Each summer season, coach Chris Brickley’s star-studded BlackOps runs are the discuss of the offseason. It’s a possibility for basketball followers to see what their favourite participant has added to their bag and to see among the greatest hoopers on this planet go at it.
Brickley initially named the runs “BlackOps” as a result of he wished the exercises and open runs to be discreet. Right here, he provides us his breakdown of one other 12 months of BlackOps Basketball and his award picks.
The 2024 SLAM x BlackOps Awards
Breakout Season: Paolo Banchero
Picture by @kees2life
This was the fourth summer season I labored with Paolo. His vitality was laser-focused! We might go 60-75 minutes, and he did each drill at recreation pace. Coming off his first All-Star season and playoff run, he wished extra. I consider we’ll see Paolo in lots of extra All-Star Video games and lots of extra playoff runs. The Magic might be superb this 12 months.
Finest Summer time Shooter Award: Klay Thompson
Klay got here on this offseason trying like a totally totally different participant. He appeared a step faster, and he shot extremely effectively all summer season. He actually broke each taking pictures report this summer season. However, in CJ McCollum’s protection, Klay locked in with me in August/September, whereas CJ held many data and labored with me in Might/June.
Finest Center Schooler I Have Ever Labored With: JJ Crawford
In the course of the exercise, JJ’s father (Jamal Crawford), Jordan Clarkson and Boardroom’s Nick DePaula had been watching. Ju was hitting NBA three-pointers at a excessive proportion, selecting up the ballhandling drills I used to be giving him and getting buckets on my interns! The web at all times provides the interns a tough time, however they’ll actually defend. After the exercise, Jamal and I talked hoops for about an hour, and it was one in every of my favourite conversations of the summer season. Jamal is a real scholar of the sport. I’m calling it now: JJ Crawford might be a top-five decide at some point!
Draft Day Award: Matas Buzelis and Tyler Kolek
I consider each of those guys could have lengthy NBA careers. Matas might be a reputation we see on ESPN’s High 10 performs many instances this season. Tyler Kolek is my sleeper from this previous draft. The Knicks acquired an awesome playmaker and scorer at No. 34. I believe he’ll deliver nice vitality with the second unit.
NCAA Award: lan Jackson
The perfect factor that occurred to Ian Jackson was that to begin his senior season, he dropped within the rankings. His complete exercise strategy modified at that second, and Ian grew to become a person on the basketball court docket. He labored out with me 5 days every week—typically twice a day—and went onerous! I put him in conditions the place he performed 1-on-1 with NBA gamers, and he greater than held his personal—he was wowing everybody within the gymnasium. I can’t wait to see what he does at UNC this season.
Excessive Faculty Award: Kiyan Anthony & Chris Cenac Jr.
I’ve seen Kiyan Anthony develop from slightly child operating round MSG to getting buckets within the NBA BlackOps runs. He’s continuously texting me, displaying his urgency to get in additional exercises and maintain enhancing. Chris Cenac performed within the Brickley Invitational and shocked me throughout the exercise portion. At 6-10, he can shoot the three, end across the rim, play within the mid-post and attempt to dunk on you by the rim. It’s no shock he’s skyrocketing up the rankings!
Chris Brickley Invitational Award: Tyran Stokes and Jasper Johnson
Tyran Stokes is ranked No. 1 within the Class of 2026 for a motive—he’s a matchup nightmare. He can shoot and discover his teammates, and his motor is at all times on 100. Jasper Johnson went loopy within the recreation, hitting robust shot after robust shot. He actually jogs my memory of D’Angelo Russell. Kentucky is producing high-level prospects proper now.
Mentor Award: Russell Westbrook
Folks can say what they need about Russ, however the actuality is he’s a first-ballot Corridor of Famer and one of many High 75 NBA gamers of all time. This was the second offseason in a row the place he took the time to mentor a youthful participant. Final summer season, it was Azzi Fudd from UConn, and this summer season it was New Jersey legend Isaiah Briscoe. Russ invited Briscoe to a couple of his 6 a.m. exercises and shared some gems. Russ and I’ve developed a real relationship through the years, and I’m grateful to have him as a buddy.
GOAT Award: LeBron James
I used to be blessed to assist put together LeBron for his Gold medal run. His work undoubtedly paid off, as he ended up getting MVP of the Olympics at 39 years outdated! Other than his nice exercises, towards the top of the summer season, I used to be supplied a whole lot of NBA teaching positions, and I wanted somebody to speak to who is aware of the sport and the enterprise. I reached out to LeBron with no expectations—if he didn’t reply, I wouldn’t have been upset in any respect, realizing he has one million issues occurring. However he despatched me some nice recommendation, and it was precisely what I wanted to listen to. So, due to the GOAT for taking the time to try this.
Finest Group Exercise of the Summer time: Kevin Durant and CJ McCollum
There was one thing particular in regards to the vitality at The Summit, with music blaring by the Bose audio system. Usually, gamers progressively work as much as game-speed actions, however this exercise was totally different. KD caught the ball within the nook, ripped by onerous with two dribbles and hit a stupendous pull-up–identical to he was in a playoff recreation. Then I handed the ball to CJ, and he did the identical factor. For the subsequent 65 minutes, each gamers gave it their all. That was superior.
Finest Rapper Basketball Participant: Russ
Russ determined to take basketball critically and got here to me after coaching along with his Atlanta coach. He grew to become a knockdown shooter. The transformation in his recreation was insane. He had dribble strikes, was hitting NBA threes with consistency and simply performed with confidence. I believe Russ grew to become the most effective rapper-shooter l’ve ever labored with.
Finest BlackOps Matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley, contemporary off signing his $175 million take care of the Raptors, was taking part in with supreme confidence in opposition to All-Star level guard Jalen Brunson. There was undoubtedly a way of main competitors. Quickley backed up Brunson for the Knicks earlier than being traded to the Raptors, so it felt like Fast was taking part in with a chip on his shoulder. Watching these two go at it for nearly two hours was tremendous entertaining. It was like watching an awesome boxing match. They had been giving it their all and never letting up. Man, that was an awesome run!
Photographs by @nextsubject.