5'8 Sherod McCormick
This roster has a ton of noteworthy pieces, and Sherod McCormick does so many vital things as their primary floor general. He's somewhat undersized but simply knows how to control the game through a blend of IQ, pace, and poise. McCormick does a great job of touching the paint and setting up others, but can also finish or hit an array of floaters/runners. He displays craftiness off the bounce, shoots the ball at a reliable percentage, and outworks his assignment on both ends of the floor. McCormick is also a pesky on-ball defender with a quick first step and nice anticipation instincts.
6'4 Teeshon Smith
After bursting onto the scene last summer, Teeshon Smith has continued to make visible strides within his progression. He's a long, wiry wing prospect with great size, skill, and athleticism. Smith is a quality three-level scorer with a well-rounded identity and the ability to make plays with or without the ball in his hands. He's great in transition, attacks the basket at a high volume, and knocks down jumpers at a consistent rate. Smith is capable of creating for himself and others, but can also operate as a cutter or spot-up threat. He has the tools to become a high-level prospect.
6'7 Taj Saragba
Although we've already closely detailed Taj Saragba and his overall identity, he's still worthy of recognition as one of the top players from this group. He's a big, strong, physically overwhelming post prospect with touch, mobility, and powerful athleticism. Saragba is a great rebounder who plays hard, finishes around the basket, and bullies opponents on either side of the ball. He can space the floor if necessary but typically looks to make his presence felt inside the paint. Saragba already does a lot of things well, yet knows how to consistently play to his strengths on both ends of the floor.
6'6 Andrew Rogers
In terms of raw physicality, Andrew Rogers is already way stronger, tougher, and more rugged than a vast majority of players at this age. He's built like a tank with long arms and a sturdy frame. Rogers is a capable scorer but typically finds most of his production through rebounding, altering shots defensively, and capitalizing on transition opportunities. He plays hard and is willing to go toe-to-toe with any opposing big. Rogers draws fouls at a quality rate, plays well through contact, and knows how to utilize his body on both ends of the floor.
6'2 Donyeh Baird
Despite being one of the newer pieces to this group, Donyeh Baird already stands out as a seamless fit. He's smart, tough, possesses a well-rounded skillset, and understands how to naturally affect all facets of the game. That being said, Baird is an absolute terror and high-motor player who can genuinely cause problems for opponents without necessarily requiring a ton of touches. His sheer activity level allows him to harass his assignment, force turnovers, and earn extra possessions by doing the dirty work. Over the past weekend, Baird showcased playmaking, scoring polish, and a willingness to do whatever possible to win.
6'5 Tahj Bowers
It's easy to see the appeal with someone like Tahj Bowers, who already possesses a lot of intrigue as a long, versatile forward prospect. He finishes well around the basket, displays useful ball skills, and is capable of spacing the floor if necessary. Bowers is capable of causing matchup problems on offense, given his athleticism and ability to overpower opponents off the bounce. He rebounds effectively, defends multiple positions, and runs the floor well in transition. It'll be interesting to see how Bowers physically develops, as it'll give some more clarity to his positional flexibility going forward (though he's already a really useful player).
6'2 Christian Coleman
Rounding out this group, Christian Coleman is a very useful utility piece who can operate in a variety of different roles. He's a quality shooting threat with a steady two-way presence and the ability to make plays within the flow of the action on both ends of the floor. Coleman handles the ball well, offers nice balance between scoring and playmaking, and provides great effort defensively. He's a well-rounded athlete who can finish above the rim, attack in the open floor, and make plays defensively. Coleman will be one to watch closely over the coming years.
