The Next Wave | Frontcourt Pillars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By Josh Ebrahim</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Excited to start coverage on the next wave of talent coming through the Empire State. Today we will highlight some of the top frontcourt players who are about to begin their high school careers. While it's difficult to gauge what talent can project into, there are certain attributes that players possess that separate the great from the elite. I believe these players, if they continue on their trajectory, will be high-level impact Division 1 players. I have high hopes for this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1880091"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a56ec75bbe7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hart is a good interior presence who crashes the boards for putbacks and kickout opportunities for teammates. Hart can run the floor and shows nice touch around the rim with her hook shoot and floater. She's still raw physically and learning the game, but once she gets more comfortable, she'll be a bigger problem for opponents. She has elite size and good athleticism (elite volleyball player too), though she needs to become more explosive and expand her range beyond the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1278302"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a56ec75bbec6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dukes is arguably the top player in her class and in the nation, combining elite size, athleticism, and basketball IQ. A three-level scorer who loves to run the break, her mechanics need some refinement so her shot trajectory is closer to the top/middle and stays consistent. Playing for powerhouse LuHi, she won't be asked to carry the full offensive load just yet, but she's positioned to establish herself as one of the top prospects in the country for her class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1873781"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a56ec75bbf14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Walker projects as a 3-and-D wing at the next level, with good shooting mechanics, a quick release, and a preference for the corner 3. She has good size and athleticism, stays active on the boards, and likes to push the ball and run the break to get rewarded in transition. Defensively, her big wingspan and lateral quickness let her stay in front of drivers to the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1862176"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a58d55e85ab4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coan is a great passer with high basketball IQ. She has good shooting mechanics but needs to work on her guide hand on the release of her shot. Athletic and competitive, she has a great feel for the defensive paint and alters shots while closing out on shooters on the perimeter. She has a good handle and vision, setting up teammates, and can get to the basket when she needs to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1881991,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a58d55e85b2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Egan is an athletic big who impacts the game on both ends, timing her jumps well to block shots efficiently while cleaning up on the glass. She can light it up from beyond the arc with pure mechanics and a quick release, and looks to run the floor to get rewarded in transition for easy buckets. Able to guard multiple positions, she's one to watch on both ends as she starts her high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->