The 2024 Olympics are bringing another type of basketball into the worldwide highlight as 3×3 basketball makes its return after debuting in Tokyo through the 2020 Olympics. A complete of eight nations are competing within the occasion, which is performed in a half-court setting with a 12-second shot clock.
Typically, the premise of the sport is similar as conventional basketball: put the ball within the basket whereas attempting to cease your opponent from doing the identical. Nevertheless, 3×3 locations a good larger premium on outdoors taking pictures as pictures from past the arc are price two factors versus only one for pictures contained in the arc.
Maybe that is why former BYU star Jimmer Fredette has discovered such a distinguished place on the planet of 3×3 basketball. The 35-year outdated former All-American hit 39.4% of his 3-pointers over 4 seasons with the Cougars and led the nation in scoring through the 2010-11 season. Although he discovered restricted success within the NBA, Fredette shined whereas enjoying abroad and now has an opportunity so as to add a gold medal to his resume.
With 3×3 hoops getting some consideration, we got down to theorize the way it may work in faculty basketball. For this week’s Dribble Handoff, our writers are selecting which 2024-25 faculty basketball groups would produce the very best 3×3 groups.
Jeremy Roach, V.J. Edgecombe and Norchad Omier
I am going to go along with Baylor’s Roach, Edgecombe and Omier — principally as a result of that may give me a fifth-year lead guard (Roach) who shot 42.9% from 3-point vary final season at Duke, a probable one-and-done wing (Edgecombe) who has the dimensions and athleticism to tackle our hardest defensive assignments, and a fifth-year large (Omier) who has averaged a double-double in 4 straight years of school basketball. It is a three-man group that may be proficient, athletic and skilled.
We may play pick-and-roll with Roach and Omier. We may isolate Edgecombe and let him overwhelm inferior abilities. Backside line, this trio could be better-equipped than some other faculty’s greatest three-man tandem to carry dwelling a gold medal, in my view. They’re the primary causes Baylor will enter this season among the many favorites to win the 2025 NCAA Match, which might make Scott Drew a uncommon two-time championship-winning coach. — Gary Parrish
Kylan Boswell, Kasparas Jakučionis and Tomislav Ivišić
If I am piecing collectively and scouting for a aggressive 3×3 group, I need the next, in no specific order: taking pictures, measurement, rebounding, toughness and selflessness, which can (hopefully) beget passing and ball-movement. In Illinois I really feel I can tick all these packing containers off.
Boswell is an Arizona switch who’s a artistic passer who can provoke actions. Jakučionis is a freshman do-it-all menace who can shoot, assault and add measurement as a rebounder. And massive man Ivišić is each little bit of 7-foot-1 who can house the ground as a shooter, be a menace as a curler and discover open teammates as a passer as well.
The ball motion, taking pictures and rebounding for this trio could be troublesome to deal with for any group. I like my possibilities with the core items of this 12 months’s Illini newcomers. — Kyle Boone
Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper and Jordan Derkack
The Rutgers trio of Bailey, Harper and Derkack could be a younger however fearsome combo in a 3×3 format due to their talent and flexibility. Bailey and Harper are each five-star freshmen whereas Derkack is a junior who was named NEC Participant of the 12 months (and Defensive Participant of the 12 months) at Merrimack final season.
Derkack and Harper are each listed at 6-6 and 215 kilos. Bailey is 6-10 and weighs in at 200. Whereas there isn’t any paint bruiser within the bunch, all three have the correct mixture of measurement and athleticism to carry their very own, whatever the switches that come through picks or dribble handoffs. Offensively, they might be matchup nightmares as all three would have the ability to fly previous conventional bigs or bully smaller guards.
The jury is out on whether or not the massively revamped Scarlet Knights is usually a championship squad in 2024-25 whereas relying so closely on two freshmen. However on this theoretical faculty 3×3 competitors, Rutgers is a straightforward decide. — David Cobb
Duke
Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster and Cooper Flagg
The posh of getting a roster filled with blue-chip expertise is you could have gamers with totally different talent units for distinctive situations like this one.
I debated between Duke, Kansas and Alabama for this train, however finally settled on the Blue Devils as a result of they might roll out a enjoyable lineup. You want gamers who can shoot, facilitate and defend, so Proctor, Foster and Flagg would test these packing containers.
Flagg, the projected No. 1 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, will probably be among the best two-way gamers from Day 1 as a result of he is a three-level scorer who can also be an elite defender. Proctor has proven he is usually a high-level defender with an ample help/turnover ratio. Foster is the true wild card of the group as a result of he is due for a monster sophomore season.
I debated on throwing Purdue switch Mason Gillis into the lineup due to his elite 3-point taking pictures however settled with a lineup of Proctor, Foster and Flagg. — Cameron Salerno