Analysis and Opinion

Academy Standouts: 2022 Spring, Week 1

Academy Standouts highlights the players who performed best in the most recent week of NA Academy play. I’ll discuss a few of the most noteworthy standouts, then list some other players whose performances caught my eye below.

Watch Tim’s pick for Game of the Week

Kaori, Bot, Evil Geniuses Academy

First up, the spotlight shines on EG Academy’s new bot laner, Kaori. EGA went 1 and 3 this week, splitting their series with Team Liquid Academy and dropping both games of their second series to Immortals Academy, but Kaori played well in the losses and played INCREDIBLY well in the wins. His Jhin against TL Academy was an explosive arrival to North America, with great ult snipes and snare setups throughout. His Jinx team fighting was nearly as good.

It’s early, but Kaori is already showing why TSM had him shortlisted for an LCS spot, and why EG were eager to snap him up to help lead their young prospects.

Pretty, Mid, Immortals Academy

Next we’ve got a long-term resident of Academy Standouts, IMT Academy mid laner Pretty. He played three games of Viktor and one Vex, which naturally produced 4 Victories. Alliteration!!

Pretty continued his stable, controlling, carrying ways from 2021, managing his lane states well, being first to the river, and unloading damage in team fights.

Chad, Jungle, Immortals Academy

Finally, let’s look at Academy rookie Chad.

The new IMTA jungler is in his first full-time Academy role after playing summer Proving Grounds for 100A as a sub last year, and so far he’s rewarding IMTA for the pick-up. He played four games on Viego, which naturally produced 4 Victories. He pathed fairly conservatively and team fought well, and presumably forced next week’s opponents to consider a different draft strategy against him.

Additional Standouts

The following players also stood out.

Photos courtesy lolesports.com