Rakease Passmore Evaluation | Point Guard Eyes

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Rakease Passmore

Combine Academy (NC)

Team Thad (EYBL)

Class

2024

Height

6'5"

Weight

185 lbs

Position

Strong Hand

Right

Committed

Kansas

July 2023

Sample Stats from the 2022-23 HS Season

Stats from 3SSB Sessions I & II and EYBL Session IV

Physical/Athleticism

Bio/Athleticism

DOB: 8/26/2005
Hometown: Palatka, FL
Began playing basketball near the end of 7th grade. This was only his 4th full year of playing the game.
An exceptional athlete with first-class explosive qualities
- A powerful leaper who can jump out of the gym, especially off of one foot
  - Capable of exploding upward out of a dead sprint
  - Often finishes while he’s still on the ascension, dunking down into the rim
  - Gets off the floor with jet propulsion-like explosiveness
  - Lifts off quickly and rises just as swiftly
  - Has springs for legs
- Displays exceptional end-to-end speed in the open court with and without the ball
  - Extreme acceleration
  - It’s a sight to see his momentum build to top speed
- His combination of speed and bounce propel him through the air with a mixture of altitude and velocity. He’s flying.

Possesses significant burst and a terrific first step

Prototypical size and build for a maturing shooting guard – 6’5”, athletic build, muscle definition on a frame that will support additional bulk as he matures without hindering his athleticism. It’s possible it could add to it, depending on the types of training he pursues in the future.
6’6” wingspan (+1)
Still learning how to utilize his sizeable strength functionally on the court, which makes sense for someone who’s only been playing for 4-5 years. But he's learning quickly.
An agile athlete who moves with fluidity and force
- Uses multiple, quick plant-and-push-offs to support his use of footwork in route to the rim
- Blends his agility with the aforementioned strength and speed to support his rim attack and transition game (read more further down in the evaluation)
Has the appropriate quick-twitch fibers for many of the main basketball movements
Outstanding body control
Fairly good lateral quickness; excels in north-south movements or moving at straight-line angles
- Good hip flexibility with room for improvement to support lateral movement, particularly on the defensive end
Good hand-eye coordination
Owns built-in timing and anticipation
Strong stamina – stays in great physical condition

Other Offensive Qualities

Offensive Qualities

A prototypical shooting guard who thrives as an off-ball scorer and excels in the open court. Developing in every facet of his game as he gains experience, including learning the nuances on both ends.
Possesses a mountain of upside. Oozes with potential.
A juggernaut in transition who loves to get out and ahead with speed to finish with detonating force. Exerts heavy pressure on transition defenses. Puts on an aerial show of grace and power above the rim.
- Explodes off the floor on the break both as a finisher running the court and as the ball handler
  - Can elevate suddenly, beating the defender off the floor and to the rim
  - Able to take off from distances far away from the basket in-game, not just the warm-up line

Has the ability to function as a one-man fastbreak. Difficult to contain once he’s created momentum. His speed, advancing footwork and improving ball control on the push regularly give retreating defenses fits.
- As he approaches the paint, he will use slight changes of direction to avoid defenders at multiple speeds
  - Changes in direction can come at a high speed, cutting on tight angles to avoid defenders, or at decelerated speeds with pronounced changes that cover more ground

Plays well with others in the open court, using tremendous natural instincts and tight angles as he attacks the rim
- Gives it up to get it back
- Understands how/when to take the best path to the rim versus fanning out and spotting up to create spacing as a spot-up shooter
- Unselfish player who doesn't hesitate to advance the ball with the pass to take advantage of fast break opportunities

Dangerous in semi-transition
- A threat to board and push or turn short outlets off missed shots into semi-transition opportunities by pushing the ball up the court before defenses get set
  - Identifies driving lanes and attacks decisively
  - Puts the pressure on defenses to stop ball early
  - Capable of making the right play with the pass

Can hurt you as a shooter by getting up the wing and spotting up or hitting the occasional pull-up

Willing to allow the game to come to him. Impacts the game within the flow. While he’s not ball-dominant, his advancing on-ball skillset is organically upping the demand for possessions. However, his abilities to score and/or impact the game off the ball, on the catch, and in transition balance his game out nicely.
- Consistently, there are segments where his team may benefit from him being more aggressive
Despite his great speed and explosiveness, he plays at multiple speeds throughout the course of games. He’s not just moving at a sprint the entire time. Instead, he displays a growing understanding of pace.
- Of course, the aforementioned high speed in transition
- Often the first one to run the wing on the change of possession
- Regularly gets the step on the last line of defense
- Moves with smooth consideration when the ball is in his hands, taking his time until he seizes upon an opportunity or moves to create an advantage
- Grasps the importance of timing and the use of changes in pace when moving off the ball in half-court settings
Developing in the half-court. That development is occurring at an appropriate pace. Through such growth, he exhibits the capability to score from each level in multiple ways.
- At his best shooting the ball when he’s spotting up, lifting up the wings, or coming off dribble hand-offs, down screens and cross screens
  - Potential as a movement shooter at the next level is promising. He thrives as an off-ball scorer who functions well within sets and concepts intended to free him up on the catch.

Most attempts are from at or above the break, but he’s comfortable from the corners, too

Exhibits growth on pull-up attempts off the bounce, with volume slowly increasing over time (see more in the "Shooting section below)
- Most likely to be successful when pulling up in rhythm and moving straight-on, but he gives glimpses of his upside in other ways, as well

Rim pressure – continuing to look at his game in the half-court
- Exerts rim pressure as a downhill driver that is increasingly able to go right or left. Is typically at his best when he’s aggressively looking to get to the rim, setting the stage for his jumper to follow. When he gets on a straight line to the rim, he’s a heat-seeking missile, blending his tools with an improving on-ball skillset to create separation: strength, burst, agility, and vertical pop.

Thrives on the catch, where the creates the advantage with his first step and subsequent burst
- Capable of using quick rips together with that first step when he catches on the wing
- Utilizes the shot fake against perimeter closeouts

Adding to his repertoire of moves to create space/separation
- Will benefit from continuing to add counters to pair with an effective counter spin that he utilizes after being cut off in route to the rim

Generally, he uses direct moves with the ball and doesn’t waste movement or dribbles often

Attack is on the fringe of being right-hand dominant, but he’s shown promising signs of increasing the use and effectiveness of right-to-left dribble moves
- Utilizes the same burst going right or left
- Likes to set his moves up with a small inside-out. Can sometimes be dependent on it for rhythm (see the "Dribbling" section below for more on his rhythm)
  - Inclined to go to the inside-out, crossover combo move
  - Has refined the right-to-left cross (you'll see instances of it sprinkled throughout the eval)
  - Will use the inside-out by itself to gain the advantage, as well

Finishing package
- As stated above, he’s explosive when attacking the rim, finishing with an array of assaults on the rim. He’s a poster waiting to happen

Uses outstanding body control to make mid-air adjustments to avoid rim protectors
- Flashes understanding of how to use his body to create advantages
- Possesses the strength and athleticism to finish through contact
- Will improve by becoming more comfortable with creating contact to get to the line
  - Tends to lose concentration around the rim, particularly in traffic
  - 22.7% free throw rate over the 21 games charted

Continues to refine his footwork in route to the rim

Uses a soft tear drop, floater-type shot off of two feet from about 9-12 feet. Just drops it in over top of the defender. Its usage is usually limited to when he is driving right

Has a functional left hand but prefers to use his strong hand and will benefit from continuing to increase its usage
Shot 39-fo-60 (65%) from ~9 feet-and-in over 10 games charted in 3SSB/EYBL play

Growing in his ability to get to his midrange spots for the pull-up, as well as in his accuracy on the shot
- Excels when he operates off the catch, attacking closeouts with shot fakes, an effective first step, and one or more dribble pull-ups
  - Remains efficient with his dribbles here

Developing his ability to create space consistently
Prefers to get to his right for the pull-up off the live dribble, but is capable of shooting going left off a progressively shifty, deceptive left-to-right crossover

Will drive hard and snatch the dribble back, using the defender’s momentum against them to create space

Received valuable on-ball reps during his time with Garner Road on the Adidas circuit, affording him the opportunity to work on getting to his spots while handling against ball pressure originating from the backcourt.
- On a sidenote, these reps helped accelerate his growth in areas such as reading the defense, identifying defensive mistakes and seizing the opportunity to take advantage, and seeing the pass before it’s actually there.
Will benefit from implementing a step back jumper to produce additional space, especially when going left
Exhibiting more feel and creativity as he grows in experience and confidence

Plays the game from a basketball position
Picks his spots to crash the offensive glass
Comprehends how to move off the ball, reading screens appropriately to create space on the catch
- Moves to the open area and relocates with a natural feel for spacing
- Understands how to use changes of pace to create advantages
- Utilizes proper footwork
- Majority of his movement is to free him up for the jumper within designed sets or concepts

Flashes of pick-and-roll action involve consistently finding the roller on the simple play make, drive-and-kicks to shooters, or simply getting off the ball to shift the defense (observations made on limited repetitions)

Shooting

A rhythm-based shooter who’s proven to be more than capable of shooting the ball at a solid percentage. While his accuracy has fluctuated over the calendar year, there’s a historical picture of a promising shooter with a lot of upside.
Overall, he’s shown growth from behind the arc, but it’s been a tale of two seasons within the last year.
- Shot 38.2 3P% on 5.0 attempts per game in 11 games charted with Combine Academy (November 2022 – March 2023)
- Shot 20.5 3P% on 4.4 attempts per game in 10 games charted (Adidas 3SSB, Sessions I & II and Nike EYBL Session IV)
- Shot 5-for-17 in 4 games at the Peach Jam
- Overall, across 25 games charted, he shot 30.2 3P% on 116 total attempts (4.6 per game)
Currently, he flourishes most as a spot-up 3P shooter

Displayed accurate movement shooting during the winter. Low movement shooting reps in the spring/summer.
- Has promising upside as a movement shooter. Displays a high comfort level and terrific rhythm coming off various screens and out of cuts.

Progressively improving off the dribble in multiple capacities
- Exhibited growth on his pull-up from 3-point distance
  - Again, he prefers to be moving straight forward, as opposed to moving laterally into the shot
  - Will use a rhythm-hesi dribble to establish a desired rhythm, and showed the ability to do so with the right or left hand
- Still working towards greater consistency on his midrange pull-up, but the pieces and tools are all there. Per the usual, repetition is key at this stage in his development.
- Shot 33.0% (4-for-12) on 3P off the bounce in 10 games during the spring/summer (3SSB/EYBL)
- Shot 28.0% (7-for-25) on jumpers off the bounce overall (including 3PA) in 10 games during the spring/summer (3SSB/EYBL)

Excels when he shoots on balance
Tends to be less consistent with a hand in his face or under duress
Gets the shot off with adequate quickness

Textbook shot prep keeps him ready to shoot from the perimeter
- Practices good balance, shows a target, relocates according to the ball's position and overall spacing, and has repeatable lower body rhythm and energy transference from the shooter's dip to his release
Prefers to 1-2 step into his shot on the catch, particularly using the “left-right” sequence, even when moving left. The 1-2 step can be exaggerated, with big steps as he moves into his rhythm and gathers to elevate.

Shot mechanics/form
- Owns conventional qualities, where he catches and squares nicely with both feet largely pointed at the rim, standing at a shoulder width’s distance and supporting even weight distribution
- Has good lower body-to-release energy transference
  - Average shooter’s dip - just enough to get his rhythm and energy transference
- Elbow is nicely tucked
- Release is to the right of his brow. The ball is usually leaving his hand as he is on his way up or right at the apex of his jump.
  - High elbow – above 90 degrees
- Right leg tends to kick out with momentum as he releases
- Uses his elbow as the lever
- Snaps his wrist on the finish when in rhythm
- There are times when his release can differ off the bounce, not fully extending and holding his follow through. It becomes more of a feel shot.
Shot selection is solid, with good general judgment between what is a good shot and what’s not. Prefers to shoot on balance and with his feet set.
- Over the winter, 49.1% of his attempts came from 3
- During his time on the circuits, roughly half (47.6%) of his attempts came within 10 feet, while 34.9% came from behind the arc
- The vast majority of his 3PM/3PA come on the catch
  - Shows a preference for shooting as close to the line as possible
- Rarely forces bad shots

Passing

An unselfish, connective passer on the perimeter who occasionally dabbles in playmaking off the bounce

Passing

Improving in his understanding of his effect on the ball and how he can draw the help side inward due to his downhill driving threat. Exhibits this understanding with his increasing use of the drive-and-kick that is often a simple attack into the gap to sink the help side perimeter defender enough to kick to his shooter for the 3-ball.
- Has become more comfortable with feeling the help and making the read
- Knows how to draw the defense up into the lane and dump it off to his dunkers

Advances the ball with the pass appropriately

Can stand to improve his post-entry passing
Places adequate zip/touch on the pass

Makes the simple play with the pass. Typically, he's conservative and doesn’t take many chances, operating within his passing skillset. However, he gives glimpses into a greater ability to do things like threading the needle.

Primarily passes with two feet on the ground and rarely leaves his feet
Capable of running the break and making the pass in space with placement and judgment

Dribbling

Overall, he exhibits that he sees most passes to be made and is refining his ability to execute on the delivery

An advancing ball handler who is growing more comfortable with his on-ball reps, using an established rhythm to support that comfort level

Rhythm often consists of one or more, successive right-handed inside-out dribbles that will or will not lead into a subsequent crossover
- Small tendency to leave the ball exposed when starting into the rhythm
Handles predominantly with his right but is adding a greater use of the left
- Comfortable operating moving from right-to-left. However, if he doesn’t end up driving left or pulling up for the jumper and must continue handling, he inevitably switches back to his right after 2-3 dribbles.
Accompanies superb speed with adequate ball control to commonly blow past defenders in the open court with sharp, quick changes of hands/direction. He can really fly with the ball. Will benefit from continuing to tighten up his handle to maximize his special transition abilities.
- Speed dribble can consist of him keeping the ball closer to the body or pushing it out in front. Each method is used appropriately according to space.
Can allow the ball to drift too high, at times
Excels as a ballhandler when his momentum is moving forward and he's not taking on pressure
- Shows some struggles on the ball against legitimate ball pressure, particularly against smaller guards out around the half-court line. Will benefit from learning how to utilize his body to protect the ball and control the defender. This is key to his ongoing on-ball offensive development.
  - Tends to halt his forward progress and shuffle sideways in response to heavy pressure, leaving his body squared to the defender and the ball more unprotected from his body
Handles from a basketball position (triple threat) for the duration of his time with the ball
Has a small tendency to get too close to the defender with the ball, leaving it susceptible to prying hands
Refining the use of his dribble moves and adding to his bag as part of the overall development of his offensive skillset

Defense

A willing defender who takes the defensive end seriously
- Consistently displays the desire to defend and improve
Obvious owner of the tools to be a multi-perimeter position defender, with the potential to effectively guard 3 positions at the next level
- Best days as a defender are still ahead as he progresses in understanding coverages and improves in technique
Flashes his defensive playmaking abilities using his hefty tool set
Inclined to take on the tough assignments
On the ball defense is progressing
- Attempts to guard with his feet and is willing to do so with urgency
  - Defends the ball with lateral bursts and multiple efforts to deny the ball handler entry into the paint
- Strong enough to absorb contact from the ball handler at the point of attack
- Does a nice job of staying in the defender’s pocket off the bounce, disrupting rhythm and concentration on possessions of attempted penetration into the interior
- Displays extended segments of ball pressure
  - Pressure is usually exerted from an arm’s length distance
- Mainly looks to stay in front and shows, at least, a preliminary understanding of how to guide his man into help
- Tends to be a bit heavy on the reactive side of the scale and does not look to dictate to the ball handler.
- Can show some inconsistency, at times, with containing the dribble drive
- Technique and angles have room for improvement
- Good recovery ability

Competent off-ball defender who’s expanding his understanding of his responsibilities from various positions within given defensive schemes/coverages
- Maintains a healthy balance of attention between ball and man
- Capable of reading the next pass and reacting accordingly

Strategically plays the passing lanes with anticipation
Willing to stay in his stance throughout the majority of the game
Has a small tendency to turn his back to the ball and will benefit from opening up and maintaining proper ball-you-man positioning as his man moves off the ball
Certainly capable, but currently not much of a positional help-side shot blocker
Will step in with purpose on the help side against the dribble drive

Solid transition defender who typically hustles back and picks up the ball when in position

Basketball IQ/Feel

Growing in feel and IQ as he continues to learn the intricacies of the game. With only 4 years of basketball under his belt, he’s been a quick study who desires to continue learning.
- Visibly quickening processor
- Possesses plenty of additional capacity for growth
His skillsets on both ends are developing on a solid fundamental foundation
Consistently looks to make the right basketball play
Shows that he understands the importance of spacing on the offensive end
Possesses instinctive qualities that help him create advantages in multiple areas of the game, such as timing and anticipation
Aware of time and score
Understands his role from team-to-team and excels within it
Displays good judgement in various capacities (passing, shot selection, decision-making, etc.)

Has a habit of not finishing defensive possessions by blocking out, frequently turning and looking in from the perimeter
- A secondary rebounder who collects a considerable share of his boards on the outskirts of the paint

Dispostion/Presence

Intangibles/Disposition

Calm, even-keeled demeanor, but not against showing emotion
Positive with his teammates
Shows positive body language
Demanding of himself and expects to be successful
Does not allow mistakes affect his effort on subsequent plays
Self-aware of his abilities – strengths and weaknesses – and plays accordingly
Balanced aggression level
Owns natural instincts on both ends that will continue to show themselves as he progresses in his development
A competitor who consistently plays hard on both ends of the floor
- Has a strong desire to win
Brought the same approach to each of the 21 games charted, with a consistent energy level/motor

Coachability

Embraces coaching to its fullest extent in an effort to improve and learn the game
- Accepts coaching and understands its importance in his development
- Hard coaching can drive him to put forth greater effort.
- Thrives with coaches who are willing to hold him accountable while teaching him the game and how to improve

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