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Toles averaged 30.5 ppg, 14 rbs, 4.5 ast, 3bpg, 2 spg |
Jordan Toles
is widely regarded as one of the top players in the country on every national
ranking board; and there is no shortage of reasons why that claim is made. After
averaging 30.5 ppg, 14 rebounds, 4.5 assist, 3bpg, and 2 spg in the NYBL’s Session
III for Team Melo, Toles has further cemented his status and validated the hype
that has followed him for the past 3 years.
Perhaps the
most amazing thing about him is the way he re-defined himself to expand his
game. In fact, you could argue that
Toles 2.0 has as much to do with his legacy as the original version. Sadly
there are no modern-day shot charts we can examine to see how Jordan’s game has
changed in the past year. But we can look at highlight videos, which, while not
as scientific, still show something.
First, let look at the recent
NYBL Jordan Toles Mix-Tape recently released to the county.
Notice how most
(though certainly not all) of the highlights are close to the rim? Jordan is
playing the vertical game at a varsity level. He emphasized getting to the
basket, getting to the line, drawing and kicking, driving and dishing – making the
players around him better and the game easier for those on the court with him.
Over the course
of the weekend he took a physical pounding. We watched him catch the ball basket
center anywhere from 15 to 20 feet out and the defense consistently forced him
left and doubled him. If he was on the left wing, they immediately went to a double
team from the top - If he was on the right wing, they went to a slow double
team. Yet each game Toles hurt the
oppenants equally from either wing—hell, he could hurt you from the hot-dog
stand as he caught fire and stayed on fired all weekend long— while defenses tried to vary looks. Toles could even be seen setting up on the box where he faced doubles
from the big guys.
Jordan’s work
and development in the medium game, those eight to 15 foot shots that are
missing in basketball today allowed him to be extremely efficient. Not only did
he have that tough medium game, but he finished his drives when he went to the
hole because of his incredible leaping ability – catching a few Oops in the
process.
The skill
development item that those with an eyes for the game see and pay attention to:
i.
Speed dribble with the off-hand (left)
ii.
Push/Pull game – dribble and retreat, attack
iii.
Pull-Up/Stop and pop game
iv.
Inside hand finishes
v.
Off leg unique finish ability
vi.
Court vision and reads
vii.
Motor
viii.
Takeover ability
ix.
Help side defense
x.
Conditioning

With so many
concerned about top players topping out at the middle school level Toles is
building his house on a solid foundation becoming a student of the game and
developing other aspects through skill development. These are the investments that will pay great
returns at the next level and beyond. With
his athleticism Toles is literally a few inches away with continued emphasis on
skill development from being one of those special players who translates to the
next level. Consider what you are
watching, class of 2020, 7th grader with nearly two years to go
before he steps on a high school campus.
Anyone who doesn’t have Toles in the conversation for one of the nation’s
best isn’t worth listening too.

Toles is a stud. No doubt one of the best talents in the country! But I saw him and Team Melo play against the Ohio Pumas in the last NYBL session and they had some very talented players to. They kind of held Toles pretty much in check. The point guard for Pumas is excellent. Allacco is his name. And Pugh and Mayfield are the bigs and they are very good also.
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