In many basketball events, players tend to mistake Day 2 for “Day Off”. Day 1 top performers usually feel like they can relax during Day 2 because they already proved themselves. In the Under Armour Elite 24, Day 2 is when the dunk contest and the three-point contest take place. Players want their bodies to be 100% for the contests which gives them even more of a reason to relax. The dunk contest and three-point contest are fun for players & nice for fans, but the truth is that they don’t mean much. The players who went hardest in practice were undoubtedly the top performers of Day 2.
Trevon Duval remained the top point guard of the day. His tight handle, amazing athleticism and great court vision was simply too much for the defense to handle. However, he had even more trouble penetrating and dishing on Day 2. This seems like his one of his very few weaknesses. He definitely needs to improve his decision-making while driving to the basket. If Trevon doesn’t work on this, high level defenses on the next level will expose his weakness even more.
Shamorie Ponds had flashes that made him seem like he was the top point guard of the day. The only way to describe Shamorie is “So NY”. He’s flashy like many other guards from NYC but he’s very efficient with it and that’s what makes him special. When he’s knocking down shots, he’s very hard to guard. If Shamorie chooses the right fit for college, he can be a pro point guard some day.
Troy Brown didn’t have a good Day 1. On Day 2, he definitely proved that he belongs with the elite. Whether it was a bucket, assist or block, Troy did it, multiple times. When he’s playing hard, there aren’t many other players in the country who are better than him.
Mark Vital was one of the players who had a few great streaks on Day 1 and would’ve been considered a top player. On Day 2 he definitely showed that Day 1 wasn’t just lucky. Mark is considered a top 100 player, but it’s the elite 24 and with so much talent in the building, nobody really expected him to do much. Mark’s motor and athleticism make him look like a young Kenneth Faried. He’s the guy you pick up because you don’t want to play against him. You might get dunked on and you will get outworked if he’s on the other team. Baylor got a steal in Mark Vital.
Rawle Alkins is getting closer to becoming the superstar he can be. With the amount of talent in the building, it’s hard to focus on one player only. However, when Rawle did have the ball he usually made the right play. Sometimes he tends to be over-generous and dishes the ball back out when he has a layup opportunity. That seemed like his only problem today. There aren’t too many guards that can handle his mix of athleticism, size, strength and skill. He could come out an MVP in tomorrow’s game.
TJ Leaf, Hamidou Diallo and Dewan Huell deserve a mention for playing so hard. In an event like the Under Armour Elite 24, playing hard will help players separate themselves from the pack. TJ didn’t make as many shots and he should’ve, but as long as he keeps playing hard, he’ll be a problem. Dewan did a little bit of everything on Day 2 and showed that he’s a great player when he goes hard. Hamidou just needs a little more focus on the court. He’s proved himself against the best multiple times. Once he can completely adjust to playing against the best of the best, he’ll be an unstoppable guard on any level. Not many people in the country would drive full speed and go chest to chest with Udoka Azubuike. The little things like that make him stand out. The main thing he needs to focus on is finishing shots. He makes great moves and showed lots of improvement from Day 1. Sky’s the limit with Hamidou if he keeps working.
Overall, Day 2 was great. Congratulations to Josh Jackson for winning the dunk contest and Terrance Ferguson for winning the three-point contest. Let’s see what Day 3 has in store.
