2025 Draft Watch: Thoughts on the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit Game
July 22nd, 2024
By Alan Lu
This time around, I decided to watch the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit to get a better feel for how some of the best newcomers to college basketball may make an impact for the upcoming season, as well as to see how their skills could translate to the NBA. This game was played on April 13th, and I was able to watch this online, with thanks to YouTube via Swish. There were some sterling performances in this game, and Team USA defeated Team World by double-digits. Also, for those that are interested in the box score of this game, it can be found on X via Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports.
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Cooper Flagg scored 19 points, and had 11 rebounds, and 2 assists to lead Team USA to a double-digit win over Team World. Flagg and his future Duke teammate, Khaman Maluach could end up both being top 5 picks in the 2025 draft. (Photo: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images, via SB Nation’s Duke Basketball Report)
Strong Performances (7):
Cooper Flagg had a tremendous showing to help lead Team USA to a double-digit win in this game. He showed off strong all-around skills, and he did everything well to help his team get the victory.
Flagg did a great job of knocking down smooth, pull-up jumpers from the mid-range. He also excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He was able to run in to score on a tip-in. He also ran the floor and scored on a thunderous dunk on the break. Plus, he also showed some post-up skills. He caught a tough up-for-grabs pas, which enabled him to post up and score on a smooth, contested turnaround jumper. Flagg also showed that he can knock down outside shots, and he was able to make a pull-up three to showcase his range. In addition, he was able to score on a strong, left-handed drive to the hoop.
He also displayed good playmaking skills. Flagg excelled finding open teammates on the break and on the move to set up scores for them due to possessing good court vision. On one play though, he brought the ball up the court, but had it knocked away from him to commit a turnover.
Also, Flagg did a tremendous job of rebounding the basketball. He was quite active at crashing the glass, and he was able to get numerous boards on both ends of the floor. He also would sometimes push the pace after getting defensive boards in this game.
He also defended very well. He was able to get his hands on passes to get steals and deflections, and he also rotated to poke a ball away to force another turnover. Flagg showed a knack for jumping on loose balls, and he would actively contest shots out on the perimeter and in the paint to force misses. He did a very good job of using his length, positioning, and instincts to get stops for his team. On one play though, he got beat off the dribble and committed a foul, which led his team to give up the basket and an extra free throw that time.
Overall, Flagg put forth a terrific performance to help lead his team to a double-digit win in this game. He had a terrific all-around game. He showed why he is the early favorite to be the top pick in the 2025 draft, and he could end up being a superstar similar to Kawhi Leonard in the NBA.
A.J. Dybantsa scored 21 points, made 2 threes, and had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, as he is a very skilled and athletic 6-9 forward that looks to be the overwhelming favorite to be the top pick of the 2026 draft. (Photo: Howard Lao/The Oregonian, via The Diaspora Drop’s Substack)
A.J. Dybantsa played very well for Team World in their team’s loss to Team USA. He is a very athletic, 6-9, 17-year old forward that excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor, especially with the ball in his hands, and he looks to be the front runner to be the top pick of the 2026 draft when that time comes around.
Dybantsa showed a knack for scoring off the dribble as well as in transition. He is a fleet-footed, ball-handling forward that has a quick first step, and he would drive hard to the hoop and use ball fakes to score and get free throws. He also was able to throw down a high-flying two-handed dunk off of a quick drive in transition, and he also caught a lob to score on an alley-oop dunk another time. Plus, he also was able to use a Euro-step move to score on a separate play. In addition, he also was able to run in to score on a tip-in.
Also, Dybantsa showed off some outside shooting skills. He was able to make a quick, spot-up three off the catch, as well as a smooth pull-up three from way out. However, he struggled to knock down threes or mid-range jumpers consistently, as he would tend to miss on spot-up threes and pull-up jumpers.
Plus, he showcased adequate playmaking skills. Dybantsa is an unselfish player that can make passes off the dribble and in transition, and he is a very good passer on the break. He was able to throw a very long outlet pass to notch one assist, and he also threw a lob pass on a give and go to notch another. He also was able to dribble and maneuver deftly around a double team to make a nifty drive and kick pass to find a wide-open corner shooter. On the downside, he was also quite turnover prone at times. He would sometimes tend to over-dribble, which lead him to get balls poked away and lose the ball to commit turnovers. Another time, he threw an interior pass that was intercepted once.
He also showed a solid ability to rebound the basketball. Dybantsa was able to haul in multiple boards on both ends of the floor, and he excelled at chasing down balls to get boards. He also would sometimes push the ball up the floor after getting defensive rebounds.
Dybantsa also defended well. He was able to stay with an opposing ball handler due to possessing very good length, athleticism, and agility, which enabled him to block a floater. He also would get his hands on passes to get steals. He also would actively contest outside shots to force misses. On one play though, he got beat off the dribble in transition, which led his teammate to rotate to commit a foul. On another, he got back, but he didn’t contest a shot on a drive in transition, which led his team to give up the basket. Overall, AJ Dybantsa had a terrific showing in this game, and he could be the top pick for the 2026 draft. He reminds me a lot of former Orlando Magic point guard Penny Hardaway, and he could end up being a superstar in the NBA.
France’s 6-3 point guard, Nolan Traore also played well in for Team World in this game. He is an athletic, skilled point guard that especially excelled at making plays with the ball in his hands on offense. Traore shot the ball well, especially from beyond the arc. He made a contested, step-back three early, and he also made a quick, deep three from way out. He also showed a knack for scoring on fast breaks, as he has good foot speed, athleticism, and body control to regularly score at the rim. He was able to score on an acrobatic layup off of a speedy drive in transition, and he also drove in to score on a two-handed dunk.
He also showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble. Traore showed a knack for scoring on crafty floaters, but sometimes he would miss on tough, contested shots in traffic. Also, he showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. Traore showed a knack for throwing accurate interior passes to find his teammates on the move to notch assists. However, sometimes he would throw inaccurate passes that would go astray, and another time, he went too fast and out of control when handling it, which caused him to fall down and lose the ball. Though he didn’t get many rebounds in this game, Traore was able to nab a pair of defensive boards. On another play though, he allowed an offensive rebound to a taller, stronger player, as he got outmuscled and fouled him on a put back, which led his team to also give up the basket.
He also played decent defense. Traore was able to jump on a loose ball to help his team get a steal, and he also would deflect and poke balls away to get deflections. He also did a good job of staying in front of his man and contesting shots to force misses. Every once in a while though, he would get beat off the dribble, which would lead him to be out of position and to allow scores. Overall, Traore is an athletic, skilled point guard that excelled at making plays in this game, especially on the offensive end. He is a versatile, three-level scorer that can reliably run the point, and he could be a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
George’s 6-11 incoming freshman center, Asa Newell played very well to help Team USA get the win. He is an athletic, skilled big man that showed off versatile scoring as well as promising defensive skills. Newell showed a knack for scoring on hustle plays and in the paint. He really excelled at scoring on strong put backs, and he also ran the floor to catch a lob pass to score on a powerful alley-oop dunk to showcase his athleticism. He also managed to utilize an overhead ball fake to score on a strong dunk off of a baseline drive. Newell also tried posting up, but missed on a sweeping, turnaround jump hook once.
Though he didn’t shoot as well from the outside, Newell was able to make an open, spot-up three off the catch to showcase his developing outside shot. He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. He is an unselfish player that can pass out of the post and find the open man, and he also set a solid screen to help his teammate score on a mid-range shot. On the downside, he was a bit turnover prone on offense. He threw a quick jump pass that was dropped and intercepted. Another time, he held the ball but had it poked away from him to commit a turnover.
Also, he did a great job of rebounding the basketball. He especially excelled at hauling in offensive boards, and he was able to haul in numerous boards, especially on the offensive end. Newell also played solid defense in this game. He was able to rotate to block a shot off of a drive to a teammate, and he also would get his hands on passes to get steals. Newell has very good ball location skills, and he would jump on loose balls to help his team get steals. He also showed a knack for contesting shots out on the perimeter as well as in the paint to force misses. On the downside, sometimes he would play too aggressively, which would lead him to be out of position and to allow scores. Overall, Asa Newell had a sterling showing to help Team USA get the win, and he is a strong, athletic big man that could end up being a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
Duke’s 6-6 incoming freshman, Isaiah Evans is a very athletic swingman that played very well for Team USA in limited minutes. He showed a knack for scoring on fast breaks, as he was able to score on a speedy drive in transition, and he also threw down a thunderous dunk another time. Plus, he also made a smooth, step-back mid-range jumper to show his scoring potential. Also, he defended well, as he would actively contest shots to force misses. He also was able to chase down on a defensive board and pushed the pace afterwards to show his rebounding skills.
In summary, Isaiah Evans is an athletic, energetic player that excelled at making hustle plays to help Team USA in this game. He’ll need to continue to improve his outside shot and playmaking skills, but his ability to make plays on both ends of the floor could enable him to be a first round pick in 2025.
Arizona State’s 6-9 incoming freshman forward, Jayden Quaintance played very well in limited minutes for Team USA. He caught a lob pass to score on a powerful, alley-oop dunk on the break. He also was able to make an open mid-range jumper off of a short roll, pop play. He also posted up off of an offensive rebound, and used a drop step move to score and get an extra free throw.
He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. He threw an entry pass to help set up a score for a teammate. On another play, he telegraphed a pass and got intercepted, which led him to commit a turnover.
Quaintance did a great job of rebounding the basketball. He also played satisfactory defense in this game. He would contest outside shots to force misses. Another time though, he fouled an opponent hard on a step-back mid-range jumper due to over-aggressiveness.
Overall, Quaintance is a strong, very athletic big man that excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor. He is a solid prospect that shows a knack for making very solid plays, and he could end up being a good value pick in the late first round of the 2025 draft.
Illinois’ 6-9 incoming freshman big man, Morez Johnson Jr. excelled at making plays in the paint to help Team USA get the win in this game. He excelled as a low post scorer. He would get deep position and use pump fakes and drop step moves to score inside. He also would draw free throws on strong moves after getting offensive rebounds. Johnson also attempted to drive hard to the hoop another time, but ended up getting his shot blocked.
Also, he rebounded and defended very well. Johnson excelled as an interior defender, as he has the strength and positioning to defend down low, and he also was able to block a shot when defending in the post in this game. Plus, he also was able to contest a mid-range shot, and he also deflected a pass to nearly get a steal another time.
Overall, Morez Johnson Jr. is a strong, fairly athletic big man that excelled as an interior player in this game. He will need to expand upon his skill set offensively in the future, but his ability to make plays in the paint could enable him to be a second round pick in the 2025 draft.
Mixed Results (5):
Rutgers’ 6-10 incoming freshman forward, Ace Bailey had his ups and downs for Team USA in their win over Team World in this game. He showed a knack for scoring on hustle plays, as he was able to score on a thunderous dunk off of a backdoor cut, and he also ran the floor to score on the break. Plus, he also scored on a tip-in.
He also showed off a decent outside shot. He excelled at making pull-up, mid-range jumpers. Bailey also was able to make a smooth, step-back three, and he also ran off of a ball screen to make a corner three another time. However, he wasn’t able to make threes consistently, and he tended to take tough, contested threes that would lead to misses.
He also displayed fairly average playmaking skills. Bailey was able to spin around a defender quickly to bring the ball up once. However, he was a bit turnover prone. He dropped a quick pass thrown to him that ended up getting intercepted. When driving to the hoop once, he mishandled the ball and lost it to commit another turnover.
Also, he showed a solid ability to rebound the basketball, and he was able to chase down balls to get multiple boards on both ends of the floor. Bailey also defended well. He would poke balls away and jump on loose balls to help his team get steals and deflections. He also has good lateral agility and footwork to defend out on the perimeter and in the paint, and he would contest shots to force misses. On one play though, he sagged too far off his man and didn’t pick up a man quick enough, as he was late to close out on a three-point shot and allowed a score that time. Another time, he rotated quickly to defend in the post but bit wildly on the pump fake, which led his team to give up the basket.
Overall, Ace Bailey is a very athletic, energetic forward that has a good blend of versatility, skills, athleticism, and upside, and while he will need to be a more consistent player on offense, he is a very skilled player that could end up being a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
Rutgers’ 6-6 incoming freshman swingman, Dylan Harper had some good moments in helping Team USA to get the win in this game. He didn’t shoot the ball nearly as well as he did in the McDonald’s All-American game, but he still was able to make some solid plays on both ends of the floor.
Harper was able to make an open three-pointer in this game. He also would score on strong, speedy drives to the hoop, but sometimes he would take tough, rushed shots that would lead to misses. He also had trouble knocking down mid-range jumpers consistently, and sometimes he would miss wildly in traffic or get his shots blocked. He also was able to score on a tip-in off of an offensive rebound, as well as on a pull-up, mid-range jumper once.
He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. He is an unselfish player that made some good passes off the dribble and in transition, and he especially passes the ball well on the break. He was able to throw a nifty lob pass to set up a score for a teammate in transition once. On the downside, he was also turnover prone. He would sometimes throw hasty passes that would go astray, and he also dribbled the ball wildly before losing it to commit a turnover another time.
Also, Harper did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He also defended very well. He would jump on loose balls to help his team get steals, and he also rotated to poke a ball away to nearly get another. He also managed to stay in front of an opposing ball handler on a drive and blocked the shot that time. He also was able to contest a three to force a miss once.
Overall, Harper rebounded and defended very well, but he was inconsistent as a shot maker and decision maker on the court in this game. He’ll need to play more under control and learn to trust his outside shot more, but he is a talented prospect that could end up being a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
Baylor’s 6-5 incming freshman guard, V.J. Edgecombe had his ups and downs for Team World in this game. He is a very athletic guard that drives hard to the basket and is aggressive on the boards, but he struggled to make shots consistently, and he played too wildly on offense that would lead him to miss more shots and commit more turnovers than he should have.
Edgecombe was quite active in looking to score on hustle plays. He scored on a powerful dunk off of a quick backcut that enabled him to get open. He also would score on high-flying dunks in transition, as one came on a speedy drive in transition, and he also caught a lob pass on a give and go. However, he would also take rushed put backs and tip shots off of an offensive rebound, which would lead to misses.
He also did a decent job of scoring off the dribble. He would score on strong, aggressive drives to the hoop, and he also showed a knack for taking on the contact to get to the free throw line. However, he also would take a lot of tough, contested shots that would lead him to miss wildly. Edgecombe was also able to make a quick, open three-pointer early on, but he struggled to make spot-up threes off the catch, as he ended up missing quite a bit from beyond the arc.
He also displayed fairly average playmaking skills. Edgecombe can handle the basketball, and he was able to pass out of the post. However, he can sometimes be inaccurate with his passes, and he threw a crosscourt pass that got intercepted once.
Also, Edgecombe did a decent job of rebounding the basketball, and he especially was active at crashing the glass to get offensive boards. Plus, he also defended well. He would get his hands on passes to get steals and deflections, and he also would contest outside shots to force misses. However, sometimes he would play too aggressively, which would lead him to be out of position and to commit fouls and allow scores.
Overall, Edgecombe didn’t have his best game, but he is a very athletic swingman that can make plays on both ends of the floor. He’ll need to improve his jump shot and shot selection, but his skill set, athleticism, and upside could enable him to be a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
Arkansas’ 6-2 incoming freshman guard, Boogie Fland seemed to play better than the box score suggested for Team USA to help his team get the win. He is a shot maker that tended to take a lot of tough shots, but he showed that he can score off the dribble as well as from the outside in this game.
Fland did a decent job of knocking down dribble, mid-range jumpers, and he showed fairly good shooting touch to do so. He also managed to score on a strong, left-handed drive in traffic. Plus, he also dribbled around a screen to score on a smooth, step-back three. However, sometimes he would take tough shots off the dribble that would lead to misses.
He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. Fland was able to throw an accurate lob pass on the break to notch an assist, and he also can make passes off the dribble and in transition to get the ball to the open man.
He also was able to get a pair of defensive boards to help chip in on the glass. Fland also defended very well. He would apply ball pressure and poke balls away to help his team get steals, and he also deflected a pass to nearly get another. Plus, he also would stay with his man and contest shots off the dribble to force misses. On another play though, he got beat on a backcut, which led his team to give up a dunk that time.
Overall, Fland had a decent showing, and he played better than the box score suggested in this game. He is a fairly athletic, skilled combo guard that also excelled defensively, and his versatility and skill set could enable him to be a first round pick in the 2025 draft.
Missouri’s 6-5 incoming freshman guard, Annor Boateng had his ups and downs for Team World in this game. He is a tremendously athletic guard that excelled at making hustle plays, but he didn’t quite shoot as well from the outside.
Boateng was able to score on a speedy drive in transition while getting an extra free throw. He also used a spin move to score on a pull-up, mid-range jumper. However, he missed both of his threes, and he also missed a tough, drive in traffic.
He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. Boateng did a good job of making passes off the dribble to notch assists. However, he handled the ball too loosely once when dribbling it on the baseline, which later led him to lose the ball out of bounds.
Though he didn’t grab many rebounds, Boateng was able to get a defensive board in this game. He also defended well. He showed a knack for poking balls away and getting his hands on passes to help his team get steals. He also would contest outside shots to force misses and has solid lateral agility and footwork to defend opponents off the dribble. He also held his ground when defending in the post and contested the shot to force a miss. Sometimes though, he would struggle to stay in front of his man, which would lead his team to commit fouls.
Overall, Boateng is a very athletic guard that excelled at making hustle plays, but he will need to improve his jump shot in the meantime. If so, he could end up being a first round pick in the 2025 draft.
Lackluster Performances (11):
(As a side note, some players that I deemed as having lackluster performances played better than others, and the players at the bottom of this article were those that I considered as having played the worst in this game.)
Ulrich Chomche had his ups and downs for Team World in his team’s loss to Team USA. The Cameroonian center made both of his shots and showed some offensive skills, but he didn’t take many field goals when he was on the floor, and he also didn’t grab many rebounds and was quite foul prone on the defensive end.
Chomche was able to utilize a pump fake and a drop step move to score on a smooth, left-handed jump hook to show his post-up skills. He also ran the floor and rolled to the rim to catch a lob to score on an alley-oop layup.
He also displayed fairly average playmaking skills. Chomche ran off the ball and threw a nice bounce pass to a cutter to notch an assist. On the other hand, he was a bit turnover prone. When posting up another time, he used a jab step, but then had a ball poked away from him shortly afterwards to commit a turnover.
Though he didn’t grab many rebounds, Chomche was able to get several defensive boards in this game. He also played decent defense. He was able to deflect a pass to a teammate to help his team get a steal. He also would rotate to block and contest shots off of drives to force misses due to possessing solid length, athleticism, and instincts. However, he also would commit fouls due to over-aggressiveness. Another time, he rotated to defend a roll man, but got outmuscled to allow a score.
Overall, Chomche didn’t have his best game and it was disappointing that he didn’t show off more offensive skills in this game, but he is an athletic big man that can excel as an interior player in games and has some playmaking skills, but he will need to continue to refine his offensive game, and will need to be a more disciplined defender on the court. Also, he will need to be more assertive on offense on a consistent basis, but his guards also didn’t seem to look for him or involve him in their team’s offense enough.
That said, Chomche is an athletic, skilled big man that should be an interesting project player for the Raptors for the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season. He will likely need to spend time honing his game in the G-League to do so, and if so, he could end up being an impactful player for the Toronto Raptors in the long run. He probably won’t spend much time in the NBA next season, but Chomche may be a high upside prospect that could develop into a solid NBA role player in the future.
Illinois’ Lithuanian 6-6 incoming freshman swingman, Kasparas Jakucionis didn’t really stand out, but he made one really good play in this game. However, he didn’t shoot the ball enough to make much of an impact when he was on the floor. He was able to make an open corner three smoothly to showcase his shooting skills. He missed a pull-up, mid-range jumper from the baseline. Also, he threw a bad pass that got intercepted once.
In this game, Jakucionis did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. He also played adequate defense. He was able to get a loose ball that was deflected to him to help his team get a steal. He also contested a mid-range jumper to force a miss. However, he also rotated to commit an unnecessary foul on a drive in transition, which led his team to give up the basket and allow an extra free throw that time.
Overall, Jakucionis is a skilled swingman that can shoot the basketball, and he could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level. He’ll need to be more assertive on offense and lacks ideal physical tools, but his ability to knock down shots could enable him to be an interesting NBA prospect in the future.
Kansas’ 6-9 incoming freshman big man, Flory Bidunga had his ups and downs, but he generally defended well when he was on the floor. On one hand, he didn’t shoot the ball very often, but he did use a pump fake to score inside. He also was able to dribble to the post and pass out to an open shooter. However, he didn’t do very much on offense, and he was generally quite inactive on that side of the ball.
He also only grabbed one rebound in this game. On the other hand, he played fairly solid defense. Bidunga rotated to block a shot off of a drive to a teammate, and he also jumped on a loose ball to help his team get a steal. He also was active in contesting threes to force misses.
Overall, Bidunga played fairly solid defense, but he didn’t really make much of an impact elsewhere in this game. Still, he is a very athletic rim protector, and if he improves his offensive skills, he could end being a late first round pick in the future.
Ian Johnson had his ups and downs in Team USA’s win over Team World. North Carolina’s 6-6 incoming freshman swingman didn’t shoot the ball very well, but he did pass the ball well and excelled as a facilitator. In this game, he really struggled with his outside shot, particularly from the mid-range and off the dribble, but Jackson was able to score on a dunk in transition.
He showed off good playmaking skills. Jackson is an unselfish player that will find the open man to get assists, and he can quickly make passes to get his teammates the basketball, and he also can make passes off the dribble. On one play though, he was ready to attempt a corner three, but he ended up stepping out of bounds.
He also did a decent job of rebounding the basketball, and he was able to haul in boards on both ends of the floor. However, Jackson struggled defensively. He had trouble defending stronger opponents off the dribble and on screens, which would lead him to give up baskets. Another time, he lost track of his man on a cut, which led his team to allow a dunk that time.
Overall, Jackson didn’t play very well in this game, but is a very athletic player that has shown point forward skills when he is on the floor. He will need to improve his jump shot and defense, and he will need to add more muscle to his frame, but his athleticism, emerging skill set, and upside could enable him to be a late first round pick in the 2025 draft.
Illinois’ 6-7 incoming Canadian freshman forward, Will Riley had his ups and downs for Team World in his team’s loss to Team USA. He showed off some scoring skills, but he was streaky with his jump shot, and he also struggled defensively in this game.
Riley was able to run in to score on a tip-in, and he also made a step-back jumper from just inside the arc to showcase his shooting potential. However, he missed on a couple of threes, and he also missed wildly on an aggressive drive in transition another time.
Also, he showed a solid ability to rebound the basketball, and he was able to get boards on both ends of the floor. However, he struggled defensively, and he committed a foul in the post and allowed a score another time.
Overall, Riley is an athletic, high-motor swingman that can score the basketball, but he will need to be a more consistent shooter and defender in games, but if so, he could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level in the future.
Duke’s 7-2 incoming freshman center, Khaman Maluach didn’t play very well for Team World in his team’s loss to Team USA. While he has gone on to play very well in the scrimmage game that against LeBron James and Team USA in an exhibition game for South Sudan this week, Maluach’s 2024 Nike Hoop Summit performance was largely forgettable.
Maluach was active in looking to score on hustle plays. He ran the floor to score on a thunderous dunk. He almost was able to score on a tip slam, but it didn’t count. On the downside, he missed shots off of rolls and cuts to the hoop, as he struggled to score in traffic and missed a dunk once. He also attempted to post up, but after using a spin move, he missed on a turnaround jumper. He didn’t show much in terms of passing and screen setting in this game, but he threw an inaccurate inbounds pass that sailed out of bounds once.
Also, he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, but he was able to get a few defensive boards. He also played adequate defense. Maluach would rotate to block shots to help his team protect the paint, and he also contested a three to force a miss. However, he struggled to defend in screen situations, as he would sometimes sag too far back on switches and he would not always know who to guard in those situations, which would lead his team to give up baskets.
Overall, Maluach didn’t play very well in this game, and this game probably wasn’t a very good showcase for his skills. He is a very strong, athletic big man, and based on his performance against LeBron James and Team USA this past week, Maluach has the skills to be a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
Texas’ 6-6 incoming freshman swingman, Tre Johnson struggled in Team USA’s win over Team World. He didn’t shoot the ball very well, was a bit turnover prone, and he really struggled on offense in this game. As where he shot the ball very well in the McDonald’s All-American game, he really struggled to make shots in this game in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit.
Johnson was able to make a mid-range runner, but he really struggled to make dribble, mid-range jumpers consistently, and he also missed all of his threes. He also attempted a speedy drive in transition, but missed on a wild, contested running layup that time.
He also showcased average at best playmaking skills. He was able to make a drive and dish pass to help set up a score for a teammate. However, he can be careless with the ball that can lead to turnovers. He threw an inaccurate pass that sailed out of bounds once. He also took too long to inbound the ball once, as he committed a five-second violation that time. In this game, he only grabbed one rebound. Johnson also defended fairly well. He was able to apply pressure on an opposing ball handler to help force a passing turnover. He also contested a three to force a miss. However, he can sometimes struggle to defend quicker opponents off the dribble, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores.
Overall, Johnson didn’t have a great game, but he showed some defensive skills when he was out on the floor. He’ll need to be a more consistent shooter in games, but his ability to make shots and defend could enable him to be a first round pick in the 2025 draft, especially if he turns in a good freshman season for Texas.
Hamad Mousa was held scoreless in this game. He missed a three and a long two off the dribble. He also did not get an assist or rebound in this game. He also played adequate defense. He was able to help force a five second shot clock violation when defending an inbounds pass. He also contested a mid-range shot to force a miss. Another time though, he struggled to defend an opposing ball handler and allowed his man to score on a step-back mid-range jumper. Overall, the 6-6 Qatari swingman didn’t make much of an impact in this specific game, but he is a burgeoning defender who could be a prospect to watch if he can improve his shot making abilities in the future.
Zoom Diallo was also held scoreless in this game. Washington’s 6-4 incoming freshman guard missed his lone three-point attempt off a dribble handoff, and he also was turnover prone. He did throw a good pass to a cutter from the post once to showcase his passing skills. However, he threw an errant pass that was intercepted, and he also had a ball stolen away from him another time.
He also played adequate defense. He was able to contest a shot off of a drive to force a miss. Overall, Diallo is a fairly athletic, energetic combo guard, and while he will need to improve his shot-making skills, which would really help him out, his passing and defensive skills could enable him to be a prospect to keep tabs on in the future.
Kansas State’s 6-1 incoming freshman point guard, David Castillo didn’t really do very much in this game. He was held scoreless, and he struggled defensively. On the other hand, he was able to find open shooters to net a pair of assists, and he also grabbed a rebound. He may only be an average athlete, so he will need to improve his jump shot and defense in order to be a legitimate prospect for the NBA in the future.
I did not notice Qingfang Pang in this game. He is a 6-9 Chinese-American that was born in New York. In the box score, he missed a three-pointer and grabbed a rebound. I suppose if he were to make it to the NBA in the future, it could be as a 3 and D role player someday.
Other Notes:
(Source: X/@League_Him)
In yesterday’s exhibition game between USA and South Sudan, team USA won 101-100. Khaman Maluach held his own, as the 7-2 center made a three, and scored 7 points against a team of superstars that has LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, and Jayson Tatum as five players that are on USA’s squad. So given the difficulty of a 17-year old stepping in to play against NBA superstars, this was quite an impressive performance that Maluach put forth this past Saturday on July 20th. With this in mind, Flagg and Maluach could end up going 1 and 2 in the 2025 draft.
All in all, those are my thoughts on how Flagg, Dybantsa, and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.