The Maui Invitational is among the greatest possibilities for scouts to guage future NBA expertise through the NCAA males’s basketball common season.
This yr, the groups competing are: Auburn, Colorado, Dayton, Iowa State, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina, and UConn.
It is a nice alternative to guage some potential one-and-done prospects together with Ian Jackson, Tahaad Pettiford, and Jase Richardson. There are additionally some notable non-freshmen resembling Alex Karaban, Johni Broome, and Elliot Cadeau.
Right here is who followers and evaluators ought to pay additional shut consideration to through the event in Hawaii between November 25 and November 27.
Mark Smith-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: UConn
Maybe probably the most notable prospect taking part on this event is Liam McNeeley, a former McDonald’s All-American who performed alongside Cooper Flagg and several other different notable NBA prospects at Montverde Academy final season. McNeeley is having an environment friendly freshman season to this point and tasks as a possible lottery choose attributable to his talents as a catch-and-shoot menace.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: North Carolina
One other former McDonald’s All-American value watching throughout this event is Drake Powell, who’s coming off the bench for the Tar Heels and beginning off his collegiate profession as extra of a job participant to this point. Regardless of not enjoying an enormous consider North Carolina’s offense, he has already had some spotlight performs on the defensive finish of the ground the place has proven large flashes.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: North Carolina
Yet one more former McDonald’s All-American value watching on this event in Ian Jackson, who performed for Extra time Elite final season. Very similar to Powell, the freshman will not be within the first unit for UNC proper now however he can proceed to show heads by enjoying arduous and aggressive on protection.
David Butler II-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: UConn
Already a two-time NCAA nationwide champion enjoying for head coach Dan Hurley, that is trying like one of the best season but for Alex Karaban. He appears to be like able to play within the NBA as a spot-up shooter who may also use off-ball screens to attain towards the professionals.
Reese Strickland-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: Iowa State
One of many extra attention-grabbing gamers who determined to return for his sophomore season of collegiate basketball is Iowa State ahead Milan Momcilovic. He made the Large-12 All-Freshman workforce final season and whereas he hasn’t taken the general leap ahead some might have anticipated fairly but, his 3-point proportion has gone up regardless of an elevated capturing quantity which is sort of encouraging for a 6-foot-8 sophomore.
© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Pictures
TEAM: Auburn
One of many main contenders for the NCAA collegiate participant of the yr is Auburn huge man Johni Broome, per KenPom in addition to EvanMiya, his statistical profile at the moment suggests he ought to win the award. He’s averaging 20.0 factors and is main all gamers with 11.3 rebounds and three.3 blocks per recreation.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: North Carolina
Sweden’s Elliot Cadeau is at the moment having fun with a breakout sophomore marketing campaign, at the moment averaging 16.0 factors and a league-high 6.8 assists whereas including 2.5 steals per recreation as nicely. He’s enjoying very nicely each within the pick-and-roll and in transition, displaying confidence and fast palms within the course of.
© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Pictures
TEAM: Iowa State
There’s arguably no higher defensive level guard in school basketball than Tamin Lipsey for the Cyclones. For the second yr in a row, he’s main the NCAA in steals, at the moment averaging 3.0 per recreation. He’s additionally averaging 13.7 factors per recreation, which is his personal-best in school to this point.
© Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Pictures
TEAM: Michigan State
Jase Richardson is the son of former two-time NBA slam dunk contest champion Jason Richardson, who received an NCAA title whereas in school. He’s at the moment flying underneath the radar a bit regardless of enjoying huge minutes off the bench for head coach Tom Izzo. Already troublesome to cease when ending in transition, he has outstanding athleticism and will standout on this setting.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Pictures
TEAM: Auburn
One remaining former McDonald’s All-American value understanding is Tahaad Pettiford, who’s a sleeper one-and-done candidate for Bruce Pearl. He had 21 factors off the bench towards Houston, and he shot 5-of-8 on 3-pointers in that recreation. The purpose guard has additionally recorded a minimum of 3 or extra assists in every efficiency as nicely.
