05/04/2026
Elijah,
It was great watching you play today in Atlantic City with Team Crown. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with you and your father at the hotel before the games. Seeing you both break down film together and how locked in you were during that session spoke volumes about your hunger to keep improving in this scholarship journey. I was also impressed with your pregame preparation, including your discipline with your meal choices.
As we already know, you can flat-out shoot the ball, with proven range well beyond the NBA arc. Today, you knocked down shots in both games against quality competition. What stood out even more was your focus on growth areas (handling the ball as a lead guard and creating for others). The left-handed, off-the-dribble skip passes were especially impressive; that’s not an easy skill, and it’s clear you’re developing your left-hand handle and attack. You played with a high motor, competed on both ends, and consistently made winning plays over selfish ones. That doesn’t go unnoticed.
As the offseason continues, here are a few areas I’d like you to focus on:
* Strength (daily commitment): Building strength will elevate your ability to compete on both ends and boost your confidence.
* Downhill attacking: Be more decisive by getting outside your defender’s hips and explode to the paint. Limit over-dribbling and look to score or create off pe*******on.
* Movement without the ball: You won’t have the ball most of the time. Avoid settling in the weak-side corner. Use teammates’ bodies, cut with purpose, and create space for your shot.
* Defensive discipline: Force offensive players into one direction (toward the corner) and fight through on-ball screens with urgency.
You did a great job leading your team to a 4-0 weekend. As you continue to expand your game, always keep the main thing the main thing which is your shooting. Stay sharp with simple, mastered progressions: catch-and-shoot, one-dribble pull-ups, head fake into one-dribble pull-ups, etc. Also, don’t overlook the importance of catching the ball with balance and consistently bringing it to your shooting pocket b/c this keeps defenders honest and under pressure.
-Rick
