Thoughts on Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Trey Alexander in the Creighton-Connecticut Game

February 20^th, 2024

Today, I took the time to watch Creighton play against Connecticut in a tough and competitive game that featured numerous prospects that could be in the 2024 draft. It was an opportunity to see Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle, to see how far their games have come along, and to see if Castle has developed a jump shot. It also was another opportunity to see Creighton’s underrated prospect group that featured Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Baylor Scheierman. Creighton was able to get stellar play on both ends of the floor, and they were able to get a well-deserved win over Connecticut in this game.

Steven Ashworth had a strong showing to help lead his team to a double-digit win over Connecticut. He is a skilled, sharpshooting combo guard that shot the ball really well, and he made his presence felt by knocking down threes early and often. He really excelled at making them from beyond the arc. He would run off the ball to make quick threes off the catch, and he also showed a solid pump fake that would enable him to create separation between himself and his defender. He also showed that he can knock down outside shots off the dribble, and Ashworth is a mobile, skilled combo guard who showed both a quick release, deep range, and a tremendous three-point shot that enabled him to make shots consistently from the outside.

Also, Ashworth displayed adequate playmaking skills. He also is an unselfish player that would make the extra pass to find the open man. He generally took good care of the basketball. However, there was one play where he was handling the ball in the backcourt, but he dribbled into a double team and ended up having the ball poked off of himself out of bounds that led him to turn the ball over that time.

He also did a great job of rebounding the basketball. Ashworth also played adequate defense in this game. He was able to intercept an errant pass to get a steal. On one play though, he was called for fouling an opponent on a drive, and he can sometimes struggle to defend quicker players.

In general, Steven Ashworth was superb in this game, especially in the first half. He did a great job of shooting and scoring the basketball. While he may not possess ideal size or athletic gifts, he is a remarkable shooter that also moves well off the ball on offense, and he also showed enough of an ability to run the point. He is a smart, skilled player that shoots the ball very well, and his jump shot and basketball IQ could enable him to make his way to the NBA someday.

Ryan Kalkbrenner also played very well to help lead his team to a double-digit win over Connecticut. He especially thrived at making plays in the paint, and he outplayed Clingan in this game. Kalkbrenner also was able to make some impressively athletic plays, and the 7-1 senior center played like he should be a first round pick in the 2024 draft.

Kalkbrenner showed a knack for scoring on hustle plays, as well as out of the post. He would throw down dunks off of rolls and movement plays, and Kalkbrenner is a very tall center that showed good bounce and springiness to throw down powerful dunks quickly at the rim.

He also excelled at scoring out of the post. He was able to post up off of an offensive rebound, which enabled him to score on a jump hook while getting fouled. He also managed to score on a crafty, one-legged fadeaway jumper. Kalkbrenner showed an impressive footwork and scoring touch to make shots inside. He also attempted a three in this game, but he was unable to make the long-range jumper that time.

As a playmaker, he looked to be about average at best. For the positives, Kalkbrenner is an unselfish player that is willing to find the open man, and he was able to pass out of the post to notch assists. However, he would sometimes be careless with the ball, which would lead to some turnovers. He would sometimes struggle to handle the ball when pressured, which led to a couple of ball-handling turnovers. He also threw a hasty pass that got intercepted once.

Also, Kalkbrenner was able to haul in multiple boards on both ends of the floor to get some rebounds. He also defended very well. Kalkbrenner did a great job of blocking shots to help his team protect the paint, as he would make quick rotations and would hustle to swat shots. He excelled at contesting shots in the paint to force misses, and he also would sometimes swat shots to his teammates. On one play though, he didn’t talk to his teammate that a screen was coming on a drive, as he then rotated but then committed a foul and allowed a score that time.

In summary, Ryan Kalkbrenner had a strong showing to help get his team the win over Connecticut. He played very well in this game, and he is an athletic, high-motor center whose ability to make plays in the paint could enable him to be a solid pick in the late first round range of the 2024 draft.

Trey Alexander also played well to help lead his team to a win over Connecticut. Alexander subtly had a solid all-around game, and he is an athletic, skilled combo guard that showed that he can make plays at either guard position.

Alexander showed a solid ability to knock down jumpers to help his team on offense. He was able to make a couple of quick threes off the catch to showcase his solid ability to knock down jumpers. He also was able to make a series of pull-up, mid-range jumpers, and he showed good footwork and shooting touch to make some of them off the dribble. Plus, he also was able to use a crossover move to score on an aggressive drive to the hoop. However, he also tended to take plenty of tough shots, as he would tend to miss on fadeaway jumpers at times.

He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills in this game. Alexander would make timely passes to find the open man, and he would make drive and kick passes to get the ball to shooters. He also was able to throw a long outlet pass to set up a score for a teammate on the break. In addition, he took great care of the basketball, as he did not turn the ball over once.

Though he didn’t grab many rebounds, he was able to get a pair of boards in this game. Defensively, he looked to be fairly average. For the positives, he would contest shots to force some misses. However, sometimes he would get outmuscled by stronger opponents when defending them off the dribble, which would lead him to commit fouls.

Overall, Trey Alexander played well, and he is an athletic, quick combo guard that can excel as the initiator or scorer in a team’s offense. He’ll need to be a more consistent three-point shooter, but he is having a very good season, and he is an agile, skilled scorer that could be a solid pick for an NBA team in the late first to the second round range of the 2024 draft.

Stephon Castle had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to Creighton. He didn’t shoot the ball very well, but he was able to make some good plays at times in this game. Castle showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble. He has a solid first step, and he can quickly get to the hoop. He also has a solid pump fake, and Castle generally excelled at going to his right to score. He also was able to score on a floater once. However, he struggled more when he would go to his left, as he would struggle to score in traffic in those instances. In addition, he’s just not a very good outside shooter right now, and he missed all of his three-point shots, and he missed his third three-point attempt badly.

He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. Castle can make an assortment of passes off the dribble to find open teammates, as he can get the ball to cutters and shooters. On one play though, he attempted to drive to the hoop, but was called for a traveling violation. Though he didn’t get many rebounds, Castle was able to get a pair of defensive boards in this game. However, there was one play where he committed a foul in the backcourt when he collided into an opponent when going for a defensive board.

Defensively, he struggled in this game. On one good play, he doubled an opposing ball handler around mid-court, as he was able to swipe away at the ball, which helped him create a ball-handling turnover that time. However, Castle was foul prone and did not defend shooters very well. Early on, he sagged too far off his man and was late to close out, which led him to allow an open corner three score. Another time, he got outmuscled when defending in the post, which led him to commit a foul and allow a score. He also tended to commit reach-in fouls due to over-aggressiveness.

Overall, Stephon Castle didn’t have his best game, but he is an athletic swingman that showed that he can score on isolation plays as well as pass the basketball. However, he will need to improve his outside shot and be a more disciplined defender in games. Right now, his draft stock is still pretty high, but right now, Castle looks to be extremely overrated as a draft prospect, and if he got drafted in the lottery of the 2024 draft, he would probably end up being a bust. He’s not a good shooter, and he will need to be a more disciplined defender in games.

On the other hand, he’s still young, and his size, youth, and athleticism may suggest that he may have some more development left in his game. His collegiate struggles may not be indicative of his future at higher levels, as former UCLA freshman swingman Peyton Watson really struggled offensively in his lone collegiate season, but Watson is currently a solid role player for the Denver Nuggets this season. So, the range for NBA teams to consider Stephon Castle would probably be in the late first to the second round range in this year’s draft, although it would probably be a safer bet for them to take him in the second round if he is still there in the 2024 draft.

Donovan Clingan had a decent showing in his team’s loss to Creighton. He did a good job of making shots despite not taking enough of them, but he also was turnover and foul prone, and he was outshined by Ryan Kalkbrenner in the battle of the big men in this game.

Clingan generally excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He would throw down dunks off of cuts and rolls to the rim, and he mostly excelled at scoring on movement plays around the basket. Sometimes though, he would get his shots blocked by Kalkbrenner, but he showed a solid motor, and would stay with it to score on put backs. He also attempted a drive to the hoop, but he missed on a contested layup that time. He also didn’t look to take outside shots, so it’s uncertain if he can knock down shots consistently from that range.

He didn’t seem to make any noteworthy passes in this game. He also was called for setting a moving screen once, and he also dropped a catchable pass that went out of bounds. He also did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. Clingan did a great job of grabbing offensive boards, but he didn’t grab nearly as many defensive rebounds in this game.

Also, he looked to be fairly average defensively. He was at his best when he would defend in the paint. He was able to block a shot around the basket. He also managed to steal the ball away when defending in the post another time. However, he would sometimes be late to get back to defend the roll man, which would lead his team to give up scores at the rim. Another time, he fouled an opponent on a put back and allowed a score that time.

Overall, Clingan didn’t have his best game, but he was at his best when he would make plays in the paint on both ends of the floor. However, he struggled to defend in space at times, and he was a little too turnover and foul prone in this game. He also didn’t seem to show off any perimeter skills in this game, which is concerning since he is considered to be a possible lottery pick for this year’s draft. Clingan will need to extend his shooting range, improve his jump shot, and show that he can capably guard opponents out on the perimeter. Right now, he may also be a tad overrated as a prospect, but his size and skills could lend well for him to be a backup center in the NBA, and he could end up being an option for NBA teams to consider in the late first to the second round range for the 2024 draft.

Baylor Scheierman had a decent showing in his team’s win over Connecticut. He had a slow start as he struggled early on, but he played better as the game progressed. Scheierman was at his best when he would look to score around the basket. He was able to get the ball on a curl cut as he then dribbled to the post, which enabled him to score on a strong drop step move while getting fouled. He also managed to draw free throws on a strong put back off of an offensive board.

Though he didn’t take enough threes, he shot the three-ball well in this game. Scheierman was able to run off a ball screen to make a quick three off the catch. He also dribbled around prior to scoring on a nifty, one-legged, fadeaway jumper from the mid-range. On the downside, Scheierman struggled to consistently make shots off the dribble, and he would tend to take tough, off-balanced shots that would lead to misses.

Also, Scheierman showed off solid playmaking skills in this game. He is an unselfish player that can throw accurate, timely interior passes to find teammates on the move to notch assists. He also would make drive and kick passes to find open shooters. Sometimes though, he would struggle to handle the ball in tight spaces, which would lead him to commit ball-handling turnovers. There was also one time where he threw an inaccurate pass that got intercepted.

He also did a good job of rebounding the basketball, and he was able to haul in plenty of boards, especially on the defensive end. He was able to get a steal in this game. Sometimes though, he would be a bit foul prone. There was one play where he fouled an opposing ball handler right as an opponent was looking to pass the ball.

Overall, Scheierman had a solid showing in this game, as he quietly had a good second half to overcome his slow start against Connecticut. He is a smart, skilled swingman that has a versatile set of skills, and he could be a solid option for NBA teams to consider in the second round of the 2024 draft.

Tristen Newton had a solid showing in his team’s loss to Creighton. Though he struggled to make three-point shots consistently, he played tenaciously, as he showed off his scoring and rebounding prowess in this game.

Newton showed a knack for scoring on mid-range jumpers. He has a solid set of dribble moves as well as balance and scoring touch from that range, and he showed that he can score on dribble, mid-range jumpers effectively. He showed off a solid floater game, and he also would hit tough shots from that range.

He also showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble. Newton can quickly get into the lane, and he also can maneuver around to score and also draw the foul to get additional free throws. On the downside, he would sometimes take tough, off-balanced shots, which would sometimes lead to misses.

In this game, Newton was able to make a pair of threes, as he ran off the ball quickly to make a spot-up three, and he also made a smooth, step-back three another time. However, he tended to miss too many threes, and he generally struggled to make long-range shots on a consistent basis.

He also showed off decent playmaking skills. Though he primarily looked to score early and often, Newton showed that he can make some good passes in this game. He would throw some timely passes to find open shooters, and he also can make swift passes off the dribble to find teammates on the move. Sometimes though, he would throw careless, ill-advised passes, as he threw a jump pass that ended up going out of bounds once.

Also, Newton did a tremendous job of rebounding the basketball. He also was active defensively, and he was able to contest outside shots to force some misses. Overall, Newton had a decent showing in this game. While he didn’t shoot the three-ball well, he excelled in the other areas to help his team against Creighton. He’ll need to improve his three-point shot, but his size, athleticism, and skill set could enable him to end up on an NBA team sometime down the road.

Creighton’s 6-8 freshman forward, Jasen Green had a solid showing in this game to help his team get a win over Connecticut. He made a pair of corner threes to show his ability to make spot-up jumpers off the catch. He also managed to score on a backdoor cut to show his ability to score on off-ball, motion plays.

He also defended fairly well. He was able to contest a shot off of a drive to force a miss. He also hustled back to block a three-point shot out of bounds. However, there was one play where he fouled a three-point shooter after getting in his opponent’s landing space, which led his team to give up the basket and free throw that time. Overall, Green is an athletic, skilled swingman that played well, and he could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level.

Creighton’s 6-9 sophomore forward, Mason Miller also played well to help his team get a win over Connecticut. Miller shot the ball very well, especially on spot-up threes off the catch. He has a quick release, and there was one nifty play where he ran off a ball screen to make a quick, open three. He also ran the floor to score on the break. Overall, he is an agile, skilled forward that can shoot the basketball and make plays when he is on the floor, and Miller is a sharpshooter that could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how this game went. Thanks for reading.