Rawle Alkins would love to add Lonzo Ball’s passing ability. (Photo: adidas)
Five-star recruit Lonzo Ball is a wizard of a floor general, surveying and picking apart defenses like a Hall of Fame quarterback; imagine if he could finish at the rim with ferocious athleticism of fellow five-star Rawle Alkins.
And what if Harry Giles III, the No. 1 overall player in the ESPN 100, could knock down the perimeter jump shot as accurately as Terrance Ferguson.
In observance of Valentine’s Day we caught up with a handful of elite players and had them dish on which of their peers’ skills’ they’d love to add to their repertoire.
Wendell Carter Jr., Pace Academy (Atlanta), 2017
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Probably Jayson Tatum’s footwork from the wing because he manages to get a bucket off of a deadball.”
Terrance Ferguson, Advanced Prep International (Dallas), 2016
College: Alabama
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Jayson Tatum’s face-up game; it’s just so smooth. His game reminds me of Paul Pierce. That’s definitely something that I’d love to have in the arsenal.”
Trevon Duval, Advanced Prep International (Dallas), 2017
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Trae Young’s jump shot. It’s crazy because he can get it off against anyone and it’s going in no matter where he shoots it from; honestly, it’s kinda the way Steph (Curry) dominates the game. Yeah, I’d love to have that.”
Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.), 2016
College: UCLA
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Rawls Alkins’ rack game!”
De’Aaron Fox, Cypress Lake (Katy, Texas), 2016
College: Kentucky
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “I’d say Trae Young’s shooting ability. Being able to shoot that well with the range he has just makes the game that much easier; which for example is what’s making Steph great.”
Rawle Alkins, Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), 2016
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Lonzo Ball’s vision and IQ. I just love the way he sees the game.”
Troy Brown Jr., Centennial (Las Vegas), 2017
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Markus Howard’s shooting ability because it would help expand my game and cause me to be more of a threat on the perimeter.”
Trevon Duval is an elite athlete. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour)”
Damon Harge Jr., Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.), 2018
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Trevon Duval’s athleticism. He’s got that extra gear that lets him get to the rim and dunk on people. That’s what you need to get to the NBA. That’s what I’m working on; that athleticism.”
Frank Jackson, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), 2016
College: Duke
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Dennis Smith’s bounce! Man it’s unreal. I definitely think my game would be at another level with that. I have a little bounce, but his is just crazy; I’d love to add that.”
Trae Young, Norman North (Norman, Okla.), 2017
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Michael Porter’s athleticism! So players would have to respect the drive just as much as they respect the shot when they guard me cause I could drive by them and make a highlight reel dunk.”
Wendell Moore, Cox Mill (Concord, N.C.), 2019
College: Undecided
The HS player’s skill that I’d love to add to my repertoire is… “Jayson Tatum’s mid-range game just because, when he gets in that area of the floor, just know it’s a bucket.”
Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY
