iSchool The Grind Session Toronto Team Analysis

Style of Play:

iSchool is a team that plays at a significantly slower pace than other teams. They like operating more in the half-court than in transition. In the half-court they are a pick and roll heavy and jump shooting team from three-point range and mid-range. Their bigs set good hard picks, understand screening angles, and don't shy away from contact freeing up their pick and roll ball-handler. They can also score by rolling to the rim, slipping picks with their quickness and mobility, or pick and pop as shooting threats. They have players who can operate in catch and shoot three-point situations coming around pindowns and off-ball screens, getting dribble handoffs or handoffs, and initiating off-ball movement along the three-point line relocating and finding the open space. In transition, their rim running bigs use their quickness and explosiveness to beat opposing teams down the court or their catch and shoot shooters leak out and get catch and shoot pull-up threes. They have some guards who have the ability to attack the rim in transition and the half-court but they settle more for jump shots. They should look to attack the rim more for easier higher percentage shots. With them being a heavy jump shooting team they can get into scoring droughts when shots aren't falling rather than getting to the rim and drawing a foul or getting something easy inside.

On the defensive end, they are a team that forces turnovers generating steals and deflections. At times, they have players who get overaggressive and gamble by playing the passing lanes causing the defense to be out of position.

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Player Analysis:

Mario Wooden Jr.

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches

Team: iSchool

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Mario Wooden Jr. is an effective rim runner. He is quick, explosive, and fills the lanes well on leak-outs in transition allowing him to outrun the opposing team for high percentage dunks and layups at the rim. When he operates as a ball-handler in transition, he has a tight handle for his size and protects the ball. He is someone who can also catch the ball from the wings and corners, take a few dribbles with long strides, and finish above the rim. When he doesn't have the opportunity to score in transition, he is a willing passer and finds the leak-out man for quality shots at the rim or catch and shoot pull-up threes. In the half-court, he uses his wide frame to absorb contact from the pick and roll defender and set good picks freeing up the pick and roll ball-handler. His pick setting opens up the driving game for his team's drive and kick offense and dribble penetration into the paint. He would be more of a pick and pop threat rather than rolling to the rim. He can put the ball on the floor, take big strides, and get to the rim on straight-line drives, attacking defenders closing out on him from the three-point line. His effective handle at his size and ability to get to the rim on straight-line drives allow his team to use him in big to big pick and roll action where he is the pick and roll ball-handler. He is an effective cutter finding holes in the defense, getting to the open space, and making himself available to catch and finish in the paint.

He has a size advantage, which gives him extra possession and second-chance opportunities on the offensive end and limits them on the defensive end. He has the aggressiveness to rebound the ball and gain interior positioning. He converts second-chance opportunities into second-chance points with finishing tip-in putbacks.

On the defensive end, he creates offense from his defense by anticipating, getting into passing lanes, and getting all the way to the rim. He makes the right reads on help defense in the post sending double teams that force a tough decision for the offensive player and require him to pass through his length.

Mike Banks

Position: PF

Height: 6 Feet 9 Inches

Team: iSchool

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Mike Banks is effective as a rim running big. He runs the floor well and is fluid running the floor. He can take catch and shoot threes in transition as the trail man when the pace is too fast and he can't keep up with it. In the half-court, he is a floor spacing big. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and a high release point allowing him to shoot over smaller defenders. He sets hard picks freeing up the pick and roll ball-handlers to generate offense. At times, he needs to improve his timing operating with the pick and roll ball-handler. Pick and roll ball-handlers sometimes have to reject the pick because he is a step late in setting it. When it comes to him scoring in the pick and roll as a roll man, he uses his mobility and is quick rolling to the rim. He gets deep into the paint putting interior pressure on the defense. He is a lob threat and an above the rim finisher with good hands. He can initiate dribble handoffs for his teammates. He is effective as a cutter and operating in the dunkers spot ready to receive the ball and quick to go up.

He rebounds well jumping high for rebounds, being aggressive in pursuit, and grabbing tough contested rebounds through crowds and traffic.

On the defensive end, he is effective walling up in the post and limiting deep post positioning. He forces tough contested shots in the post using his length.

Quincy Baker

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: iSchool

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Quincy Baker is a score first shot making guard off the dribble who is aggressive hunting for his shot. He operates as a pick and roll ball-handler either getting around the pick for a dribble pull-up mid-range shot or drives to the rim. He is more of a finesse player and get to his spots type of player rather than being quick and explosive. He can shoot over smaller players and has balance and footwork when elevating over them to shoot. When attacking the rim, he uses his size to shield off defenders and gets deep into the paint. He is a crafty finisher with good footwork in the paint. He is effective as an off-ball player constantly moving without the ball and relocating to the open space for catch and shoot three-pointers. In transition, he can operate as a ball-handler. He has an effective handle with the combination of change of speed and directions making it hard for defenders to stay in front of him. He can be a trail guy in transition shooting a catch and shoot three-pointer or a leak-out guy filling the lanes well and finishing at the rim. When he isn't looking for his own offense, he is a playmaker in drive and kick situations using his ability to get deep in the paint, attracting multiple defenders and collapsing the defense.

The defensive end is the biggest improvement area for him. He doesn't get back in transition, doesn't give effort, dwells on his mistakes, keeps his head down, and has a hard time moving on to the next possession. He needs to get better at forgetting his mistake and get back for transition defense to force a tougher shot or get a stop. In the half-court when defending guards in one on one situations he is in an upright position, doesn't move well laterally, and doesn't have good defensive positioning making him prone to blowbys and fouls.

Ayden McClinton

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: iSchool

Class: 2029

Uncommitted

Ayden McClinton is a leak-out guy and ball-handler in transition. On leak-outs, he either gets all the way to the rim or takes catch and shoot pull-up threes. As a ball-handler he is aggressive pushing the pace and looking to attack the rim. His ability to grab defensive rebounds and push the pace gives him opportunities as a ball-handler in transition and give his team a different look playing at a faster pace. When he gets a chance to be a pick and roll ball-handler, he gets to the mid-range area for a shot or floater with good touch. He plays at his own pace and doesn't get sped up. He uses his shiftiness to his advantage attacking switches and getting the slower footed bigger defender off-balance creating separation. He can play off the ball and move around off-ball screens and pindowns. In these situations he is more of a driver using his momentum to get to the rim rather than taking jump shots. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics when taking catch and shoot three-pointers. He has an effective shot fake that gets bigger defenders into the air and off-balance.

He is a scrappy defender. Despite being undersized he fights through picks and finds a way to get through them moving well laterally.

Jordyn Goodman

Position: G

Height: 5 Feet 10 Inches

Team: iSchool

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jordyn Goodman is an undersized guard who is more effective playing without the ball than with the ball in his hands. He is constantly moving without the ball, relocating, and finding the open space as a catch and shoot three-point shooter. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and deep range. He is shot ready and doesn't hesitate. He has lift and elevates off the ground to get his shots over bigger players contesting. He gets his catch and shoot three-point opportunities from his teammates' dribble penetration and drive and kick. With the ball in his hands, he is most effective as a pick and roll ball-handler driving to the rim and getting into the paint. The bigs he was playing with in the pick and roll didn't set him picks at the correct angle so he had to reject it and get to the rim. He shields defenders off well when getting into the paint which opens up driving lanes to the rim. When getting to floaters in the pick and roll, he is effective and fluid in getting to his spot but lacks touch on the floater missing it strong off the back rim. When taking shots off the dribble over catch and shoot, it is more of a flat shot with little to no backspin and his lack of size makes it hard to create separation from bigger defenders with a step-back.

On the defensive end, his main skillset is picking up the ball-handler full-court and applying resistance. He can stay in front of bigger guards bringing the ball up and bumps them off their spots. He fights through picks well for his size and can go over or under, depending on whether he is facing a shooter or a driver.

Caleb Richard

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 4 Inches

Team: iSchool

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Caleb Richard is best as an off-ball role player. He moves along the three-point line with speed and finds the open space. He isn't just a standstill shooter; he has the balance and footwork to be a movement shooter as well. He has quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and shoots over smaller defenders as a catch and shoot three-point shooter. Even when his three-point shots aren't falling, he spaces the floor for his teammates just by taking them. He is at his best when he keeps his game simple just getting catch and shoot threes, drawing closeouts, and looking to attack those closeouts. He lacks speed, burst, explosiveness, and the handle to make him an effective driver. He isn't someone who gets deep into the paint, so he executes drive and kick passes from the top of the key.

On the defensive end, he has the length and anticipation to disrupt passes and get into passing lanes.

Parker Bolden

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: iSchool

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Parker Bolden is a catch and shoot three-point threat. He has a low release point and it is more of a push shot but his ability to get his shot off quickly makes up for it. When defenders closeout on him from the three-point line, he can put the ball on the floor and get to a 2 dribble pull-up mid-range shot. He can create his shot off the dribble as an isolation player. He gets to his spot for a floater with good touch in the half-court or in the mid-range. He is one of the few players on iSchool who is actually comfortable getting to a floater and has touch on it rather than just being limited to a shooter. As a bigger guard, he uses his size and frame to elevate over smaller defenders and shoot over them.

On the defensive end, he fights through picks, moves well laterally, and has defensive lateral quickness. He can over gamble at times going for steals and deflections.

Garrison Pitts

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: iSchool

Class: 2028

Uncommitted

Garrison Pitts is a three-point specialist. He has a shooter's mindset where as soon as he gets the ball on drive and kick he takes the catch and shoot three-pointer. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and gets his shot high over bigger defenders. He shoots the ball confidently and doesn't hesitate on catch and shoot threes. He moves well around off-ball screens and pindowns getting to his spots. He can operate in big to guard and guard to guard dribble handoffs for a catch and shoot three from distance displaying his deep range.