The Weekend Watch: Two Under-the-Radar Games to Scout
It’s the last weekend before the big dance! This weekend’s two game under the radar slate features an Ivy League Semi-Finals battle between Brown and Princeton, and the WAC Finals between UT Arlington and Grand Canyon University.
Let’s get you ready to scout them:
Brown vs. Princeton (Saturday, 11am ET, Ivy League Semi-Finals)
Top Prospects: Xaivian Lee | Guard | 6’3 | 171 pounds | Sophomore | Princeton
’23-’24 Stats: 17.7ppg | 5.9rpg | 3.7apg | 35% 3P (5.3 3PA) | 1.3 stocks per game | 27 G
Caden Pierce | Wing/Big | 6’7 | 220 pounds | Sophomore | Princeton
’23-’24 Stats: 16.3ppg | 9.3rpg (1.8 off) | 3.2apg | 35% 3P (2.7 3PA) | 1.6 stocks per game | 27 G
Kino Lily Jr. | Guard | 6’0 | 165 pounds |Junior | Brown
’23-’24 Stats: 18.4ppg | 2.4rpg | 3.4apg | 33% 3P (8.9 3PA) | 1.1 stocks per game |28 G
Nana Owusu-Anane | Big | 6’8 | 220 pounds | Junior | Brown
’23-’24 Stats: 15ppg | 8.8rpg (3.4 off) | 2.1apg | 30% 3P (2.3 3PA) | 2.3 stocks per game | 29 G
This game features some of the best that the Ivy League has to offer: the league’s player of the year, three first team All-Ivy members and one second team member.
Caden Pierce followed up his Ivy League Rookie of the Year season by winning the league’s Player of the Year Award and being selected as first team All-Ivy. Pierce finished in the top-10 in the conference points, rebounding and assists while becoming a long-term NBA prospect to monitor.
Lee, the top overall prospect in this game and perhaps the conference, has solidified himself on the NBA radar this season with a fantastic year, showcasing his dynamic scoring and playmaking upside. He had a strong case for conference player of the year, but did earn the nod to the All-Ivy first team.
Lily Jr., a multi level shotmaker and shot creator, led the Ivy League in scoring this season and made threes (84), en route to back-to-back first team All-Ivy selections. His teammate, Owusu-Anane, a long and athletic big with hints of touch plus a bit more skill than he’s given credit for, has emerged as another potential NBA prospect to watch in the conference while being selected to the All-Ivy second team. Both are candidates for next year’s Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where NBA decision-makers and evaluators can get eyes on them to begin the pre-draft process.
Other Brown Prospects to Watch: Kimo Ferrari (Wing, Senior), Kalu Anya (Big Wing, Sophomore)
Other Princeton Prospects to Watch: Matt Allocco (Guard, Senior)
UT Arlington vs. Grand Canyon University (Saturday, 11:30am ET, WAC Final)
Top Prospect: Tyon Grant-Foster | Wing | 6’7 | 210 pounds | Senior | Grand Canyon University
’23-’24 Stats: 19.7ppg | 5.9rpg (1.4 off) | 1.6apg | 33% 3P (4.4 3PA) | 3 stocks per game | 31 G
To nobody’s surprise, Grant-Foster was named WAC Player of the Year and first team All-WAC. The long and rangy wing is a disruptive defender that easily could have been named the conference defensive player of the year as well. His skillset as a shotmaker with ball skills coupled with his positional size and defensive playmaker, make him an intriguing 3-and-D plus wing for NBA teams. He’ll have an opportunity to lead GCU to an NCAA tournament berth and potentially raise his stock on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Other Grand Canyon Prospects to Watch: Ray Harrison (Guard, Junior), Gabe McGlothan (Wing, Redshirt Senior)
UT Arlington Prospects to Watch: Shemar Wilson (Big, Senior), Phillip Russell (Guard, Junior), DaJuan Gordon (Guard, Graduate Student), Makaih Williams (Guard, Freshman)
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