Southeastern Prep Academy Falcons The Grind Session Toronto Team Analysis

Style of Play:

Southeastern Prep Academy is a team that prioritizes playing fast with a high-octane pace and space offense featuring guards who are quick and explosive pushing the ball, getting their own offense, or making reads to the leak-out player setting them up inside or for a catch and shoot three-point shot. They have many ball-handlers and playmakers bringing the ball up, so whoever gets the rebound can just start the fast-break rather than having the rebounder find the guard to bring the ball up, which would slow the pace. They have many athletic players who can finish above the rim and are lob threats with good hands. In the half-court, they run more pick and pop than pick and roll with their bigs being more shooting threats than a physical presence. With them having a guard who looks to attack the rim at a high rate, attract multiple defenders, and collapse the defense they can play off him and either get catch and shoot three-point opportunities or cut to the rim. They have many shooters, so they can run a free-flowing offense with pindowns to get the shooter into their spot for a catch and shoot three-point shot or catch and shoot mid-range shot.

On defense, with their length and size, they run an aggressive full-court press to disrupt passes, making it tough for opposing teams to inbound against them. When teams are successful inbounding against them and advancing the ball, they get aggressive playing the passing lanes and creating offense from their defense in transition leading to the easiest type of offense they can get. When teams set picks on them, they can make timely switches and hold their own making it tough for the pick and roll ball-handler to get a quality look against their size. They have players who can also fight through picks, move well laterally through them, and stay with the pick and roll ball-handler.

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Player Analysis:

Beckham Black

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 4 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Beckham Black is a well-built guard who thrives attacking the rim, changing speed and direction, playing at his own pace with ease, and using his body and frame to shield off defenders and keep them behind him or on his hip. He absorbs contact, draws fouls, and gets to the free-throw line. When teams get aggressive taking his paint touches away, he can step out and knock down catch and shoot three-pointers and three-pointers off the dribble. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics on his three-point shot and the ability to create separation from the defender with a step-back jumper when shooting threes off the dribble. When matched up against more physical, athletic, and lengthy defenders, he adjusts by becoming more of a pick and roll ball-handler, where a teammate frees him up to fluidly get into his spot and shoot off the dribble. He doesn't get many opportunities to operate off the ball since he is the primary ball-handler and sets up the offense, but he is effective when he does due to his ability to cut and operate on give-and-go actions.

He knows the spots his teammates are best in and operate in, puts them in a position to be successful, and elevates their game, showing his ability to be a facilitator and high-level playmaker on the offensive end. He displays his vocal leadership and point guard mentality by calling out plays and being a loud communicator on the court. He can make any type of pass and read in the pick and roll, transition, drive and kick and off dribble penetration, and in the half-court executing tough cross-court passes or finding cutters with an accurate lob pass on target. In transition, he elevates the pace, making a significant contribution to an effective run and gun high-octane offense finding the catch and shoot three-point shooters or the leak-out man inside for a high percentage shot.

On the defensive end, he can anticipate and disrupt passes with his good length, allowing his team to create offense from defense, scoring himself or setting up his teammates. He can fight through picks and move laterally well through them, allowing him to stay with the ball-handler in the pick and roll and limiting the number of switches and help defense his team needs to execute for him.

CJ Rosser Jr.

Position: PF

Height: 6 Feet 9 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

CJ Rosser Jr. is a modern big with guard skills. He operates in transition either as a ball-handler pushing the pace or as a leak-out guy rim running. The combination of his tight handle and big strides allows him to get all the way to the rim with little to no resistance or get into a dribble pull-up shot. On leak-outs, he outruns the opposing team with his quickness and explosiveness, running the floor and getting high-percentage dunks and layups. He is a lob threat with good hands making him an athletic above the rim finisher. He can create his own shot from inside, mid-range, and three-point range showing his three-level scoring potential in the half-court. He uses his size to elevate and shoot over smaller defenders after getting to his spot effectively. As an off-ball player, he can slip picks with his mobility and locate open space for a catch and shoot three-pointer. He is one of the players Southeastern Prep Academy is intentional about running pindowns and getting him to come around off-ball screening actions, with him being fluid at his size and getting to his spot in the mid-range. In the post, he is more of a turnaround shooter with touch and footwork than a physical player who backs down the defender and goes to a hook shot.

He is a threat grabbing extra possessions and second-chance opportunities for his team while limiting them for the opposing team, with his size and length giving him a massive advantage in rebounding. His best qualities as a rebounder are his high leaping ability, keeping the ball high, and grabbing tough contested rebounds in traffic and around the crowd.

On defense, his versatility guarding multiple positions and his ability to switch are vital to the defensive schemes Southeastern Prep Academy runs. He can stay in front of guards with a combination of moving his feet well, being strong, and having physicality which makes it hard for them to get their shot off and limits blow bys. He can defend against physical bigs in the post by walling up and not giving up deep post positioning. He has long arms and length to anticipate and get into passing lanes. He has the qualities to be a small ball 5 in spurts, being quick on rotations, closing out on three-pointers, and not losing rebounds when taking on a bigger player. He limits opposing teams' easy fast-break points by getting back quickly in transition and blocking shots or using his length to alter them. He has timing, instincts, and he covers a lot of ground when blocking shots. The next stage of development for him on defense is being more disciplined, not being baited into as many shot fakes, and staying more balanced on the ground.

Jaxon Richardson

Position: SF

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jaxon Richardson is a low-usage role player who fits off the ball. He knows his role and plays within the flow of the game. He operates in transition on leak-outs being quick, explosive, and filling the lanes well leading to easy fast-break points. He has good hands and is a lob threat in transition. He is an athletic above the rim finisher. In the half-court, he thrives in a free-flowing read and react offense, making him a system fit for the main players Southeastern Prep Academy has. He cuts to the rim from the top of the key or wings and backdoor. He has a slight hesitation and misdirection as a cutter, getting the defender off-balance and a step behind. He has a two-man game and good chemistry with Beckham Black, where Black just throws a lob to him, and he goes and gets it for the catch and finish opportunity. He moves well and gets to the open space as a catch and shoot three-point shooter. His shot, whether it is free throws or catch and shoot threes, is a work in progress and needs to display better touch. His struggles as a shooter could stem from his build: he has big hands and a very big frame, which give him too much power in his shot and contributes to strong misses. He rebounds well for his position and size. When going for putbacks, he is an athletic above the rim finisher able to convert on putback dunks.

He is an effective defender in space. He is quick on rotations and closing out to three-point shooters using his length to contest, alter, or block three-point shots. He doesn't give up on plays and is quick to get back in transition. He is a quick jumper and gets off the ground when blocking shots. He keeps the ball in play when blocking shots, sparking easy fast-break opportunities for his team. He can also force turnovers in transition coming from behind and using his quick, strong, and active hands to poke it away.

Jayden Wilkins

Position: SG

Height: 6 Feet 2 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Jayden Wilkins is mostly a catch and shoot three-point specialist. He has quick release, fluid shooting mechanics and displays lift and elevation off the ground to get his catch and shoot threes over bigger players. He moves well without the ball and constantly moves along the three-point line making it exhausting for defenders to chase him around. He shows his off-ball movements by moving from one side of the baseline to the other or by relocating to the open space. In transition, his mindset is to run as hard and as fast as he can to the corner, demonstrating a pace and space approach in the open court.

On the defensive end, he can pick up full-court and apply resistance, making it tougher for the ball-handler to advance the ball.

Marri Wesley

Position: SF

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Marri Wesley is a forward who plays bigger than his size and has a grown man's body at the high school level. His main skillset is being a rim runner as a leak-out man. He is quick and explosive, fills the lanes well, and has good conditioning allowing him to outrun the opposing team down the floor. When getting closeouts, he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim or take a dribble pull-up mid-range shot. He can move without the ball on cuts and find the open space in the paint. He has good hands and is mobile as a cutter. He can slip picks and find the open space in the paint. He is a streaky and rhythm three-point shooter. At times, he rushes his shots and has inconsistent shooting mechanics with his follow through going to the side; he isn't square to the basket when shooting and has poor footwork getting into those catch and shoot spot-up threes. Other times, he has a quick release and is square to the basket, making him a more effective shooter.

He can provide extra possessions and second-chance opportunities for his team with his ability to grab offensive rebounds, leveraging his overpowering strength and physicality. He displays his high motor, getting after it on the glass and rebounding out of his zone. When going up for putbacks, he has poise, making sure it is a good quality rather than rushing shots inside. He has a nice finishing touch in the paint on putbacks. 

Rylan Kelly

Position: SG

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2026

Committed to Sam Houston State University

Rylan Kelly game is centered around being a catch and shoot three-point shooting guard. He is best as a three-point specialist. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He gets off the ground when shooting the ball allowing him to get it over contests. When opposing teams closeout on him from the three-point line he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. In transition on leak-outs, he either gets to the rim or gets catch and shoot pull-up threes running hard to the corner. In the half-court, as an off-ball player, they would run plays for him where he comes around an off-ball screen and curls to the rim or gets to a floater. He is an aggressive rebounder as a guard and for his size. He has a knack for tracking the ball and getting to it, whether it's an offensive rebound or a defensive rebound.

On the defensive end, he has the same struggles as other three-point specialists and volume three-point shooters. He is too upright, isn't in a defensive stance, and struggles to move laterally making him prone to blow bys and allowing dribble penetration into the paint. He is slow on rotations and closing out to three-point shooters, giving up many high-percentage three-pointers. He loses sight of his off-ball matchup and allows too many cuts to the rim and good off-ball movement along the three-point line.

Aiden Groce

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 2 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Aiden Groce is a point guard who pushes the pace in transition as a ball-handler. He is more of a facilitator and passer looking for his teammates rather than taking it the length of the court and scoring, showing his unselfishness. He finds catch and shoot three-point shooters leaking out or trailing for catch and shoot pull-up threes. In the half-court, he finds shooters off dribble penetration and drive and kick. He can operate as an off-ball player in the half-court where he fakes off-ball screens and cuts to the rim finding the open space in the paint. He is quick to cut to the rim and has misdirection, faking one way and going another. He can also get his shot over length in these situations.

On the defensive end, he is picking ball-handlers up from the backcourt, applying full-court pressure, wearing them out, and making it challenging for them to advance the ball.

Hazzan-Antonio Efford

Position: PG

Height: 5 Feet 6 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2026, Uncommitted

Hazzan-Antonio Efford is an undersized off-ball guard who finds a way to get involved without the ball in his hands effectively despite his lack of size. He can either be a cutter or a catch and shoot three-point shooter. He cuts from the top of the key and goes to a floater since it is more effective and easier for him to finish rather than trying to finish inside against and through size. He is slow to set up and get his shot off as a three-point shooter. He has a bit of an excessive dip bringing the ball down when receiving it, giving the defender time to closeout and get out to him.

Jackson Flint

Position: C

Height: 6 Feet 9 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Jackson Flint is a tall and lanky player who plays more on the perimeter than in the interior. He relocates from the paint to the mid-range, since his body isn't built to withstand physicality. He has quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and the size to have a high release point, but he is stiff getting into his shot. He struggles to absorb contact, set good picks, and understand screening angles to free up the pick and roll ball-handler, which forces the pick and roll ball-handler to see pressure and make tough decisions through double teams and hedges.

Kellan Cantrell

Position: PG

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Kellan Cantrell is a pass first guard. He gets to the rim and makes passes off dribble penetration and drive and kick setting up shooters for high-percentage catch and shoot threes.

Griffin Starks

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 7 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2027

Uncommitted

Griffin Starks is a catch and shoot three-point shooter with a quick release and fluid mechanics. He operates in the left corner as a left-handed shooter for catch and shoot threes. He uses his size and high release point to shoot over smaller defenders.

Anthony Cruz

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 2 Inches

Team: Southeastern Prep

Class: 2026

Uncommitted

Anthony Cruz is an off-ball guard who cuts to the rim backdoor when double teams come on the ball-handler.