Augusta Live: Friday's 15U Standouts
July 8, 2023 by Trent Watson
Jacob Canton (New York Renaissance): Lead guard Jacob Canton continues to show why he’s one of the best young players in the country with his creativity off the bounce as a primary playmaker, paired with his elite shot making off the bounce. Canton looks more and more comfortable as a self-creator, igniting offense not only for himself but his teammates as well. He showcased some improved shot making and proved to be a dynamic distributor in transition.
Gavin Kay (Boo Williams): Post player Gavin Kay has a wide frame that he used to finish through contact and carve out space in the lane. Kay displayed soft hands to catch dump-off’s from his guards and is adept at getting behind the defense, and finding gaps in zones. Kay keeps the ball high and goes straight up when playing in traffic, absorbing contact on his way to strong layups. Defensively, Kay used his physicality to push post players off the block and wear them down when jockeying for position.
Keeper Jackson (TSF EYBL): Jackson’s frame and athleticism seemed to be too much for his opponents to contain, utilizing his physical gifts to dictate the flow of the game. Although he possesses a solid foundation, Wrinkler is still raw and possesses plenty of untapped potential. Jackson showed flashes of an emerging offensive skill set, with his scoring ability in the paint as well as in the mid-range area. Defensively he showcased switchability guarding one through five and causing havoc at the top of their full court press defense.
Frank Jackson (TSF EYBL): Frank Jackson out in Friday’s action simply with his ability to consistently do the little things, play with high energy and always be in the right spots at the right time. Jackson exuded his immense will to win with the way he crashed the offensive glass, garnering tip-ins and second chance buckets. Jackson lived on the offensive glass, with most of his points coming from clean-up action. He plays with intensity and high energy on both ends, bringing the same tenacity on the defensive glass, as well as showcasing some prominent defensive tools with his switchability and keen instincts when playing the passing lanes.
Sam Funches (ISO JOE): Post presence, Sam Funches had another stellar performance today with his ability to anchor the paint from a defensive standpoint. His shot blocking and defensive rebounding led to easy run outs for his team, as well as keeping the momentum rolling in his team's direction. Offensively, there’s still some work to do but it’s evident to see that in a few years Funches will have an array of unstoppable jump hooks, as well as being able to push the break himself from a live dribble.