The best 2023 TN prospects from the 2022 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions
Twenty-two years ago I scouted my first Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. The venue has changed over the years but it is still one of my favorite events of the summer scene. Lets check out who shined at this years event from Tennessee.
This young man has always showed above average athleticism on the glass and the defensive side of the ball. He can finish with a flurry on the break or trailing an errand shot for a crowd pleasing slam. Jack showed additional offensive skills during this event hitting a handful of deep shots in rhythm and showing some pleasing up and under moves with masterful footwork. He continues to pound the glass and keep possessions alive for his basketball family. At this stage he is an undersized four who could make some serious noise at the proper level. As he continues to add a more consistent outside shot, more in between game off the dribble and additional scoring with his back to the basket you could see that level rise.
Interesting guard prospect who showed he could score in a variety of methods. He has range and when mechanics are properly followed he was right on, by that I mean his feet were rarely set, his body was drifting and he was rushing his attempt at times, yet when he was in the flow of the game and just playing his shot was among the top in the field. He has the length and size to play either guard spot but his decision making will need to upgrade if he is to take on some lead guard responsibilities. He comes from a great high school program that has taught him excellent fundamentals defensively and he can be a solid defender when engaged. Your game is right there young man, just grab it and go.
His physical appearance catches your eye right from the jump. He has great length, is explosive and plays with effort. He can start the break but has a tendency to get a bit out of control. He showed a very nice pull-up that got him several uncontested scoring chances. He tends to get himself off balance when shooting the deep shot and just needs to fine tune some of those aspects of his development. He has great potential and appears to be willing to work. His improvement over the years has been massive. He needs to work on his hand strength as he had issues catching the ball at times. All his shortcomings are things that can be worked on with time and continued work in the gym. I like his attitude and his body language was fantastic. Great things lie ahead for this prospect if he continues to put in the effort.
This kid catches your eye with his ability to get his shot against most any defender. He has amazing lower body strength and creates his space for scoring chances. He has a soft touch around the bucket and he is unapologetically not scared to attack the cup. He uses the change of pace to his advantage as he is not an overtly explosive athlete. He has solid ball handling skills and uses the bounce to his advantage. He was a bright spot for his squad against some very athletic opponents. He has a tendency to fade on his deep shot which can affect his accuracy. He has a wonderful basketball IQ and is a player who will be very successful at the proper level in college.
I have been a fan of this youngster since the sanctioned team camp in Memphis last summer. He has next level length and determination. He plays hard on every possession and his skill level is beginning to catch up to his athleticism. He has shown marked improvement in his offensive game, scoring more regular on the catch and score while adding some short jumpers to the fray. He rebounds at an enormous clip and gets buckets eating up missed shots from his mates. On the other end of the floor he uses his length to block shots, keep defenders at bay and completely control the glass. I think the future is ultra bright for this young man as he continues to sky rocket up the skill level charts.
What a difference a day makes. The early part of the annual Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions saw Ricks showing potential but looking uncomfortable, forcing outside looks and not advancing to the bucket like his skill set allows. Sunday came and all was right for the Clarksville dynamo. How about two game winning buckets including the championship game on that blossoming resume. Ricks was explosive off the dribble on Sunday, finishing at the rim, ignoring contact and making a statement. Once he gained this level of confidence, his outside stroke starting falling and he was running the floor like a sure fire next level prospect. His defensive intensity was lifted as well and with this length he has the potential to be a big time defender.
