Live Scouting: Duke signee TJ Power at the National Prep Showcase

New Haven, Connecticut – On3 was on hand for TJ Power’s game at the National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College. The 2023 On3 150 No. 21 player finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He was 6-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from three.

The four-stars Worcester (MA) Academy team got the 86-82 win over Lanham (MD) Mt. Zion Prep.

Let’s dive in to talk about how the Duke signee played and how his game may translate.

Power as a shooter

TJ Power finished 5-of-8 from three in the game. The majority of his looks here came off the catch and off movement. Power looked fluid in getting his feet set, and shoulders turned toward the basket within the flow of receiving the pass. He knocked down at least one three going right and going left; however, in this game, he was more consistent with his right foot as his pivot, moving left.

The release point was high, the release itself was soft, and the balance was dependable. It was interesting to see that he was 0-of-2 from the free throw line in this game. Power’s setup looked fine, as did his balance and shot from the line. He does not go to the line much, as his game is not super aggressive, but he is typically pretty reliable from the charity stripe.

Overall, Power looked like a reliable threat from distance here. He was comfortable off movement and off the catch, able to get his balance toward the target consistently.

Power as a defender

This is an area that will be interesting for Power as he moves from level to level. He is more of a functional athlete than an explosive one. What I mean by that is that he has great hand-eye coordination and nice fluidity. Power understands angles and team defense.

In this game, he did not often guard at the point of attack throughout any point of the possession. However, his rotations were crisp and timely, and he was able to cut off driving lines numerous times as the second defender.

Looking toward Duke and beyond, which position Power can defend remains a question. In this game, he proved to be a good team defender.

Power as a connector

This is a question I have asked myself internally, is TJ Power a connector or an initiator? This can be one in the same in certain instances. Regardless of the answer, one of Power’s best attributes is his passing and his floor vision.

Power grabbed 11 rebounds in this game; 10 of them were defensive. Off a rebound, Power keeps the ball, brings it up, and starts the offense. Naturally, this is a great tool to be able to have your best passer, with the ball at the top of the key to getting things flowing.

Also, along that accord, Power is not much of a paint-touch perimeter guy. His damage in purveying the defense comes from going east-west, as opposed to north-south. With this, Worcester did a great job getting Power involved in the offense in multiple spots on the floor.

In many possessions, Power would be the second or third player with the ball in his hands on the team. Off the catch, his teammates would run actions off him to get the ball. In this game, many of Power’s passes did not lead to direct baskets, but his pass was the one that drew the defense and led to the kick-out or drop-off, a hockey assist.

Power moved the ball well, and he took care of his possessions. There was no over-dribbling; everything was decisive and with a purpose. Along with Power’s 2 assists, he did not turn the ball over, playing 36 of 40 minutes.

My takeaway from this game is that Power is more of a connector, someone who can play beside a primary ball handler and spread the floor while elevating the efficiency of everyone around him.

Kayvaun Mulready called next

While there is no disputing TJ Power as the leader of this Worcester team, junior Kayvaun Mulready might start grabbing headlines sooner, rather than later. Mulready is currently the 2024 On3 150 No. 100 player.

He is a strong-framed, 6-foot-3 guard. Where Mulready excels is with defending the point of attack. He was a terror guarding the ball, both with strength as well as splostion, instincts, and quick hands. He finished with multiple deflections or steals that quickly turned defense into offense and led to easy baskets.

Mulready’s defensive instincts and his motor also led to two blocked shots. One of them came in weak-side rotation; the other block came from a chase-down. How he develops offensively will be the decider of how high he goes. Right now, he is at his best in transition and with straight-line drives in the half-court. Developing his change-of-pace will be big for him as well as being able to make plays in the half-court consistently.

The most recent offers for the four-star were from Penn State, Marquette, Maryland, and Xavier. Mulready finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in the win.

Cleaning out the notebook

• Parker Jones – Jones is a 6-foot-7 class of 2023 wing. He is fluid when he moves and has a smooth shooting stroke with deep, consistent range. He will need to add weight, but there is a lot of intrigue with his overall game. Vermont, Boston University, and Colgate are three schools to watch here.

• Tre Norman – Norman is a 6-foot-2 Marquette signee. He is an aggressive, paint-touch scoring lead guard. There is a burst with his first step and some craft in his finishing. He plays with a chip on his shoulder when the ball is in his hands. His next step would be developing a consistent jumper.