Not sure I'll be up there each week, but night one didn't disappoint in terms.

We'll start with the main event, so to speak.  This is the third year in a row Ben Davis and Cathedral have squared off in the June league, and this is the third year in a row it didn't disappoint.

Ben Davis

From a team perspective, Mark Zackery, the senior guard who is headed to Notre Dame on a football scholarship, long eclipsed the category of a star in another sport who succeeds in basketball just on his athleticism.  His shot making has progressed, and it's caught up to his passing and vision on the court. Not sure any of it will catch up to his defense. It can be that stellar.

There was a stretch when it was evident Cathedral was going under on ball screens, and best guess was that message was also heard by Zackery.  Three possessions in a row he buries a jump shot over the top of the screen, and after each he sniped at the Cathedral bench.  The Irish bench took it with smiles, but Zackery was not having it.  He was in full blown competitive mode, which is good to see in June.

Hope for his health through football because he has embraced being the leader and face of the team.

Ben Davis as a whole is going to have to develop consistent scoring from other players to get back to a third straight state finals.  Zackery was that second threat last year, behind now graduated KJ Windham, and that was known heading in.  Heading into this year, it has yet to be determined.

The main candidate for that role could be Justin Parks.  The 6'4" senior guard has noticeably improved from the perimeter, and he is an intriguing defender at the wing who should be able to guard multiple spots at the HS level.

Two summers ago most would've projected the offensive development of Tavion Williams, but that hasn't been realized up to now.  The super athletic and long, 6'6" forward hasn't shown an evolved offensive game beyond the paint, and while some of this is the curse of teenage metabolism, he hasn't shown any improvement in bulk on his frame.  The potential is there to be a two-way wing, but right now that hasn't started to show up yet.

Jahmir Avery came off the bench for Ben Davis and looked good offensively.  The 5'11" senior guard hit from the 3pt, both off the pass and off the dribble, including in transition.  He'll have consistent minutes this season for the Giants.

One intriguing prospect is 6'4" junior guard, JaShawn Ladd.  He started in both games for the Giants yesterday.

Cathedral

First chance to see Brady Koehler since the season, and his frame is noticeably bigger.  He's stronger going to the basket, and his best asset is his shot off the catch.  He's gotten to the point, strength wise, where Cathedral can really start to create matchup issues with him in the mid and low post.  As much as June could be a time to test some of that out, not sure how much nuance teams are putting into their June.

Koehler is still inconsistent off the dribble into his shot.  It's mostly a footwork issue.  He needs to improve his balance as he stops/lifts.

As much as Keaton Aldridge will be Cathedral's 2nd best scorer, consistently so, there is still a need to improve in traffic.  He's a bull off the dribble, and the he has a variety of finishes.  Relentless motor.  Turnovers matter, and there are times when he gets so sped up, it still works because of his strength and motor.

Good problem to have, as it's much easier to reign a kid in than push a kid forward.

His shot/3pt range continues to show improvement, and even if he's best as a stationary shooter, his ability to drive is always present.

All of that aside, Cathedral could go as their senior guards go, LeBron Gough and Deric Cannady.  Gough is really more of the wild card here.  Among the top point guards in the class, especially when it comes to creating and making unselfish plays.  There are times he needs to score, maybe even at times force the issue.  He's always on the hunt, but there are times when he passes up above average scoring opportunities.

On most other teams, Cannady would be the lead guard.  It is a shared duty with Gough, and he brings a different skill set to the table.  He is the better shooter of the two and the more aggressive scorer.  Cannady's release has become refined, and the ball is in and out quickly.

Both are excellent moving without the ball, especially reading the cut one level down.

Defensively, Cannady relies more on physicality at the point of attack.  Gough is in constant hunt of a deflection but rarely gives up a bad angle.

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