Every few years, you’ll come across a middle-school prospect who already has the world in their hands. The talent, status, and everything that comes with being regarded as an elite player at an early age. Think of guys like Mikey Williams, Bronny James, and Aden Holloway, for example. Well, that’s become somewhat of the norm for King Bacot over the years. He attended our Winter Nationals this past weekend and generated a ton of buzz. Despite getting sick and not being able to play Sunday, there were plenty of takeaways from his on-court showings.
For starters, this is not our only viewing of the young guard. We first saw him at the Battle of the Lake in March of 2021, stating, “There were dominant players, and then there was Bacot—who was on a completely different level of leader for this Dreamchasers group. Though he’s extremely young, it’s easy to see the polish and maturity within his all-around game. Bacot offers nonstop production at this stage, able to defend all positions, set up others, control the glass, and score at will from anywhere on the court. He had numerous tough finishes around the basket and displayed IQ when looking to set up others. Bacot is quite advanced, especially to be among the youngest players in the gym, and could be special if he remains on his current trajectory.”
After this specific viewing, multiple individuals in the gym were claiming he had already previously earned the label of “best fourth-grader in the country.” While these comments usually carry little to no weight, it was easy to see why he received such lofty praise from grown adults. His game spoke volumes, but it certainly didn’t hurt his long-term trajectory to be the younger brother of UNC’s Armando Bacot.
Fast-forward three years, and he’s still an incredible talent. Not only has he physically matured, but his game has also elevated to new heights. Bacot truly makes the game look effortless. He’s able to shred opposing defense without even breaking a bead of sweat. The IQ, passing instincts, and scoring ability are all at an extremely level for a player at his age. Bacot sees the game multiple steps ahead of his peers. He manipulates defenses so well and is capable of making anticipatory decisions to create openings for himself and others. Bacot can truly score from anywhere on the floor. Whether open or highly contested, every attempt he takes looks like it’s going in. He’s a crafty ball-handler, brilliant playmaker, and polished scoring option who displays poise and a calm demeanor at all times. Bacot possesses nice defensive instincts and the tools to guard multiple positions. It’s easy to see what he brings to a team, as evidenced by the on-court difference between the two days. Given his current appeal as a 6-foot-2 prospect in the Class of 2029, Bacot is a special prospect who should be able to ultimately determine his own fate with continued work and development.
