10 Big Things From Saturday at West MSA
June 11, 2023 by Max Feldman
Las Vegas serves as home for West MSA, bringing in the next crop of high level prospects from across the region. Plenty more to break down, but here are 10 noteworthy takeaways from the day of action.
- Grants Pass, Oregon native Avery Huston had the gym buzzing all day long. Sporting further aggression and confidence since winter, the 6-1 G created offense with ease and had it going from deep and around the rim. Fearless, energetic and unafraid, he routinely shook the first layer of defense to finish in traffic. Highly impressive shot-creator with intangibles headed to Cascade Christian (OR) next year.
- The progression of Jasiah Williams jumper was notable from the jump. Dynamic throughout the winter as a slasher, perimeter defender and an athletic presence, it was his perimeter stroke that had been inconsistent. Fast forward a few months, the twitchy 6-3+ wing is shooting it with confidence and versatility. Off the catch and flashes off the bounce, he converted with efficiency.
- Playing alongside a variety of guards in the winter, it was nice to see Isaiah Davis making the most of more on-ball opportunity. A high level shooter from beyond the arc, Davis excelled leveraging his gravity to create lanes to the rim. Fluid and smooth off the bounce with promising feel as a scorer, to go with a reliable catch & shoot stroke.
- No surprise, it was a very nice day for JJ Sati-Grier playing up and standing out. His inherent creativity pops from the tip, flowing into pick and rolls, now growing more mature as a decision-maker for when to pick his spots or set the table for others. The 2028 guard's playmaking chops were clear all winter long, but he's turning a corner as a scorer and can really fill it up off the dribble.
- He's been surgical getting to his spots all year long, Ilan Nikolov scored it at a high clip in his home territory. Extremely efficient getting to his spots and converting once he gets there, there's a maturity to his game that impresses each time out.
- Strong day for 2028 wing Jaden Redding, who came on strong through the winter. Stood out in the winter as a defender, utilizing his length and instincts to generate stocks and defend multiple spots. Early summer, he's initiating offense and attacking off the bounce to draw a rotation and kick it out. Skill, size and feel at an early stage.
- Efe Atane made a strong impression here in Vegas. 6-3 with plus athleticism and burst off the bounce, he gets to the rim in a hurry and scored it in bunches in transition. Strung together some big flashes with his activity and blossoming skill level.
- Jaylan Virgill can fill it up in bunches, and did just that through a few different stretches on Saturday. Skilled, physical and going to convert more times than not if given space from deep, he's a tall task to bottle up in isolation.
- 2028 G Davion Rhymes made a big initial impression. Loaded with physical upside and fluidity in his movement skills, he got downhill consistently and strung together big sequences attacking in transition. Ton of upside in place.
- More of the same since the winter, Lleyton Leonard giving defenses fits with his ability to generate mismatches and play through contact. Athletic 6-3+ southpaw with advanced ball skills and craft, he scored it well around the rim and is beginning to shoot it from deep with further confidence. One to know early on in 2028.