10 Big Things From Saturday at Spring Circuit Championship Weekend


Championship Weekend has arrived. Plenty to break down already from the action in Memphis, but here are 10 big things from Saturday's action. Down to four in the Red Lea8ue, with All Ohio Sumner, Pro Skills, LivOn Blue Chips and Team Tyus set to battle on Sunday.

- Storyline of the day has to be Team Tyus, knocking off TSF and the 2nd overall seed, Team CP3. The steady pressure point today and all throughout the spring has been Tyler Forrest. The 6-1 G continues to be an exceptional decision-maker, routinely creating slick advantages in ball screens and getting to his floater game.

- However, Forrest had plenty of assistance on Saturday as Team Tyus was firing on all cylinders. Gavin Walter's value as a connector and timely shot-maker has been massive, making quick decisions and taking what the defense gives him each time down. Isaac Feller has stepped up in a big way down the stretch as well, doing plenty of little things to impact winning on the margins. Smart off the ball, advantageous attacking on the second side and brings an edge to the group. Bennett Cizadlo's upside has popped throughout the spring, but his skillset is already proving useful. Crafty around the rim and a key piece that allows the group to space the floor at a high level, he's looking like an X-factor heading down the wire, and plenty intriguing looking ahead.

- Nothing new, but Davion Thompson and Devin Cleveland closed their huge spring run with a bang. In a wire to wire first round matchup and then falling just short to Pro Skills, it was Thompson who grabbed control of both games down the final stretch. Loaded with confidence and control, the 6-2 G countered ball pressure with his dynamic handle and feel in traffic to get to the line or convert in the trees. Cleveland served as the opener, sparking big runs in the first half of each game with perimeter shot-making and contact finishes with either hand. Still in the early stages physically and filling out his frame, but all throughout the spring he hasn't shied away from physicality. Mac Irvin fell short, but both Thompson and Cleveland are going to popular names in the Chicagoland area for years to come.

For All Ohio Sumner, it's been some of the few names all spring long that have kept them a mainstay near the top of the standings. Recently though, it's been a whole lot of Josh Tyson. Knocking down shots, attacking closeouts and spurring transition offense, the twitchy guard has come on in a big way over the back half of Spring Circuit play. Lot to like looking ahead.

- Speaking of All Ohio Sumner's standouts, it was a very strong day for Lincoln Cosby. Playing within himself, making the extra pass, fluidly attacking the cup and finishing with patience around the rim. On the other end, the 6-8 wing has an impressive knack for impacting shots on closeouts, regularly blocking jump shooters out beyond the arc. Still a few months away from 2027 rankings, but the Ohio native is trending very highly.

- LivOn Blue Chips has rolled onto the Final Four, largely due to their guard trio's ability to score in bunches. Trey Pinkard continues to produce at a high level, filling it up as a long range shooter and making plays for others off a live dribble. Similarly, Christian Brown and Tyson Forrest, who've been dynamite turning defense into offense and turning up the tempo, keyed in propelling the Blue Chips to the semi-finals. Few and far between have been able to stick with the trio's overall speed of play.

- Pro Skills, who seem to be getting everyone's best game as of late, march on, and largely thanks to the play of Isaak Hayes and Kavian Bryant. Hayes' polish in ball screens and ability to change gears in a hurry has made him a walking paint touch all spring long, now capitalizing on those opportunities with efficiency. Bryant, who has as quick of hands defensively as I've seen from a prospect this young, is rapidly growing more assertive offensively and the results have been promising, to say the least. With a smooth, compact shooting stroke and a feel for the game beyond his years, the Texas native is quickly solidifying an identity on that end.

- Came in defeat, but Montverde-bound Gabe Nesmith summed up the spring with more dynamic individual play. At 6-5 with an electric first step and a fluid handle, the Florida native is creative getting to his spots and has appeared extremely comfortable, while a tough shot for most, getting to his intermediate leaner. Best basketball is well, well ahead of him.

- Team Thad's Fred Martin has put together a nice spring and finished it on a high note. Every step of the way, his motor has been a theme. Puts pressure on the rim, gets to the line, bothersome defending out in space and bringing value on the glass from the backcourt. The Tennessee native knocked down shots at a nice clip on Saturday and will be one to track moving forward.

- TSF's RJ Davis has produced flash after flash in the late spring. A wiry 6-5 or so with notable length and physical upside, the Carolina native moves extremely well, makes timely rotations to impact shots around the cup and finished with effectiveness in deep. Highly active with plus ball skills, he's a late riser I'll be keeping tabs on.

 

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