Player: Zion McDuffie
Class: 2023
Height: 6'4
School: Butler High School
Every year, there are players that take the next step in their development, elevating their level of play. One of those players this year has been 2023 6'4 Zion McDuffie at Butler high school. The Bulldogs have been a competitive team this season and McDuffie has been one of the catalysts for his team. After averaging 9ppg last year, he has kicked off his season early on nearly averaging 20ppg, 7.4rpg, 3.9spg, and 2.4 bpg.
When you watch him operate on the court, you certainly see the factors in his game that grab your attention and what could intrigue college coaches. At 6'4, he brings a long, athletic prospect that moves very well and understands how to function in several areas of the court. With McDuffie being one of the taller prospects on the team, he understands what he needs to do to showcase his offensive game; whether it is using his athleticism to finish over defenders, finishing at the rim and getting out in transition, or displaying his versatility and stepping out.
When speaking with Coach Patrick King, he had this to say when asked about what he has seen this year from the junior, where he has improved, and how he has helped his team this year.
'Zion has shown a ton of growth over the past calendar year. He has always been an explosive athlete and he has worked extremely hard to continue adding to his game. He has really improved his ability to finish around the rim, as well as continuing to develop as a perimeter threat. In addition, he has shown his ability and commitment to massively impact games defensively, as he leads our conference in both blocks and steals. On the floor, his basketball IQ is continuing to grow and he has embraced his role as a leader on our team. He is someone who is hard to take off the floor because of all the different ways he can impact a game. Eager to see him continue to work and develop.'
What Has Been Said:
'An underrated junior in the Charlotte area, McDuffie continues to put up solid numbers and show off his versatility/athleticism. He is a fluid athlete that can work inside and out, make his presence known on both ends of the court, makes plays defensively, and can really finish at the rim.'
'McDuffie stepped up in a big way to help his team secure the OT victory. He brings a versatile skill set to the floor and can operate successfully from an array of positions. He uses his length and wingspan to his advantage, especially in this game, where he finished at the rim on several occasions but also used his length to get out in the passing lanes and turn it into transition points. He was a monster today, finishing with 26 points, four rebounds, and five steals.'
'Junior 6'4 Zion McDuffie averaged nearly nine points and six rebounds last season but will now be counted on to produce more this year. He is the most athletic player on the roster, has good length, can attack and finish at the rim, and be an impact player on the defensive end.'