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re: Tide Hoops | Offseason
Posted on 4/18/24 at 3:30 pm to CCTider
Posted on 4/18/24 at 3:30 pm to CCTider
quote:
32 Chris Youngblood
?
Ht: 6-4Wt: 220
The co-AAC Player of the Year is one of the best on-the-move shooters in the portal. Youngblood averaged 15.3 points per game as a senior at South Florida and was one of the rare players to transfer up a level — from the A-Sun to the AAC — and see his scoring average increase. When he has space, he’s close to automatic from deep. He made 69 3-pointers at a 41.6 percent clip. He’s good off the catch and the bounce.
Youngblood isn’t that quick with the ball but he’s strong and bodies bounce off him. He creates separation with his strength and ability to read screens playing off the ball. He shot 42.6 percent coming off screens, per Synergy. His experience is obvious in the way he plays on both ends. Defensively, he knows where to be and does a good job contesting shots despite having short arms. He didn’t put up big assist numbers (2.1 per game) but his passes arrive on target and with some pop. He usually makes the right read and is willing to make the extra pass when his gravity pulls extra defenders. Youngblood is the type of player who gets everything out of his ability. He helped Amir Abdur-Rahim flip Kennesaw State and then South Florida, where the coach and player won the American in their first year when USF was coming off a losing season. — C.J. Moore
How he fits
Nate Oats loves shooting and lands one of the best shooters in the portal. Youngblood isn’t dynamic with the ball in his hands like Mark Sears or Aaron Estrada, but he’ll fit well as a floor spacer who can occasionally create his own shot. It would benefit Youngblood to play with a guard like Sears who can pull two to the ball and start the domino effect that leads to open shots. (Sears still has a year of eligibility left.) Youngblood does some of his scoring from the mid-range and that usually doesn’t fly at Alabama. But shooting with range is no issue, and that’s obviously why he was an attractive option for Alabama. He’s a Tuscaloosa native, so this is a return home.
— C.J. Moore
Stats
2
Posted on 4/18/24 at 3:33 pm to CCTider
quote:
68
Aden Holloway
Ht: 6-1Wt: 180
It’s tough to project what Holloway could become. The jumper is the biggest selling point. He shoots with range and is a better shooter than his percentages as a freshman would suggest. He made 52 3s but at a 30.2 percent clip. Right now, a majority of his scoring is from beyond the arc because his size limits his ability to score around the basket. He made only 19 of his 56 attempts at the rim, per Synergy. Holloway started out hot, putting up 19 points and six assists in his debut against Baylor. He had a few other breakout performances in the nonconference, including 24 points in a win against Indiana. But he hit a wall and lost his starting job midway through the year, only to gain it back at the end of February. He averaged 7.3 points and 2.7 assists for the season, and there were glimpses of why he had a five-star ranking coming out of high school. Defensively, he adapted to what wasn’t an easy scheme to play in. Auburn switches a lot and puts a lot of pressure on the ball. Holloway was able to fit in that scheme and is handsy on the ball. He didn’t have high steals numbers, but that might be something that comes down the road.
The question is whether he can overcome his size and eventually become an efficient scorer. It’s hard to find anyone who can shoot with his kids of range, so if he ever gets there, he could become a valuable threat, especially in the pick-and-roll. And the fact he was able to start for one of the best teams in the SEC is promising. — C.J. Moore
Posted on 4/19/24 at 8:05 am to CCTider
quote:
32 Chris Youngblood
quote:He's going to be nice to have when we play tackle basketball against teams like Tennessee.
Youngblood isn’t that quick with the ball but he’s strong and bodies bounce off him. He creates separation with his strength and ability to read screens playing off the ball.
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