NBA Comparison: Tyrese Maxey

Strengths: 6’3 combo guard … Strong frame and handles contact well … Very reliable floater and midrange scoring ability. Knows how to get to his spots. Can stop on a dime and pull-up for his jump shot. Shoots off the catch or dribble, including step-backs. Scores well in isolation … Good ball-handler and effective off the dribble, doesn’t need triple threat to beat the defender. Breaks down the defense and gets to the rim off the dribble. Changes speed and direction well with the ball. Isn’t fazed by defensive pressure and generally doesn’t over-dribble … Handles the ball well in traffic. Great driving and finishing with his left-hand, even when contested, can contort his body, and absorb contact to finish with his off hand. Slows the game down on his drives and maneuvers his way to the basket when his initial path gets cut off. Plays off two feet and scores at various angles at the rim … Stays under control and doesn’t get rushed, playing at his own pace … Waits for ball screens and very good pick & roll ball-handler, showing success using or rejecting the screen, even splitting double teams. Good IQ and overall understanding of the game. Knows how to pass up a decent look for a better one. Can process and breakdown the game making proper reads. Passes well with either hand. Creates for himself as well as others and knows how to make his teammates better, impacting the game when he’s not scoring. Doesn’t force his impact. Positive assist/turnover and keeps turnovers low especially considering his volume/usage: 2.1 APG/1.5 TOPG EYBL 2021, 2.9 APG/1.6 TOPG U17 World Cup, 4.9 APG/1.7 TOPG EYBL 2022 … Moves well off the ball, constantly using screens and curls … Consistently pressures the ball-handler. Anticipates well defending off the ball and does a good job knowing when to leave his man to double-team the ball-handler with good hands to get a clean swipe on the ball. Averaged 1.5 SPG Nike EYBL 2021, 1.9 SPG U17 World Cup 2022, 1.6 SPG Nike EYBL 2022 … Doesn’t have the highest ceiling among 2023 high school prospects but he may be the most polished at this time … Confident. Good competitor, aggression level, and always gives his best effort …

Weaknesses:  While he’s smooth and shows some quickness he lacks that top end linear speed. He’s also very explosive and generally finishes below the rim. Struggles to finish against length at the rim. His size and length are decent but combined with his lack of athletic pop, his ability to finish at the rim projects to diminish a bit more moving forward. His lack of great size and athleticism may hinder him defensively at the next levels as well, which has been a strength at the high school level … Shows good defensive commitment and comes up with a lot of steals but gets beat defending on the ball at times …  Still has room to improve scoring efficiency: 16.8 PPG 38.6% FG% EYBL 2021, 9 PPG 38.8% FG% U17 World Cup 2022, 18.8 PPG 44.3% FG% EYBL 2022 … While he’s definitely capable of shooting from 3, it’s area that can improve consistency: 26.1% 3PT% 3.8 3PTA EYBL 2021, 19% 3PT% 3 3PTA U17 World Cup 2022, 27.6% 3PT% 5.4 3PTA EYBL 2022 …

Outlook: Kentucky freshman … Son of Dajuan Wagner and grandson of Milt Wagner. Has the opportunity to be the first three-generation family in the NBA … MVP of the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game with 19 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-2 FT), 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals … Scored 10 points in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit … MVP of the 2023 Iverson Classic with 19 points and 6 assists … Won Gold at the U17 World Cup in 2022 … Named to the 2023 Naismith High School Boys All-American 1^st Team … 2021, 2022, and 2023 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year …

Evan Tomes 8/13/23

Strengths: 6’3 combo guard … Very reliable floater and midrange scoring ability. Knows how to get to his spots. Can stop on a dime and pull-up for his jump shot … Good ball-handler and effective off the dribble, doesn’t need triple threat to beat the defender. Breaks down the defense and gets to the rim off the dribble. Changes speed and direction well with the ball. Isn’t fazed by defensive pressure and generally doesn’t over-dribble … Handles the ball well in traffic. Great driving and finishing with his left-hand, even when contested, can contort his body, and absorb contact to finish with his off hand. Slows the game down on his drives … Stays under control and doesn’t get rushed, playing at his own pace … Waits for ball screens and very good pick & roll ball-handler, showing success using or rejecting the screen, even splitting double teams. Good IQ and overall understanding of the game. Knows how to pass up a decent look for a better one. Can process and breakdown the game making proper reads. Passes well with either hand. Creates for himself as well as others and knows how to make his teammates better, impacting the game when he’s not scoring. Doesn’t force his impact. Positive assist/turnover and keeps turnovers low especially considering his volume/usage: 2.1 APG/1.5 TOPG EYBL 2021, 2.9 APG/1.6 TOPG U17 World Cup, 4.9 APG/1.7 TOPG EYBL 2022 … Good on ball defender and consistently pressures the ball-handler. Anticipates well defending off the ball and does a good job knowing when to leave his man to double-team the ball-handler with good hands to get a clean swipe on the ball. Averaged 1.5 SPG EYBL 2021, 1.9 SPG U17 World Cup 2022, 1.6 SPG Nike EYBL 2022 … Doesn’t have the highest ceiling among 2023 high school prospects but he may be the most polished at this time … Good competitor, aggression level, and always gives his best effort …

Weaknesses: Has room to get stronger … While he’s smooth and shows some quickness he lacks that top end linear speed. He’s also not real explosive and generally finishes below the rim. Struggles to finish against length at the rim. His size and length are decent but combined with his lack of athletic pop, his ability to finish at the rim projects to diminish a bit more moving forward. His lack of great physicality and athleticism may hinder him defensively at the next levels as well, which has been a strength at the high school level …  Still has room to improve scoring efficiency: 16.8 PPG 38.6% FG% EYBL 2021, 9 PPG 38.8% FG% U17 World Cup 2022, 18.8 PPG 44.3% FG% EYBL 2022 … Whiles he’s a good 3PT shooter and it’s not necessarily a weakness in his game, it’s area that can improve consistency: 26.1% 3PT% 3.8 3PTA EYBL 2021, 19% 3PT% 3 3PTA U17 World Cup 2022, 27.6% 3PT% 5.4 3PTA EYBL 2022 …

Outlook: Son of Dajuan Wagner and grandson of Milt Wagner. Has the opportunity to be the first three-generation family in the NBA … Won Gold at the U17 World Cup in 2022 … 2021 and 2022 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year …

Evan Tomes 10/9/22