Albuquerque Prep Wolves The Grind Session Toronto Team Analysis

Style of Play:

Albuquerque Prep is a team that plays fast in transition with its guards and ball-handlers grabbing defensive rebounds and speeding up the pace rather than having a big grab the rebound and find the ball-handler. They have quick and explosive guards who push the pace and convert easy fast-break opportunities. Their guards score more points in transition than bigs either as ball-handlers or leak-out guys getting all the way to the rim. They are more of an inside downhill team than a shooting team making pull-ups off the dribble or catch and shoot pull-up threes. Their bigs usually trail the guards and clean up their misses or follow their misses for putback opportunities. In the half-court, they have the guard big tandem to run pick and roll offense. The big sets good hard picks, understands screening angles, absorbs contact, and is in constant communication with the guards to make sure they are on the same page. The big either frees up the pick and roll ball-handler and gets him a switch into a favorable matchup or scores on the pick and pop opportunity. The bigs also free up shooters on off-ball screens in pindown situations getting them quality catch and shoot three-pointers.

On the defensive end Albuquerque Prep is a team that switches a lot with switchable defenders who can guard multiple positions. In pick and roll coverage they can hedge, double team, and blitz the pick and roll ball-handler allowing them to apply pressure and create turnovers to get out in transition forcing the opposing team's pick and roll ball-handler to make tough quick decisions. They are aggressive playing the passing lanes and create offense from their defense. Their defense as a team ignites their offense.

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Player Analysis:

DJ Smith

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 11 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

DJ Smith is a modern big who can score in many ways, displaying skill at his size. His main go-to shot is operating in the post taking a turnaround shot elevating and shooting over smaller defenders with good touch and a high release point. His secondary shot in the post is executing a step-through with good footwork. He is effective operating as a pick and pop threat. He sets good hard picks, understands screening angles, and absorbs contact with the defender which are the little things that high school players usually struggle with. He frees up the pick and roll ball-handler and forces switches into favorable matchups. He gets a good amount of screen assists and makes offense easy for his teammates. When setting picks, he communicates with the pick and roll ball-handlers and guards to ensure they are on the same page with the team's execution, making him a tone setter for Albuquerque Prep's high-level pick and roll offense in the half-court. When looking to score, he is more of a pick and pop threat from mid-range and three-point range than a roller to the rim. When getting a closeout after a pick and pop he can put the ball on the floor, take a couple of dribbles attacking the closeout, and get to a dribble pull-up mid-range shot. He is an active cutter who doesn't get stagnant, creating offensive opportunities through his own off-ball movement. He can execute all types of cuts including backdoor, top of the key and wing cuts, and flash cuts to get a mid-range shot.

He is a high-level aggressive rebounder who crashes the glass, grabs rebounds out of his zone, and grabs tough contested rebounds through traffic. In transition, he follows his teammate's misses and cleans it up converting it into putback second-chance points.

On the defensive end, he is a rim protector using his length and size to force tough contested shots or break up passes at the rim. As a shot blocker, he is disciplined jumping straight up vertically without fouling and he times shots well. He is also an effective post up defender walling up in the post, not giving up deep post positioning, and having a strong upper body which makes it tough to back him down and get a quality look at the rim. He is quick to get back in transition forcing the transition player into a tougher shot or fouling them hard making them earn it at the free-throw line.

Jayonni Durrough

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jayonni Durrough is a big shot creating guard and the primary ball-handler for his team. He displays the potential to be a three-level scorer with his ability to create his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He creates enough separation from the defender to get his shot with a step-back jump shot. He is an inside-out player, where his aggressiveness attacking the rim sets the tone and then expands his range as the game moves on and opposing teams key in on him as a driver. In the half-court, he blows by defenders with a quick and explosive first step and has the size, frame, and strength to shield them off. He can get to the free-throw line, convert them at a high rate, and finish through contact. He is effective playing off the ball when needed and he isn't a ball-dominant guard, but he is best with the ball in his hands. He can operate as a catch and shoot three-point threat, a cutter, and in give and go actions. He finds the open space and relocates along the three-point lines. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics on catch and shoot three-pointers. He can play in transition as a ball-handler and leak-out man at a slow controlled pace. His ability to rebound and push the ball forward allows his team to have more numbers in transition and players leaking out rather than a big grabbing a rebound and having to get him the ball. This allows him to execute the pace Albuquerque Prep likes to play at and to get easy offense converting fast-break points. He can involve teammates and create looks for them on drive and kicks. When he gets deep into the paint, he looks to finish and get to the free-throw line rather than setting teammates up, so his drive and kicks are more from the top of the key when he doesn't get deep in the paint.

Caden Miller

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2028

Uncommitted

Caden Miller is a guard who thrives in transition which is his main skillset. He is able to operate as a ball-handler and leak-out man. On leak-outs he is quick, explosive, runs the floor well, and fills the lanes well allowing him to outrun the other team and get easy shots in the paint. As a ball-handler, he changes speed and direction which makes it tough for defenders to stay in front of him. He is an athletic above the rim finisher. He is more of a straight-line downhill driver than a crafty finisher with good footwork, making it challenging for him to finish in the paint and play through traffic when defenses crowd the paint. He can operate as a catch and shoot three-point shooter with a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He comes around pindowns and off-ball screens to get to his spot.

On the defensive end, he gets into passing lanes and creates offense from his defense generating easy fast-break points.

SirMister Harriel

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

SirMister Harriel is a straight-line driver to the rim. He has a quick and explosive first step allowing him to blow by defenders. He can also leak-out in transition. He runs the floor well and outruns opposing teams down the court. He is an above the rim finisher as a guard. He can generate his teammates looks with drive and kick passes.

On the defensive end, he is quick on rotations and getting out to three-point shooters or is guarding the three-point line tightly to limit quality three-point looks. He can also force turnovers getting steals and deflections allowing him to score easy fast-break opportunities where he creates offense from his defense.

Carter Basquez

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Carter Basquez is a player whose overall impact is mostly felt on the defensive end. He moves his feet well, has good defensive positioning, and moves well laterally for his size. This skillset allows him to cut off driving lanes and be a switchable versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He also has anticipation getting into passing lanes to generate steals and deflections.

He isn't as effective or efficient creating offense from his defense. He has a loose handle and can get out of control after getting steals which slows the pace and can make him turnover prone. He operates as a rim runner in transition. He is quick getting down the floor but loses body control when trying to finish in the paint.

Kaiden Clayborn

Position: PG

Height: 5 Feet 8 Inches

Team: Albuquerque Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Kaiden Clayborn is an off-ball role playing guard. He gets catch and shoot opportunities from mid-range and three-point range. He moves well without the ball and relocates to find the open space. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and the lift and elevation to jump high on his shot and get his shot over contests on bigger players closing out.

On the defensive end, he anticipates and gets into passing lanes for steals or deflections.