn shot 38.3% from three making 54 out of 141 attempts. Meanwhile, the more highly regarded Booker hit only four more three’s than Vaughn did on the season going 58-141 from behind the arc.

While Booker might have the purest shooting stroke out of the two and was significantly better from the free throw line there is basically no difference when it comes to comparing three point percentage. Well, there is one. Booker was the beneficiary of playing on the most talented team in the country. A majority of his shots came with his feet set and open looks at the basket. A lot of Vaughn’s looks came off the dribble or with a defender in his face. Given the high usage rate, a 38.3% three point percentage is pretty damn good.

After a strong draft combine, Vaughn put on a sizzling performance in Santa Monica. From Chad Ford’s recap he noted “Vaughn had the best workout I've seen the past few weeks on the road. Crammed into the Boys & Girls Club in Santa Monica along with 150 scouts lining the walls, he put on a shooting show, effortlessly knocking down shots from everywhere on the floor, outshooting two of the better shooters in the draft -- Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton and Stanford's Anthony Brown.”

While Vaughn had a fairly inefficient freshman season, he also was able to learn more about his game given the increased opportunities provided to him. Often times Vaughn was asked to make decisions off of the pick and roll where he was able to explore his mid-range game in addition to a variety of floaters and soft shots in the paint. As an offensive player, Vaughn’s game is advanced and he has an ability to get shots in a plethora of ways which can also lend to taking difficult, low percentage shots while forcing the issue at times.

A perfect example came during Vaughn’s junior season in Minneapolis when he was going up against Tyus Jones in the Target Center. Vaughn hit a tough one-footed fade away jumper that led to Fred Hoiberg and Roy Williams shaking their head in disbelief. While he made this acrobatic shot, it then led to two even more difficult shots, both of which were missed. With talented teammates in the fold, the degree of difficulty in Vaughn’s shot attempts will decrease and his offensive efficiency will subsequently increase.

In addition, Vaughn is extremely young for his age. Right now he is still only 18 and won’t turn 19 until August making him one of the youngest players in the draft.

Concerns:

As far as concerns go, well those definitely exist. Along with his offensive shot selection, Vaughn gives the air of an alpha dog player. DraftExpress eloquently notes:

“Vaughn's skill-set dictates he would be best suited operating as a role-player at the NBA level, but his mentality and body language often looks like that of a star. While he's clearly very talented, and many laud his work ethic, there are quite a few question marks about his lack of discipline and whether he's unselfish enough to thrive in a competitive team setting, particularly when playing time needs to be earned.”

Could Vaughn cause chemistry issues on an already established playoff team? In an interview after his Wizards draft workout, Vaughn noted that the Wizards needed a guy to come off the bench behind Bradley Beal and John Wall to score the ball and he alluded to his ability to do that. Whether that positive attitude can continue remains to be seen.

Thoughts From A Former Coach:

As a senior in high school, Vaughn left the friendly confines of Minnesota to enhance his game at Findlay Prep. While there Vaughn played with another potential lottery pick in Kelly Oubre. While honing his game in Henderson, NV, current Findlay Prep head coach Andy Johnson said “He learned how to play with other good players and they pushed each other.”

Coach Johnson also had high praise for Vaughn’s future noting “I think he’s going to have a real good career. The sky is the limit and he’s so young for his age. He’s such a hard worker and a gym rat and that really translates at every level. He’s a kid that will put the work in and he’ll keep pushing himself to be great. His ability to shoot is what really, really stands out. Shooting is at a premium now with how the game is being played at every level, especially the NBA. With his great personality that he’s got, very outgoing, great teammate, and like I said earlier, his ability to work, you put that all together and I think he’s going to have a great NBA career.

He’s got a chance to be a really, really good player just due to the fact that he’s more than just a shooter. For the first time in a long time he’s 100 percent healthy right now. He’s been able to put in a lot of work without being hurt finally and all of the aspects of his game are starting to come together.”

Conclusion:

Rashad Vaughn did not have an ideal freshman year at UNLV and there are definitely question marks surrounding him. As expected, his usage rate was high and his effectiveness was low and it all ended after just 23 games.

That being said, Vaughn will be ready to put up points from the time he enters the league. With textbook form, Vaughn’s shot will be effortless from three and he will be able to score in a variety of ways while spacing the floor which is crucial in today’s rapidly evolving NBA game. Right now, it appears that teams with draft picks in the 20’s are looking at Vaughn, but it will soon be apparent that teams with earlier picks will regret passing on one of the more underrated players in the draft. 

Peach Jam: Pool Play Preview

The prestigious Peach Jam tournament kicks off the first July live evaluation period on Thursday morning with Nike’s top 24 AAU teams set to participate. Entering its fourth year serving as the championship tournament in Nike’s EYBL tournament, the Peach Jam will be the top draw for all high major coaching staffs. After four regular season EYBL weekends that took place throughout the US in April and May one final weekend remains to crown a champion. Here is a look at the four pools including favorites to emerge as well as sleepers.

 

Note: All records in parenthesis relate to games against Peach Jam qualifiers only.

Pool A

·        Team Takeover 16-2 (10-2 with one loss coming as a forfeit)

·        E1T1 13-5 (6-4)

·        BABC 11-7 (7-5)

·        Team Texas Elite 10-8 (1-8)

·        All Ohio Red 10-8 (4-4)

·        California Supreme 7-11 (1-9)

The Favorites:

Each 1 Teach 1

Berry and E1T1 are on a hot streak

The Florida based team struggled in the month of April in LA and Hampton, but quickly turned the corner in May. Led by future North Carolina point guard Joel Berry the team added combo guard DeAngelo Russell to the mix at the beginning of the season. Despite the high octane combo, it took a while for the pair to gel as the team lost one game in LA and then went 2-3 in Hampton. In May, E1T1 added an athletic shooting guard in Grayson Allen and a 7’1” shot blocking center in Trayvon Reed. Allen lit it up in Dallas coming off the bench and Reed provided a new interior post presence on the defensive end. E1T1 did not lose in its next two sessions and enters the Peach Jam on a nine game win streak and is one of the most talented teams from top to bottom. In addition to the standouts discussed above, the team also features Boubacar Moungoro, a strong and athletic small forward and Mike Gilmore, an up and coming power forward. E1T1 should have no problem advancing to the Elite 8.

Team Takeover

A talented team that is heavily reliant on its guard play, Team Takeover went 16-2 during the regular season with one of the losses coming on a forfeit. Sharp shooters Dion Wiley and Phil Booth Jr. led their team to wins in their first thirteen games of the EYBL before falling to Meanstreets in the last session over Memorial Day weekend (when Wiley did not play). Wiley and Booth both shot over 48% from the three point line while averaging 14.1 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Future Georgetown Hoya Tre Campbell handles the point guard responsibilities while Martin Geben and Marcus Derrickson provide strength down low. While Team Takeover lacks the star power in its frontcourt, the team is extremely well coached and knows how to execute in close games as they went 7-1 in games decided by five points or less. After winning the first EYBL championship, this guard heavy team looks to get back on top.

The Sleeper:

BABC

While Team Texas Elite possesses a lot of young talent in Elijah Thomas, Austin Grandstaff, and Matt McQuaid they look to be one year away from doing damage in the Peach Jam as evidenced by their 1-8 record against qualifying teams. Instead it is the Boston based BABC squad that features one of the least talked about scorers in Bonzie Colson. The under-sized forward averaged 18.1 points per game while also adding on 6.6 rebounds. Another double digit scorer for BABC is Tyler Nelson who averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 47% from the three point line. They might not be the most noteworthy bunch, but they did get wins over their highly regarded neighbor in Expressions Elite as well as Meanstreets from Chicago. They won’t beat themselves and could be there at the end if either of the favorites slip up.

Pool B

·         Spiece Indy 15-3 (8-2)

·         NY Lightning 11-7 (4-5)

·         Mokan Elite 11-7 (5-6)

·         Team Penny 11-7 (6-4)

·         Team Final 11-7 (6-6)

·         STL Eagles 10-8 (4-7)

The Favorite:

Spiece Indy Heat

Based on the EYBL regular season, Indy Spiece is the class of the Pool B and the remaining five teams will be left to fight for the final spot in the quarterfinals. Similar to E1T1, Spiece Indy lost three games in LA and Hampton and then rattled off nine wins in a row. While E1T1 took advantage of AAU free agency, Spiece Indy regained their big man, Trey Lyles from injury. This team has been playing together on the 17U circuit for awhile and is now one of the most experienced teams out there.  Along with Lyles, this team also features recent Louisville commit JaQuan Lyle, sharp shooter James Blackmon, Jr., and Trevon Bluiett. All four players average in double figures and should have an easy run to the Peach Jam quarterfinals.

The Sleepers:

With four teams at 11-7 and one team at 10-8, the competition for the other quarterfinal spot should be fierce.

Team Final

With four players averaging 10 or more points per game, Team Final is a very well-balanced team. Malachi Richardson and Mikal Bridges man the wing, but it is point guard Jaquan Newton that could tip the balance in Team Final’s favor. In EYBL play Newton averaged 13.7 points and 4.5 assists per game; however it was his play in June at the NBPA Top 100 camp that turned heads. While he did not win MVP, Newton scored 31 points in the championship game to get his team the victory as he hit from all areas of the court. With a similar performance, Team Final could be sitting in the quarterfinals come Saturday.

Team Penny:

One of the top scoring teams in the league at 69.6 points per game, Team Penny features a plethora of young talent in Skal Labissiere and the Lawson brothers (Keelon and Dedric). Keelon Lawson led the team in both scoring and rebounding with 16.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while Labissiere added 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. While they are young and talented, Team Penny is led by a steady point guard in Anton Beard. As a point, Beard knows how to run the pick and roll and attack the defense for open shots. A wise and steady point guard leading a bunch of young athletes sounds like a recipe for success in claiming a quarterfinal berth. In the wide open Pool B.

Pool C

·         Houston Hoops 16-2 (10-1)

·         Texas Titans 10-8 (2-7)

·         Mac Irvin Fire 11-7 (5-5)

·         Boo Williams 11-7 (6-4)

·         Team Scan 10-8 (4-8)

·         Jackson Tigers 8-10 (4-7)

 

The Favorites:

Houston Hoops

After going 16-2 during the EYBL regular season, Houston is looking for a championship. Knowing that a dynamic wing trio in Justin Jackson, Justise Winslow, and Kelly Oubre take the court each time most definitely tilts the odds in their favor. During the regular season Jackson was Mr. Efficient averaging a team high 17.3 points per game on 60% shooting. Oubre was the athletic wing that hit 35% of his team high 94 three point attempts, while Winslow did it all averaging 13.8 points per game and leading the team in rebounding and assists with 7.3 and 4.3 per game, respectively. Houston also relies on Khadeem Latin and his 1.9 blocks per game to control the paint while 2016 standout De’Aaron Fox has increased his point guard responsibilities. Last year, Houston went 4-1 in pool play and was denied a chance to play in the quarterfinals due to a tie breaker, but this year they look to leave no doubt in pool play.

Mac Irvin Fire

The Fire finally got big man Cliff Alexander to suit up for them during the EYBL season. Unfortunately for Alexander and the Fire, big man Jahlil Okafor struggled with injuries and only played in five games. With a healthy Okafor, the Fire look to take advantage of having the top two players in the country (per ESPN) on the court at the same. While Alexander and Okafor plan on dominating down low, it is steady point guard Jalen Brunson that runs the show. The upcoming junior made a smooth transition to the EYBL and averaged 12 points and 5.7 assists per game. While everyone knows the point guard and big men, it will be up to the wings to help the team advance out of a tough Pool C.  Chicago public league rivals Josh Cunningham and Miles Reynolds don’t get as much publicity as their teammates but it will be up to them to hit open shots and slow down the opposing teams best players. Finally at full strength, the Fire look to live up to their potential in South Carolina.  

The Sleeper:

Team Scan

Last year Team Scan was one of the top 16U teams on the circuit and they lost in the 16U semi-finals at Peach Jam. This year despite struggling at times, Team Scan still possesses scary talent and elite big men. The NBPA Top 100 MVP, Chieck Diallo leads the way with 12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game followed up by the 6’10 Chris McCullough who averages 11.4 points and 7.5 rebounds. On the wing, Terry Larrier gives Team Scan an athletic option that thrives on attacking the basket while Conrad Chambers and Shavar Newkirk fill the guard spots. While this team is extremely athletic, they struggle shooting from the outside and will need to get out on the break and protect the rim in order to advance.

Pool D

·         CP3 All-Stars 15-3 (9-2)

·         Expressions Elite 13-5 (6-4)

·         Oakland Soldiers 10-8 (5-7)

·         Meanstreets 12-6 (7-5)

·         Howard Pulley 12-6 (5-4)

·         Travelers Basketball 9-9 (4-5)

The Favorite:

CP3

Led by small forward Theo Pinson and his 13.8 points per game, CP3 went a quite 15-3 during the EYBL regular season. Similar to other top teams, they dominated play in May going undefeated in Dallas and lost only once in Minneapolis. To go along with Pinson, the team is run by future Wake Forest point guard Shelton Mitchell and has future Hoya L.J. Peak running the opposite wing spot. Also, power forward Gary Clark quietly averaged 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. This team likes to create pressure on the defensive end and get out on the break on the offensive end. Last year CP3 advanced to the quarterfinals and now a year later they look to take it a step farther this time around.

The Sleepers:

In such a strong pool, there are four other teams that will make a hard run at the quarterfinals:

Expressions Elite – They won their first nine games before going 4-5 down the stretch. Led by Abdul-Malik Abu, the New England based team will need to regain their early mojo to make it out of this grouping.

Oakland Soldiers – The defending champions struggled at times during the regular season but Stanley Johnson is looking to win a second consecutive championship. Johnson is one of the toughest players to guard on the circuit and could easily put the Soldiers on his back. Big man Ivan Rabb controls the low post.

Meanstreets – The Chicago based team gave CIA Bounce its first loss last year and it did the same with Team Takeover this year. Led by one of the top floor generals in the country in Tyler Ulis, this team could easily make a run. To go along with Ulis, Meanstreets features combo forward Paul White and high school teammates Vic Law and Charles Matthews. 

Howard Pulley – This team relies heavily on its top two players, but luckily they are Tyus Jones and Reid Travis. Jones is the top point guard in the country and averaged 22.8 points and 6.9 assists per game while Travis averaged 18.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. These two can’t have an off game or else it will be the last EYBL action for Jones in his third year of action.

Predictions:

Pool A: No upsets here as E1T1 and Team Takeover advance

Pool B: Spiece Indy takes care of business while Team Final rides the hot play of Jaquan Newton

Pool C: Houston Hoops and Mac Irvin Fire advance

Pool D: CP3 and Meanstreets advance

EYBL-Dallas - Day 2 Continued

While Tyus Jones and Joel Berry were going head to head and Malik Newman was going off for 36 points there were numerous other standouts throughout the 40 games that went on during Day 2 of the Dallas EYBL. 

Theo Pinson, 6’6”, 2014, CP3

In the first set of Saturday games, Theo Pinson made his presence known on both sides of the ball early and often in helping his team to a 13 point halftime lead against Team Texas Elite. Pinson went 5-9 in the first half including 1-2 from the three point line. Outside shooting is usually the main weakness associated with Pinson, but he showed off an improved form in this early morning tilt. From the start Pinson had shots go in and out from fifteen feet and the top of the key. Despite the close misses, Pinson didn’t lose confidence and shortly thereafter knocked in a twelve foot jump shot and a three from the right wing. On the defensive side of the ball, Pinson forced two early turnovers and converted both of those steals into a fast break dunk and lay-up. In the second half, Pinson added in eight more points for good measure as CP3 became the only team in the tournament to break 100 points in a 35 point win. Pinson finished with 19 points on 8-14 shooting and added seven rebounds. 

Gary Clark, 6’7”, 2014, CP3

Clark had a very efficient game in the morning set scoring 17 points on 7-9 shooting. Several times, CP3 ran specific play sets to get Clark the ball in the low post and he responded with a few quick right handed hook shots and also a face-up medium range jump shot. Clark showed off a soft touch, good hands, and quick moves when catching the ball in the post.

Matt Mcquaid, 6’5”, 2015, Team Texas Elite

While the young Texas Elite squad was overwhelmed against CP3, the skinny sophomore took charge in the first half attempting to keep his team within striking distance. After miss-firing on his first two outside shots, Mcquaid calmly drained four three pointers in the first half including one he hit from the left corner while getting fouled. After knocking in his first three, he gained confidence and became more aggressive calling for the ball and moving through the half court sets in an effort to get open looks. Mcquaid ended up going 5-9 from behind the three point line throughout the game. 

Justin Jackson, 6’7”, 2014, Houston Hoops

In one of the most anticipated match-ups against Expressions Elite the lanky forward got off to a slow start but quickly caught fire during the middle of the first half. After starting out 1-4, Jackson hit his patented floater from seven feet out and added in a three pointer from the top of the key while also hitting several baskets down low off of drives or basket cuts. With the score tied 36 all at the half, Jackson continued his stellar playing scoring 16 second half points as his Houston Hoops team ended up winning 81-65. Jackson added seven rebounds and played hard on both sides of the ball throughout the contest. 

Kelly Oubre, 6’7”, 2014, Houston Hoops

Another one of the talented Houston Hoops wings, Oubre scored 17 points on 4-9 shooting. Oubre hit two threes from the corner and also used his size and athleticism to get to the free throw line nine times. Oubre was very active on the defensive end and also helped with ball handling duties on occasion. The size and strength combination that Oubre possesses makes him one of the most challenging covers in the circuit.

Abdul Malik Abu, 6’7”, 2014, Expressions Elite

Malik-Abu struggled mightily with his shooting during the game against Houston going 3-19, but he also managed to grab 14 rebounds. Malik-Abu is one of the strongest forwards in the country and showed off his power and athleticism with a violent dunk off a stand still jump at one point early in the second half. 

Aaron Falzon, 6’8”, 2015, Expressions Elite

Falzon looks a bit like Klay Thompson and while he does not have the same shooting ability he did manage to knock in four three pointers throughout the game. After forcing a bad shot from the top of the key to start the game, Falzon settled into the flow and went for 14 points and 7 rebounds. With Expressions Elite trying to make a comeback at the end of the game, Falzon turned into the go-to guy on offense as his teammates tried to find him for open looks behind the arc as he showed off range from several feet behind the arc.

Grayson Allen, 6’4”, 2014, E1T1

Allen continued his hot shooting off the bench in a blowout win against Howard Pulley to cap off the Saturday morning session. After scoring 30 points the first night, Allen went for 17 points on 6-8 shooting. Playing off the ball, Allen wasted no time getting into the action as he fired up shots the first two times he touched the ball resulting in two swishes. Allen got to the basket a time or two and even lofted a nice alley-oop to Trayvon Reed after working his way into the lane.

D’Angelo Russell, 6’4”, 2014, E1T1

The first two EYBL sessions were a struggle for Russell as he tried to adapt to a new team and new system. His game against Howard Pulley could potentially signal his turnaround. Russell went 6-7 from the floor including 3-4 from behind the line. It seems as though Russell’s favorite three-point spot is a few feet below the free throw line extended and this is where he did his damage. After Russell knocked in a three over Tyus Jones, he started to show off a little of his helter-skelter type game that made him one of the top players on the 16U Adidas and UA circuit last year. He also added in 7 rebounds for good measure. 

Trey Lyles, 6’9”, 2014, Spiece Indy

Despite an early deficit due to the 36 point Malik Newman point barrage, Spiece Indy stayed within striking distance and eventually took the lead in the final minutes. This was in large part due to the play of their big man Trey Lyles who is one of the smartest big men on the circuit. Lyles knew he had a strength advantage down low and went to work. Lyles backed his man down for baskets coming off turns to both the right and left shoulder near the basket and also hit a few five to seven foot jumpers when given space. 

Ivan Rabb, 6’10”, 2015, Oakland Soldiers

Rabb showed off why he is considered to be one of the top players in the class of 2015 playing against Athletes First from Oklahoma. The tall and lanky big man can run the court and finished in the low post. Rabb got his Oakland squad off to a quick start scoring six early points down low off of offensive rebounds and quick post moves. He finished the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds on just seven shots. 

Stanley Johnson, 6’7”, 2014, Oakland Soldiers

Johnson was unstoppable at the end of his second game and wouldn’t let Athletes First back into the game. In the last few minutes Johnson isolated his defender(s) at the top of the key and scored several times off of simple crossovers at the three point line. After getting his defender to switch directions, Johnson used his strength advantage to bully his way to the basket. He finished with 22 points on 7-12 shooting and got to the line 12 times. Overall, Johnson is one of the toughest covers in the game. 

Rashad Vaughn, 6’6”, 2014, Wisconsin Elite

Vaughn had another sub-par shooting effort going 4-12, but managed to get to the line 11 times where he converted eight. After taking the EYBL by storm and cementing his rep as the best shooting guard in the country, opposing teams have started to make it harder on Vaughn to get open looks. On Saturday afternoon, Team Louisiana employed a box and one approach on Vaughn which kept him from getting into a rhythm. Vaughn often brought the ball up the court in the second half but was forced to play distributor as he often had two defenders on him anytime he got close to the three point line. At the end of the day, Vaughn finished with 18 points 8 rebounds, and only one turnover. Most importantly his team got the win.

Tyler Ulis, 5’8”, 2014, Meanstreets

Meanstreets was in dire need of a win after starting play in Dallas with a 0-2 record. With a one point lead at the half against Team Final, Ulis seized control in the second half and led the Chicago based Meanstreets to a 75-69 win. Despite his size, Ulis controls the game better than any point guard on the Nike circuit. He hit open three’s when his team needed a bucket (2-4 3-pt) and got into the lane for floaters and foul shots at will. He went 11-11 from the line and finished with 23 points and 8 assists.

Mikal Bridges, 6’7”, 2014 and Malachi Richardson, 6’5”, 2015, Team Final

These two wings scored 16 and 13 points respectively in their loss to Meanstreets. The talented and lengthy wing duo each hit a combined six three-pointers and provided Team Final with offensive miss-matches throughout the game. While both players can shoot the ball, they also possess the athleticism to get to the basket and impact the game in other ways as they combined for 10 rebounds.

Luke Maye, 6’6”, 2015, Team United

An under-sized power forward, Luke Maye can put up points in a hurry. Despite starting his last game of the day against 7’1” center Trayvon Reed, Maye was active on the offensive end getting 23 shots up for a total of 23 points. Maye has a quick release and a high arc on his jump shot which allows him to turn and face against almost any defender. He also doesn’t tire easily and was constantly crashing the boards looking for put back opportunities. 

Kameron Chatman, 6’7”, 2014, ICP

Chatman led ICP to a close rivalry win with Seattle Rotary scoring 16 points including several baskets as the game winded down. Despite sitting out this past high school season, Chatman got the best of another high profile wing in Shaqquan Aaron who did not score until the final shot of the game. Chatman performed well in all of his games and benefited from an influx of Southern California talent to improve the competiveness of his team.