Globl Jam 2025 Men's Standouts

James "I.V." Williams
13 minutes ago
24 min read

Our Canadian based Analyst, and Manager of Basketball Intel, Layth Dahman, had the incredible opportunity to attend this years edition of Global Jam, in Toronto, Canada, and further evaluate the display of talent, amongst an impressive lineup of Division 1 and Semipro, athletes, for both the Men's and Women's teams, that were in attendance for this tournament. This write up will focus on the main standouts for the four men's teams, Brazil, Japan, Canada, and the U.S.A. (Georgetown University) that competed in this event.

Special thanks to Canada Basketball, for their great work in making this years Globl Jam a complete success, from the fan experience, to putting several NBA & WNBA prospects, on high display.

Style of Play:

Global Jam was a fast-paced type of offense. Teams got easy fast-break points in

transition through the ball-handler getting all the way to the rim or the leak-out player

outrunning the opposing team. In the half-court, there was a lot of pick and roll action

and a two-man game between the pick and roll ball-handler and the roll man. There was

also a free-flowing offense with a lot of off-ball screens trying to free up the off-ball

player to either get to their spots for a three-pointer or get to the rim. When a team had

a mobile big with a handle, they would fake dribble handoffs and get to the rim. The

types of bigs that had the most success were rim running bigs who could get out in

transition using quickness, explosiveness, and athleticism, or bigs who set good hard

picks, freeing up the pick and roll ball-handler, and rolling hard to the rim. The other type

of players that found success were those that constantly moved without the ball, got to

their spots, and made tough catch and shoot threes that are standstill or on movement.

The type of guards that found success offensively were pick and roll ball-handlers who

were quick, explosive, could navigate tight windows, and change speed and direction,

making it hard for defenders to stay in front of them.

______________________________________________________________________

Notable Players:

Nathan Mariano was one of the most skilled players in this tournament at his size. He

has guard skills as a big. His first impressive skill is operating in the post and playing

back to the basket. In the post, he has finesse, footwork, strength, poise, and the ability

to get deep post positioning. He can shoot both hook shots and turnaround shots. When

shooting hook shots, he can finish over both shoulders and elevate over smaller and

bigger defenders. When shooting turnaround shots, he has touch and a high release

point, getting his shot over the defender without any resistance and with ease. He

seems unbothered by any defender you put on him in the post. He always finds a way

to score. He dominated in the post so much that he attracted double teams and multiple

defenders, making the right reads either by elevating over the double team and scoring

or finding the open shooter to pass to out of the post. He can also operate in pick and

pops and has a face-up game. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and a

high release point for his size, allowing him to shoot over smaller defenders. When

facing up in one on one situations, he can get to his spots and elevate over defenders,

giving him the capabilities of being a tough shot maker. He can also put the ball on the

floor, take a few dribbles, and attack closeouts from the three-point line creating offense

for himself after operating in pick and pops. He is fluid getting to the rim at his size and

has change of speed and direction. He can absorb contact and doesn't shy away from

it, whether in the post or driving. He got to the free-throw line at a high rate and

converted on them successfully. He was a high-level rebounder on the defensive end.

He limited the opposing team's extra possessions and second-chance opportunities. He

had high vertical leaping ability and would jump really high on rebounds, had a knack for

finding the ball, and was aggressive in pursuing and chasing them. He also was vital in

Brazil's dribble handoff-heavy offense with the shooters around him. He has a tight

handle and can protect the ball, getting it to a shooter and then setting a screen to free

them up for a high percentage three. Alternatively, he could fake the dribble handoff and

get to his spot at the rim or in the mid-range. At the rim, he showed athleticism as an

above the rim finisher. He is very decisive and makes quick decisions. It was such a

successful play for him that opposing teams started to try to deny dribble handoffs. He

was Brazil's go to scorer whenever they needed a basket and clutch scoring. He wasn't

afraid to take and make the big shots. Every time a team made a run, he would shut it

down, making a big play on either the offensive or defensive end. He had a poise and

calmness to him at the end of games. On the defensive end, he was all over the floor.

He was an effective rim protector. He could jump straight up without fouling. He had

defensive timing and instincts. He used his length to contest, alter, or block shots at the

rim. He is quick on rotations and closing out to three-point shooters taking away their

space on catch and shoot three-pointers. He creates offense from his defense, where

he blocks a three-point shot and then runs the floor well for easy fast-break points. He

was also a defensive presence in the post. He was able to wall up in the post using his

physicality, strength, and length. He didn't allow more physical players with size to get

deep post positioning and mobile players to spin off him in the post and get to the rim.

His well-rounded skillset, versatility at his size, and being a modern big should open up

opportunities for him, allowing him to play well at the G-League and overseas level if he

were to get that chance.

Lucas Atauri is a bigger guard with a good frame that he uses to his advantage when

attacking the rim. He has a balance of getting to the rim relentlessly as a ball handler

and playing off the ball, moving along the three-point line and coming around pindowns.

When getting to the rim, he has a quick and explosive first step that he uses to blow by

defenders. He has a knack for feeling the contact, creating bumps, and getting to the

free-throw line. He can be used as a pick and roll ball-handler. He is more comfortable

getting to the rim and making quick decisions or getting to his spot for a three-pointer off

the dribble, rather than slowing the pace down and getting to his floater. He is slow

getting to his floater, giving the defense time to recover and use their length to force him

into a tough floater with no touch. He can make passes and find shooters or his big

rolling to the rim in the pick and roll. He can make athletic passes in mid-air and makes

quick decisions, giving him the ability to handle pressure in pick and rolls as a ball-

handler. As a catch and shoot three-point shooter he has a quick release, fluid shooting

mechanics, and deep range. He can also lift and elevate over defenders by jumping

high on his shot while remaining balanced, making him a tough shot maker on three-

point shots on the move. This gives him the ability to not only be a standstill shooter but

also a movement shooter. He is a clutch shooter from three-point range. The bigger the

moment, the more he looks to move without the ball, get to his spots, and make threes

with a high degree of difficulty. He is constantly moving without the ball and putting

pressure on the defense, curling around off-ball screens and getting to his spots in the

paint or along the three-point line. He is an aggressive rebounder for his size. He can

grab rebounds at the rim and track long loose rebounds. He wasn't only a three-point

shooter but also got it done on the defensive end of the floor. He is a scrappy defender.

He could get into passing lanes for steals and deflections using his anticipation skills or

use his quick, strong, and active hands to poke the ball away from the ball-handler. He

could also pick up the ball-handler from the backcourt and apply pressure, challenging

them to bring the ball up through the defense.

Gabriel Landeria is the primary ball-handler and main option in the pick and roll for

Brazil. In the pick and roll, he is very decisive, can handle pressure, and makes quick

decisions. After getting around picks, he scores by either getting to his spots for a pull-

up three off the dribble or getting all the way to the rim to finish inside. He can play off

the ball and knock down catch and shoot threes. As soon as he gives the ball up as the

primary ball-handler, he moves without the ball along the three-point line, finding the

open space, and relocating, making it exhausting for defenders to chase him around.

He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and deep range. He is another tough

shot maker from three on Brazil, making them on the move. He has the balance and

footwork getting into his shot as a movement shooter. He not only looks for his offense

but also gets his teammates involved as a playmaker. He was one of the best passers

in this tournament. He understood the spots his teammates operated in, got them

quality looks, and put them in a position to be successful. His ability to make other

better while also scoring is a big reason why he won MVP in this tournament. He plays

best as a passer in the pick and roll. He uses it to either initiate drive and kick from the

top of the key to find the open shooter or find the roller with a pocket pass. He can also

make tough cross-court passes to find shooters. He is engaged defensively and has a

high compete level. He is a scrappy defender and is physical. He recovers well when he

is put in pick and roll defense and gets back into the possession on the pick and roll

ball-handler. He can also hedge the pick and roll ball-handler and apply pressure on

them. In one-on-one situations, he can cut off driving lanes to the rim and move his feet

well.

Bruno Cardoso plays as an undersized big. He is a pick and roll player as the roll man

and a rim running big. He sets good hard picks, freeing up the pick and roll ball-

handlers. When rolling to the rim he was wide, rolled hard, and got deep into the paint.

He could also play back to the basket and seal off the defender after setting the pick. He

was active operating in dribble handoffs and setting off-ball screens. As a rim runner, he

runs the floor well and finishes through contact. He is so quick and explosive running up

and down the court at his size that other bigs have trouble keeping up with him and his

pace in transition. He could also catch the ball after getting past half-court and take a

few dribbles with long strides to get to the rim. He is effective on dribble handoffs, either

by getting the player receiving the dribble handoff a quality look or faking the dribble

handoff and getting to the rim with a tight effective handle for his size. When faking

dribble handoffs he is fluid, quick, and moves well at his size. He is an effective cutter to

the rim and operating in the dunkers spot. He has a good feel for the game being in the

right spots at the right time, understanding spacing, and being in open spaces to make

himself available and where his teammates can find him on the offensive end. When

finishing inside, he is an athletic above the rim finisher. He is also quick to go up for the

catch and finish before the defense can recover, making it hard for them to have any

impact on his shot. He absorbs contact and get to the free-throw line. He converts free-

throws as a big with poise and good touch making it hard to foul him intentionally. He

makes the defense pay for fouling him. His ability to knock down free throws at a high

rate as a big man makes it easy to play him late in games and in big moments. He is an

effective rebounder. He grabs tough contested rebounds and keeps the ball high,

keeping possession and not making him prone to being stripped by smaller players. He

operates in the post with decisiveness. He has good footwork and uses his size and

strength to get deep post positioning. He possesses the mobility, quickness, and

explosiveness to spin off defenders and get to the rim. The thing holding him back is his

size and lack of a three-point shot, making him an undersized traditional big. He doesn't

attempt any shots outside the paint and has limited range.

Winicius Braga operates on the offensive end as a roller in the pick and roll. He sets

good hard picks for the pick and roll ball-handler, freeing them up to get to their spots.

He rolls quickly to the rim but is more of a short roller rather than rolling deep into the

paint and finishing for spacing purposes. He does push shots or floaters out of the short

roll. He also initiates dribble handoffs and gets quality looks for his team's shooters

through that action. When cutting to the rim, he does it backdoor and has a slight

hesitation faking to go one way and then changing directions to get the defense off

balance, allowing him to have a high percentage shot inside. On the defensive end, he

is a rim protector. He is quick to rotate from the weakside and use his length to block

shots, jumping vertically without fouling. He showed flashes of being a switchable

defender coming up with timely switches and help defense in the pick and roll. He lacks

footspeed but makes up for it by moving his feet well and being physical. If he gets beat,

he has the length to recover. He is also a high-level post up defender. He takes away

deep post positioning and walls up in the post. He does all the little things that don't

show up in the stat sheet but help his team win. He is a well-rounded player who does a

little bit of everything.

Xaivian Lee excels in the open court as a ball handler. His opportunities in the open

court come from grabbing the rebound and being quick to push the pace, where he

showcases his tight, effective handle that defenders can't get to, even through traffic

and defensive pressure. He is an effective rebounder for his size, jumping high to

secure rebounds. He is someone who saw tough coverages. He was getting picked up

full-court and seeing double teams for a lot of the tournament. They were matching him

with all kinds of physicality, size, and athleticism, throwing different bodies and looks at

him. In the half-court, he operates off the ball as a catch and shoot three-point shooter

or as a pick and roll ball-handler. He moves well without the ball, constantly moving

along the three-point line, when giving the ball up as a ball-handler. He is someone who

can relocate along the three-point line and get to open spaces. When shooting catch

and shoot threes he has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and deep range. His

ability to take and make a lot of catch and shoot threes opens up the rest of his game

because it forces defenders to closeout on him. He is at his best when his primary shot

is a catch and shoot threes and lets it set up the rest of his game. Attacking closeouts,

he is quick and explosive getting to the rim. He has an effective quick and explosive

shot fake he can use against the defender closing out on him to get him up in the air

and off-balance. He either gets to his spot for a floater or a dribble pull-up mid-range

jump shot. On his floater, he has good touch and gets it off really high, making it a hard

shot for defenders to either contest or block. On his pull-up mid-range jumper, he has lift

and can elevate high when shooting it. He isn't someone who is crafty enough and has

good enough footwork to navigate the defense and finish through traffic. It is more

straight-line drives with him. At times, he struggles to finish inside against size, length,

and physicality. As a pick and roll ball-handler he can change speed and directions,

making it hard for defenders to stay in front of him. He can reject ball-screens and get to

the rim or to his spot. He is a more aggressive and assertive player looking to score in

the second half. He uses the first half to feel out the game and assess what defenses

are doing, and then in the second half, he becomes more decisive and makes quicker

decisions, showing increased confidence. He creates looks for his teammates as a

passer. He is a willing passer and can find the open man. He operates as a playmaker

in transition, pick and roll, and dribble penetration and drive and kick. In the pick and roll

he looks to pass first rather than score first. His struggles show the most on the

defensive end. He tries to compete on the defensive end and play with an edge. He is at

his best on the defensive end when he is using his quick, strong, and active hands to

strip the ball. He struggles with lateral movement and lacks footspeed, making it hard to

stay in front of quick and explosive guards. His biggest struggles come when defending

the pick and roll ball-handlers. He was getting hunted down in the pick and roll. He is

too upright when going through picks and struggles to get through them laterally. He

needs to get stronger and more physical to fight through them. He has shown flashes of

being able to recover and get back into the play, which shows that it is more of a

physical and athletic limitation with him rather than a lack of effort. He is at his best

when he is recovering and leads his matchup into the help defense or rim protection at

the rim. He also needs a lot of switchable defenders who can make timely and quick

switches and help with defense, which Team Canada didn't have. At Florida, these

defensive struggles will show less due to their switchability and versatility on the

defensive end.

Aden Holloway is a player who showed more potential than a refined skillset. He still

has a lot of work to do with his game. He has shot creation potential and creates a good

amount of separation from the defender with a step-back jumper. He also has a quick

and explosive first step that allows him to blow by defenders, which he should utilize

more often. When his shot isn't falling, the better option for him is to keep attacking the

rim rather than trying to shoot his way out of a slump. It is a way he can get in rhythm by

getting to the free-throw line and getting something easy. He became more aggressive,

attacking the rim and using his speed to blow past defenders in space in the final game,

an approach and mindset he needs to continue utilizing. He showed flashes of making

passes in transition, finding the lob threat, and making passes in the pick and roll. He

has an effective floater where he gets to his spot and has touch on it. The floater should

be more of a go-to shot for him in the pick and roll rather than looking to settle for tough

threes off the dribble. The biggest thing for him is that his handle has to get better as a

guard. He is too undersized to play the 2 but doesn't have a good enough handle to play

the 1. He overdribbles, dribbles through traffic, and has a loose handle which can make

him turnover prone. He struggles when being picked up from the backcourt and

matched with physicality, size, and athleticism. It is a way to force him to speed up, play

out of control, and lead to turnovers. He also needs better timing on his passes.

Sometimes he passes late and overthrows the passes to the lob threat in the pick and

roll or in transition, which leads to wasting easy opportunities for his teammates to

score. When attacking the rim, he loses body control and takes an off-balance shot,

which reveals his lack of strength in absorbing and playing through contact. He has to

improve his ability to move without the ball and find the open space. He relies on

teammates to break the defense down, collapse the paint, and draw multiple defenders

to create looks for him off dribble penetration and drive and kick. If he moves more

without the ball and gets to the open space it will keep him more involved as a catch

and shoot three-point shooter and create more looks for him. He is a very streaky

shooter and scorer. He will either score in bunches or miss in bunches. Before this

Global Jam tournament, his main skillset from college basketball was being a three-

point shooter off the dribble and in catch and shoot scenarios so he was in a really bad

shooting slump during this tournament. He is more score first than pass first so he will

continue looking for his offense even if his shot isn't falling. He needs to be a more

willing passer and find the open man rather than settling for tough contested shots. On

the defensive end, he struggles. He gets blown past by and doesn't move well laterally.

He has a hard time beating his matchup to their spots and taking away driving lanes.

His defensive energy is predicated on how he does on the offensive end and knocking

down shots. He lacks defensive energy and compete level when things aren't going his

way offensively. When he is knocking down shots at a higher rate and gets going

offensively, his energy and competitiveness reach a higher level on the defensive end.

Michael Nwoko is an effective rim running big. He is quick and explosive getting down

the floor, allowing him to beat the other team down the floor and get easy dunks and

layups in transition. He is a lob threat in transition and a very athletic above the rim

finisher. He operates on post ups as well. He uses his size and strength to get deep

post positioning and go for the hook shot. When operating in the pick and roll, he

executes a short roll for a push shot or floater with good touch inside. He has a high

motor on the glass. He secures extra possessions and second-chance opportunities

with his aggressiveness, which enables him to secure offensive rebounds and limit them

for the opposing team through his defensive rebounding abilities. He follows his own

misses and teammates' misses on the offensive end when crashing the glass. He

converts second-chance opportunities into points, either finishing the putback dunk

athletically or with good touch. On the defensive end, he was a rim protector and a shot

blocker. He has defensive instincts, timing, and covers a lot of ground when blocking

shots. He also showcases his athleticism on the defensive end, leaping high to block

shots. He keeps the ball in play when blocking shots, allowing him to create offense

from his defense in transition as a rim running big.

Vincent Iwuchukwu is at his best as a rim running big. He is quick and explosive running

the floor beating the opposing team's big down the court. He is an athletic above the rim

finisher in transition. He is a lob threat and has good hands. In the pick and roll, he sets

good hard picks and doesn't shy away from making contact with the defender on the

pick and roll ball-handler. However, he is stiff rolling to the rim, limiting him from being a

scoring threat in the paint as a roller. He also needs better timing in the pick and roll. He

either slips to the rim too early or rolls too early. He is a force on the offensive glass,

grabbing extra possessions and second-chance opportunities. He lacks poise and

rushes shots on putbacks. He is best on putbacks when he gets the rebound and uses

his athleticism to finish above the rim rather than trying to go for a layup with good

touch. When left open and teams sag off and dare him to shoot, he wasn't afraid to take

a catch and shoot three-pointer. He has quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and a

high release point, giving him the foundation to develop a consistent three-point shot. If

he can develop a catch and shoot three-pointer it will make him a pick and pop threat

and limit him from having to roll to the rim. He can be used out of the high post as a

passing big for spacing purposes since Georgetown can run 2 bigs at times. He found

cutters out of the high post. On post-ups, he struggles as he is unable to achieve deep

post positioning and lacks footwork. He takes a tough off-balance shot away from the

rim with no touch. On the defensive end, he is a defensive anchor. He is a rim protector.

He has timing, instincts, and covers ground when blocking shots. He jumps straight up

vertically without fouling. He is a vocal and loud defender in pick and roll defense,

calling out different coverages. He is an effective big who gets back in transition and

forces a tough contested shot at the rim. He doesn't give up on the play after an

offensive mistake and moves on to the next possession on the defensive end to try and

get a stop.

Isaiah Abraham is an off-ball three and d role player. He understands his role and plays

it well. He is the type of player many teams could use. He is a low usage player who

plays within the flow of the offense. He can operate in transition on leak-outs. As a leak-

out man, he is quick, explosive, and fills the lanes well. He could also be a catch and

shoot three-point shooter. He moves well without the ball along the three-point line and

gets to the open space for a quality three-point shot. He has a quick release and fluid

shooting mechanics. On the defensive end, he has length and can contest shots. He is

a switchable defender and can guard multiple positions. He defends the post well, either

denying entry passes or not backing down from bigger and stronger players. He also

has a positive wingspan, which he uses well to anticipate and play passing lanes to

either secure steals or deflect passes.

DeShawn Harris-Smith is a well-rounded guard who is not elite at one thing but does

multiple things well. He is a plug and play type of player. He has a good feel for the

game, being at the right spots at the right time. His best skill is getting out in the open

floor. He can operate in transition as a leak-out man and ball-handler. He is quick,

explosive, and fills the lane well in transition as a leak-out guy. As a ball-handler, he has

long strides and changes speed and direction, making it hard for the defense to stay in

front of him. He also uses his strength and physicality as a bigger guard to shield off

defenders and keep them behind him or on his hip. He is relentless attacking the rim

and is always looking to get downhill showing his aggressiveness as a player. When

attacking the rim, he shows craftiness and has good footwork. Being a bigger guard, he

can back down smaller guards, spin off them, and get to the rim. He has a strong body

for his size and position, allowing him to play through physicality, absorb contact, and

get to the free-throw line. He crashes the glass hard at his size and rebounds out of his

zone, limiting the opposing team's extra possessions and second-chance opportunities.

His ability to rebound and push the pace allows his team to play at a fast pace and get

easy fast-break points. He can also play off the ball. When defenses hedge him or blitz

him as a ball-handler, he adjusts quickly and gets off the ball. As an off-ball player, he

cuts to the rim, finds the open space in the paint and moves along the three-point line

for a catch and shoot three-pointer. He isn't a high-volume three-point shooter, but he

has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He was able to make quality catch

and shoot threes when the defense left him open to shoot them. He is more of an inside

player. His ability to get inside and put rim pressure sets him up to have quality three-

point shots later in the game. He was also able to create opportunities for his

teammates as a passer. He is a willing passer and found the open man. He made

passes in the pick and roll, transition, drive and kick or off dribble penetration, and

cross-court passes in the half-court. As a drive and kick passer and off dribble

penetration, he got deep into the paint and collapsed the defense. In transition, he is

quick to find the leak-out man and throw accurate outlet passes, setting them up for a

high percentage uncontested shot inside before the defense can get back. On the

defensive end, he was all over the place and could do everything. His best skillset was

getting through picks, moving well laterally with a low base, and having strength and

physicality. He was picking up the ball-handler from the backcourt and applying

resistance. He defends well in space. He can anticipate and get into passing lanes,

creating offense from his defense, sparking easier fast-break opportunities for him.

Malik Mack is a quick and explosive guard, blowing by defenders. He is one of their

primary pick and roll ball-handlers. He can change speed and direction in the open court

and in the pick and roll, making it hard to stay in front of him. He can start drives slow

and explode to the rim or start drives fast and then slow down as he gets closer to the

rim. He can use his undersized stature to his advantage by getting through tight spaces

when attacking the rim. He doesn't shy away from contact and gets to the free-throw

line at a high level. He feels contact, initiates it, creates bumps, and uses his body well

to keep defenders off him. He can also get to his spot for a floater with good touch or

create separation from the defender with a step-back jumper. He is not a ball-dominant

guard with his ability to play off the ball. He moves well without the ball, is constantly

moving, and finds the open space. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics

when shooting catch and shoot threes. He also has lift and can elevate over defenders

when shooting. He can operate in a dribble handoffs where he gets a dribble handoff

from the big and either get to his spot for a three-pointer off the dribble or use his

momentum and quickness to get to the rim. He is very fluid and quick getting around off-

ball screens, making it hard for the off-ball defender to stay on him, setting him up to

receive handoffs and dribble handoffs. He is their go-to scorer late in games who isn't

afraid of the moments. He was capable of making clutch shots when Georgetown's

offense had slowed down and they needed a basket. He is more than just a scorer. He

is a playmaker making reads in the pick and roll, drive and kick, dribble penetration, and

in transition. In the pick and roll he is quick to find the roller at the rim and sets them up

with a pocket pass inside. On drive and kick and dribble penetration, his rim pressure

attracts multiple defenders, collapses the defense, and then he kicks it out for a high-

percentage three-point shot. At times, with him being undersized, he struggles to finish

inside against size, physicality, and length. He needs to be more of a willing passer and

find the open man. He has shown that he is an effective passer, getting his teammates

high-percentage looks, but at times, he settles for tough, contested shots over bigger

defenders with more length and athleticism.

Julius Halaifonua is an old-school traditional center. He is a post up big and pick and roll

player as the roll man. In the post, he gets deep post positioning and has poise. He

uses his size, strength, and physicality to his advantage when playing back to the

basket. His go to in the post is a hook shot. He has a nice finishing touch in the paint

and can get it off smaller defenders. He can finish over both shoulders in the post. He

shows flashes of being mobile enough to spin off the defender and get to the rim, which

is rare for a big man of his size. In Global Jam, teams had to send multiple defenders

and double team his way because they couldn't play him one on one with his size. They

didn't have the size to match up with him. He saw well over this type of pressure and

could either pass it out to the three-point shooter or find cutters. In the pick and roll he

set good hard picks, was mobile, and was quick rolling to the rim allowing his team to

run quick pick and roll offense. He would roll hard to the rim and deep into the paint,

putting pressure on the defense all the time. His hard screen setting and ability to free

up the pick and roll ball-handler make him someone who gets a lot of screen assists. He

also runs dribble handoffs with his teammates freeing them up to either get to their

spots or get to the rim. He has a tight enough handle and can protect the ball where the

defense couldn't take it away from him. The matchup he would struggle against are

defenders who have the same size as him but are more athletic and have more length.

On the defensive end, he is not a switchable defender. If he did switch, it was a quick

switch and then he got another teammate to switch back so he could play in drop

coverage and closer to the rim. He has a good feel for the drop by not dropping too

back to the basket and allowing high percentage shots from mid-range or three. He isn't

a high-level rim protector since he lacks athleticism and quick jumping ability, but he

showed the ability to get weak-side blocks.

Yuto Kawashima on the offensive end is a catch and shoot three-point shooter. He has

a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. When defenders closeout on him from

the three-point line, he can put the ball on the floor and get to a floater or a push shot.

He can operate in transition as a leak-out man and ball-handler. On leak-outs he runs

the floor well but is off-balance when catching and finishing at the rim. As a ball-handler,

he can get over flashy and out of control. He has the upside to be a ball-handler in

transition when he keeps it simple and makes the right decisions. He has an effective

handle in the half-court at his size to get to his spots. He is aggressive in chasing

rebounds. He is one of the few players with size on Japan, so they rely on him to secure

rebounds. He converts on second-chance points by using his body to block out the

opposing team's rebounder and positions his body to get the tip-in with a soft touch. On

the defensive end, he is their only rim protector. He is quick to rotate and play help

defense when a teammate gets blown by or makes a defensive mistake. He can jump

vertically straight up without fouling. He doesn't get high off the ground and isn't a high-level athlete, but he uses his body well to get the defender off balance and contests the

Written By: Layth Dahman

Globl Jam 2025 Men's Standouts

Recent Posts

Comments