Weekend Update: Strong Weekend from First-Round Scorers
Jalen Hood-Schifino's big road win, an Arkansas-Alabama slugfest, a Brandin Podziemski check-in, and more
Saturday was a sensational day of college basketball. We saw an improbable comeback as Iowa stormed back in the final minutes to force overtime with Michigan State. We saw buzzer-beaters in three nationally-televised college games, including a full-court heave from Arizona State’s Desmond Cambridge.
What we also got to see were some fantastic individual performances. Jalen Hood-Schifino was a stone cold killer on the road against Purdue. The Alabama-Arkansas game lived up to the hype. We’re going to dive into the best prospect showings from the weekend below. For a shortcut, check out this full video compilation of them all:
Jalen Hood-Schifino - PG, Indiana
This was the prospect game of the year. Jalen Hood-Schifino’s co-star Trayce Jackson-Davis was completely neutralized early on the road in a hostile environment for a rivalry game. Quietly and confidently, Hood-Schifino stepped up and handled the ball on every big possession and got the Hoosiers quality look after quality look.
Purdue has to form everything around their big man Zach Edey, the 7’3” monster on the inside. To protect Edey’s lack of movement skills, the Boilermakers run a deep drop with Edey in ball screens and dare teams to beat them from the mid-range. That’s where JHS is best, so Purdue needed to do more. Ethan Morton, the primary defender against Hood-Schifino, and others tried to force the freshman to his left; Hood-Schifino is lethal with his mid-range when he gets to his right.
The pressuring to make him go left didn’t work. JHS had all his tricks out, including great hesi dribbles, hostage dribbles, snaking to get back to his right, and an overall physical style of play that got him to his spots. The floater and mid-range jumper were on, and possession after possession he created good looks for the Hoosiers — especially in the first half.
When the Hoosiers needed a big play, Hood-Schifino made it. During a broken possession in the second-half, Mike Woodson called a timeout with seven seconds on the shot clock, resulting in a sideline inbound. JHS was the inbounder, and got a give-and-go to a righty pull-up that quieted the Purdue crowd and ended their run. Hood-Schifino did all this while playing excellent defense, as the Hoosiers blanketed the interior and were flying everywhere to recover on the perimeter.
This game was instrumental in cementing Hood-Schifino as a top-15 player in the class. He tore apart drop coverage in such a methodical way, and he’s likely to face some on a nightly basis at the next level. He does all the little things, he defends, and he’s unflappably calm. We’re all in.
Cason Wallace - CG, Kentucky
Just before the game, we were commenting about how difficult offensive scouting can be for Wallace. Kentucky’s offense isn’t the most modern, and their insistence on playing inside-out doesn’t let a guard like Wallace showcase what he can do.
That’s why Saturday’s game against Auburn was so notable. Wallace got to create more in ball screens, was really good in transition, got to his own jumper, and showed real confidence going to his left or his right.
We know what Wallace gives on the defensive end, and it’s why he’s so highly touted as a prospect. His hands and defensive instincts are elite — both were on display against Auburn as he finished with four steals. But this was his best offensive performance in a long time, a good reminder to many that he’s going to be really good second-side creator when he’s allowed to do more than just reverse the ball and throw post entry passes.
Nick Smith - CG, Arkansas
Speaking of reminders, Nick Smith gave us all a reminder of why he’s one of the most highly-touted scorers in this draft class. He’s really shifty and plays with an energetic pace that makes him difficult to guard. He can break free for his own shot, showed a few self-creation flashes late, and has an advanced handle in tight spaces.
Most impressive from Smith was his floater, which is always on and showcases his elite touch near the basket. He’s got a slender frame, so taking a lot of shots like these help save his body. Consistently making them will translate to the NBA level, and he gets to them going to his right or his left.
Smith played a full 40 minutes, was highly competitive throughout, and showcased more burst on a few high-point rebounds than we thought he could right now. Smith is closing in on joining that top tier of prospects for us, and back-to-back 20-point games is certainly going to help his case.
Jordan Hawkins - CG, Connecticut
Hawkins is like the energizer bunny. A tireless mover running off screens constantly and sprinting to the line in transition, he’s best when he can just play and is getting fed the ball. His hips are sensational and he quickly aligns himself to the bucket, he doesn’t need a ton of time to get his shot off, and the quick release is definitely translatable.
Hawkins has been on lately, and once he got heated up against St. John’s, he was tough to stop. The first segment in the clips below, featuring back-to-back 3-pointers for Hawkins, shows just how quickly he can change the complexion of a game:
Hawkins is closing in on being a certified first-round pick for us. He’s producing at a high level, is athletic enough to guard the 1 or the 2, and has learned how to move without the ball in ways that maximizes his impact. His shooting role at UConn translates to the league pretty easily; he’s not the most diverse player and still struggles inside of 12 feet, but the shooting is too legitimate to deny.
Brandin Podziemski - CG, Santa Clara
For the last few months, we’ve been having a lot of behind-the-scenes conversations about Illinois transfer Brandin Podziemski. A former four-star recruit, he landed at Santa Clara for his sophomore year and has been experiencing a statistical breakout. At 6’5” with great shooting touch and underrated passing feel, he’s a fairly complete offensive producer for the Broncos.