Malakai Whittaker 6’0 190 2021 Carmel School, Ruther Glen VA
Malakai combines a strong, physical frame, quickness and athleticism and sound playmaking skills. He is at his best off the dribble using a cat-quick first step, some change of pace, crafty ball-handling, powerful bursts on change of direction or stops and starts to get to the rim. Malakai can stop on a dime and go behind the back with the dribble, freeze the defender with a quick crossover, step-back crossover or an inside out dribble move followed by a powerful burst toward the rim and can pull up on balance and shoot the jumper off either of those moves.
He does a great job staying down and maintaining a low center of gravity. He is a skilled passer on penetrate and kick action or dishing to cutters and has excellent vision. He will pick you apart if you double or hedge as he attacks with a pass-first mentality and has a knack for finding the open man and delivering pinpoint passes. Malakai is so comfortable and effective attacking with an almost frantic pace and has the physical tools and ball-handling skills to keep defenders on their heels. He is also effective because he is a threat to knock down the shot off the dribble at a high rate. Malakai is also a threat from three-point range shooting off the dribble or catch and shoot but rarely settles as he is so effective getting into high percentage areas with the dribble.
Malakai plays through contact nicely and finishes with either hand at the rim. He will, in fact, initiate contact taking advantage of his strong, sturdy frame. He has a great touch around the rim and is able to hang in the air fighting through contact to get his shot off. Malakai’s quickness and physicality allow him to defend multiple positions but as an on-ball defender guarding other guards, he is quick enough and strong enough to deny penetration and active enough to harass opposing ball handlers. Despite his size, he does manage to grab a couple rebounds a game through hustle and his ability to read the ball off the glass. He can dominate his offensive counterpart using his physical tools and impacts the game in so many ways. Ranked among the top guards in Canada, Malakai will soon establish himself among the elite playmakers in Virginia. Look for big things from Malakai Whittaker this season.