Mount Zion Prep Warriors The Grind Session Toronto Team Analysis

Style of Play:

Mount Zion Prep plays at a fast pace and through its guards, who set the tone by getting out in transition without breaking stride. They use their quickness, explosiveness, and athleticism in transition to create runout opportunities. They play smaller, with multiple ball-handlers and playmakers, so naturally comes a faster pace they play at, one that other teams may have difficulty keeping up with. In the half-court, they run a lot of pick and pop to create advantages for their guards and ball-handlers. Their bigs set hard picks and don't shy away from contact, freeing up the pick and roll ball-handler to get a switch into a favorable matchup and score, leading to a good amount of screen assists. Their bigs space the floor shooting catch and shoot threes after running pick and pop actions. Their main guards are three-level scorers who create their own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range making them isolation threats and one on one scorers. They blow by defenders and get to the rim. With Mount Zion Prep running a lot of guards together, they play off each other very well, taking turns handling the ball. In the half-court, their guards move well along the three-point line and get to the open space for catch and shoot threes without getting stagnant. In transition, they play off each other well, with whoever gets the rebound having the other guards leak-out using their speed and ability to fill the lanes to generate quick easy baskets. Since Mount Zion Prep lacks size, they don't have a single elite or high-level rebounder, so they are aggressive crashing the boards as a team and rebounding by committee, which prevents them from getting outrebounded by a large margin.

Defensively their main skillset as a team is forcing turnovers generating steals and deflections whether it is anticipating and getting into passing lanes or using their quick, strong, and active hands to poke the ball away. A lot of times, they are looking to create offense from their defense. When it comes to pick and roll coverages their guards have the defensive lateral quickness, low base, and ability to move well laterally which is a plus given their team's lack of size, rim protection, and shot blockers. They are a team with the guards to apply pressure, pick up full-court, and use their physicality to wear down the opposing team's ball-handlers, making it tough for them to advance the ball.

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Player Analysis:

Jacob Canton

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Jacob Canton is a guard who thrives in the open court utilizing his athleticism. He operates as both a ball-handler and leak-out guy in transition. After grabbing a defensive rebound, he can push the pace in transition without breaking stride or slowing down allowing him to play at the fast pace his team likes to implement. On leak-outs he is quick, explosive, and fills the lanes well allowing him to outrun the other team. He is aggressive driving to the rim showing his attack mentality and ability to rack up points in the paint for his team. He absorbs contact, finishes through it, and gets to the free-throw line at a high rate when he is operating as a straight-line driver. He can be an athletic above the rim finisher or display body control as an acrobatic finisher. He is one of the main isolation scorers and one on one isolation players in the half-court for Mount Zion Prep. He creates a good amount of separation from defenders when attempting step-back jumpers. As the game moves on and he gets fatigued, he isn't as effective creating off the dribble where he has a flat shot that lacks backspin. He is best attacking the rim off the dribble using his speed to blow by his matchup. He has the off-ball playing ability to play with the other guards and ball-handlers on his team and with multiple good players around him, making this an intriguing skillset. He moves along the three-point line making it exhausting for defenders to chase him around or relocates along the three-point line to find the open space. He is not limited to being a standstill catch and shoot three-point shooter; he can also be a movement shooter with the balance and footwork he needs to get into that shot. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He jumps high elevating off the ground and getting good lift on his shot.

He creates quality looks for his teammates as a passer on drive and kick and off dribble penetration. He gets deep in the paint, attracts multiple defenders, and collapses the defense setting up teammates for catch and shoot three-pointers. He needs to lean into his passing more becoming a more willing passer and creating good looks for his teammates rather than taking tough contested shots at times.

On the defensive end, he fits his team's schemes fighting through picks, moving well laterally, showing defensive lateral quickness, and maintaining a low base which reduces the weakness of not having rim protectors. He creates transition opportunities and generates offense from his defense anticipating and getting into passing lanes for steals and deflections.

Jasiah Cannady

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jasiah Cannady is a scoring guard and shot maker showing flashes of being a three-level scorer with his ability to create his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range. He creates separation from defenders when taking step-back jumpers. On straight-line drives, he has quickness, explosiveness, and shiftiness with his first step to blow by defenders and get downhill. When matched up against size and length, he finds ways to avoid getting his shot blocked and to get his shot over the defender's length by contorting his body. His ability to be aggressive driving to the rim and creating bumps gets him to the free-throw line at a high rate, where he can convert on easy points. He fits the fast pace that Mount Zion Prep likes to play at. He thrives in transition either as a leak-out guard or as a ball-handler getting all the way to the rim and outrunning opposing teams. He can also take catch and shoot pull up threes in transition. When opposing defenses crowd the paint, he can navigate tight spaces and get around defenders displaying good footwork and being a crafty finisher. He is a streaky scorer either scoring in bunches or missing in bunches. To be a more efficient scorer, he needs to improve his shot selection taking fewer tough contested shots off the dribble. This is a normal improvement area for a young player with his skillset.

He displays his vocal leadership and point guard mentality being vocal on the court directing the offense and telling teammates where to be and what to do. He is the primary pick and roll option as a ball-handler making passes to the pick and pop threat setting them up for quality looks or using picks to initiate drive and kick and dribble penetration to collapse the defense and find shooters.

His team looks for him as a go-to scorer, clutch shot maker, and main option late in games. He makes many tough clutch shots off the dribble both as a pick and roll ball-handler and on isolations. He doesn't get afraid of the moment; he embraces it, wanting the big shots.

On the defensive end, he takes a back seat at times due to the offensive and scoring load he has to carry, prioritizing offense over defense. He has shown flashes of fighting through picks, moving his feet well laterally and getting through them. He can get over aggressive pressuring the ball and playing up high to force turnovers and create offense from his defense, which can cause him to commit fouls at times.

Zion Green

Position: PF

Height: 6 Feet 9 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Zion Green is a really effective off-ball role player and is best in that role. His main skillset is operating as a pick and pop threat. He is a big who absorbs contact with the defender setting good hard picks freeing up the pick and roll ball-handler. He has a face-up game where he can use his size to elevate and shoot over smaller defenders and he has good footwork setting up his shot when attacking closeouts. He has a quick release and is shot ready. He has a little bit of a hitch and shoots in front of him causing many of his misses to be short. He has to improve the consistency and fluidity of his jump shot to be more of a threat from three-point range. In pick and pop situations he should focus on catch and shooting or operating on only 2 dribbles rather than taking a few dribbles. He has a limited loose handle and isn't as effective getting to his spots off the dribble. When the offense gets stagnant, he would either execute cuts to create scoring opportunities for himself or open things up for his teammates by setting hard off-ball screens freeing them up to get to their spots. He is one of the few only effective cutters and off-ball players on his team. He moves fluidly at his size and uses his mobility to cut and find the open space in the paint. He showcased flashes of being an above the rim finisher on cuts. He doesn't shy away from contact, absorbs it, and gets to the free-throw line. He is the type of player who needs a good facilitating point guard and multiple facilitators on his team to create the looks he has on his team currently. He is an aggressive rebounder jumping high for rebounds and grabbing tough contested rebounds out of his zone and through traffic.

On the defensive end, he is a switchable defender and provides timely help defense in the pick and roll. He has the combination of disruptive length, physicality, and the ability to move his feet well making it tough for the pick and roll ball-handler to attack this matchup. On post ups, he can wall up and deny entry passes.

Luke Arulefela

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 0 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2028

Uncommitted

Luke Arulefela is a pick and roll ball-handler. He is quick coming around picks and getting to his spots. He is a left-handed player who operates more on the left side. He is more of a shooter than a driver. He plays off the ball and gets catch and shoot three-pointers or comes around picks and gets to his spot for threes off the dribble. He moves well without the ball and finds the open space. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He lifts and elevates off the ground getting his shot off over closeouts from the three-point line. He plays in the open court where he pushes the ball as a ball-handler and looks to get all the way to the rim. Unlike in the halfcourt in transition, he is more of a driver and puts more rim pressure rather than taking dribble pull-up jumpers.

On the defensive end, he is a physical hard-nosed guard. He gets into passing lanes or pokes the ball away using his quick, strong, and active hands creating offense from his defense by forcing turnovers. He is a high-motor player who dives for loose balls and 50-50 balls. He is quick and physical fighting through picks and navigating them quickly to get back to the pick and roll ball-handler. He cuts off driving lanes and makes it hard for the opposing team's guards to put rim pressure. He picks up ball-handlers from the backcourt and applies resistance making it tough for them to bring the ball up.

Makel Minor

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Makel Minor is a three-point specialist. He gets around picks and gets to his spots for threes off the dribble or relocates along the three-point line and finds the open space for catch and shoot threes. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He struggles to attack closeouts due to a loose limited handle and a lack of speed, burst, and explosiveness to blow by the player closing out on him.

On the defensive end, he applies pressure, picks up the ball-handler from the backcourt, uses physicality, and cuts off driving lanes, wearing them out. In the halfcourt, he forces turnovers disrupting passes getting steals and deflections. He is a quality off-ball defender, using his strength and physicality to be a glue guy and not allow quality cuts to the rim or movement along the three-point line. He has the skillset of a three and d player with the ability to knock down the three and play quality defense.

Rashard Miller

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2028

Uncommitted

Rashard Miller is a big who sets good hard picks, absorbs contact with the defender, and doesn't shy away from physicality when setting picks which frees up his teammates to get more efficient higher-quality looks. He can use his mobility and quickness to slip picks and finish inside or cut to the rim. He is also another pick and pop threat Mount Zion Prep has. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He can play back to the basket and operate in the post. He has the size, strength, and physicality to get deep post positioning. When finishing in the post he has touch in the paint. He has rim running abilities where he runs the floor well. He is quick, explosive, fills the lane well, and is fluid and not stiff when running, allowing him to outrun opposing teams and get easy points in transition, fitting the pace his team likes to play at.

On the defensive end, he is a rim protector. He has timing and instincts when blocking shots. He has defensive discipline jumping straight up vertically without fouling. In transition, he can get back quickly and use his length to cover a lot of ground preventing easy shot opportunities for the opposing team.

Aloaye Mamudu

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Aloaye Mamudu is a player who can operate in transition as a ball-handler and leak-outs. He is quick and explosive in transition, but also under control, allowing him to beat the opposing team and get all the way to the rim.

On the defensive end, he is quick on rotations and closeouts forcing three-point shooters into tough contested rushed shots using his length. He would get three-point shooters to hesitate and rush their shots as they saw him closeout on them. He gets back in transition against guards who play at a slower pace and forces them into tough contested shots at the rim or blocks them with his length and quick recovery. When blocking shots in transition, he keeps the ball in play sparking fast-break opportunities for his team. He can also stay in front of guys, slide his feet, and use his quick and active hands to poke the ball away.

Mike Shungu

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Mike Shungu is a player who plays bigger than his size. He is aggressive as an offensive rebounder. He is a quick jumper and coming out of nowhere to get extra possessions and second-chance opportunities. When grabbing offensive rebounds, he mostly goes for tip-ins on putbacks. When things get stagnant, he is an effective cutter to the rim being quick and explosive, but he is a bit passive and looks to pass it back out rather than finishing the play inside. A weakness in his game is that he is out of control bringing the ball up in transition and playing with a loose handle.

Harlem Nunez

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 7 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2029

Uncommitted

Harlem Nunez is aggressive on the offensive glass, rebounds out of his zone, and has interior positioning advantage blocking out the opposing team's rebounder. He follows his own misses and has a nice finishing touch in the paint. His rebounding and motor find ways for him to end up on the floor as a freshman. In transition, when his teammates force a turnover, he runs the floor well leaking out and shows flashes of being an above the rim finisher, but he has to get stronger so he can finish inside. Offensively in the half-court, he has some playmaking in the high post, finding the open shooter and being a willing passer.

Mustafa Asrar

Position: SG

Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Mustafa Asrar is a catch and shoot spot up shooter standing in the corner. He is an option off drive and kick and dribble penetration. He is shot ready and doesn't hesitate. His shooting mechanics need to improve. He has a flat shot with little to no backspin and doesn't follow through causing his shot to miss short off the front rim. He rushes his shots.

Johnsen Kennedy

Position: PG

Height: 5 Feet 10 Inches

Team: Mount Zion Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Johnsen Kennedy is a player who plays with defensive intensity and a competitive level picking up guards from the backcourt and applying pressure. He is a defensive-minded guard. He anticipates where the ball-handler is going and beats them to the spot, leaving them frustrated and speeding up their game. He can get his feet set, get into position, and force offensive fouls that result in a change of possession.