2023 Nike Hoop Summit Recap
Team USA beat Team World, 90-84, in what was a great game throughout all four quarters. We got to see some of the potential number one picks in the 2024 NBA draft participate in this event and came away with some nice takeaways after yesterday’s event.
Here were the players who performed the best for their team yesterday:
Team USA
Ron Holland was easily the standout performer for the USA as he led the team in points with 15, rebounds with nine, assists with five, steals with six, and blocks with one. He led his team in every major statistical category for the first time ever in Nike Hoop Summit history. He’s the early favorite to be the number one pick in the 2024 NBA draft due to his two-way versatility at 6-foot-8.
He’s one of the most versatile defenders in next year’s draft as he’s one of the few people that can legitimately defend all five positions effectively. He moves very well on the perimeter and out in space against quicker guards. He has the length and size to defend the paint while also being an elite defensive playmaker. He can generate steals on-ball or in the passing lane.
Serves well as a secondary rim protector due to his timing and vertical pop. His feel for the game on both ends of the floor is special considering he’s only 17-years old. He’s at his best as a slasher on offense and taking bigs off the dribble, but he has shown good feel as a passer while also having a rapidly improving jumper from the outside.
His motor is incredibly high and he's always fighting for second chance points and giving his team energy when needed. He’s just scratching the surface of what he could become. His ceiling as a two-way player is incredibly high and he has a chance to be a potential NBA star.
Team World
Mackenzie Mgbako was the only player to score 20-plus points in yesterday’s game, dropping 22 points while in attack mode all game long. The Duke signee is one of the top forward prospects eligible for the draft next year due to his shooting ability at 6-foot-9 and his versatility as a defender.
He doesn’t possess a ton of creation skills and his handle seems a bit limited but the floor is incredibly high for Mgbako as he has all the tools to be at least an effective 3-and-D forward. He made two shots from the outside showcasing his shooting ability and a couple of impressive plays defensively.
At Duke, he should have a valuable role right away that fits his game with Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor returning, it’ll take a ton of stress off of him offensively and it’ll allow him to be a highly effective off-ball scorer.
He’s prone to some mistakes as a defender and decision-maker but he has the tools and projectable role that makes him a potential lottery pick and one of the top incoming freshmen in college basketball. It’ll be interesting to track his development as an on-ball scorer over the next year but with proper training, he could be a lethal three level scorer with defensive ability.
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