Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Augusta, GA (Future150) -- (Note: Midwest analyst Derek Piper contributed to this article)
On Saturday a couple of players who have made appearances in the Future150 rankings made cases for why they should be moved up or ranked again. In addition, a Future150 alum stole the show and proved he is one to watch in the future:
Kerry Blackshear, 2015 PF, Q-6 All-Stars: Blackshear was the go-to guy and had to shoulder a majority of the scoring load with the absence of Matt Millon. He showcased his ability to step out and hit jumpers from deep or go into the paint and score with a variety of moves. He has seen his recruitment take off in recent months and it’s easy to see why.
Ethan Stair, 2015 SG, Alabama Elite: Stair showed off his full offensive arsenal on Saturday night, scoring on all three levels. The talented guard created shots off the bounce for both himself and others throughout the contest and put up over 20 points as well. Samford has been on him hard and it’s worth noting that head coach Scott Padgett was front and center for his impressive performance.
Isaiah Whaley, 2016 PF, Charlotte Rivals: Whaley has improved his offensive game since we last laid eyes on him, and he has come a long way as a whole in that time. At 6-foot-9 he runs the floor incredibly well and is an excellent rim-protector. He is also capable of stepping out and hitting shots in the mid-range area as well as from behind the arc. Look for him to continue to improve and make a slight rise in our updated rankings next month.
Kevin (KJ) Holmes, 2015 SF, Team Loaded: Holmes was not the marquee name in his matchup with 2015 PF Raymond Spalding and The Ville on Saturday, but he sure played like it. At 6'7", Holmes has great length on the wing and he is a high-caliber shooter from the outside. He hit his first three triples in the first half, and he also made an impact on the glass and on the defensive end. It's not an easy task to make Spalding look average, and Holmes contributed to doing just that. He's an under-the-radar talent who deserves a lot more attention.
DeQuon Lake, 2015 PF, Team Loaded: Lake is an undersized four, but he played a lot bigger than his title on Saturday. With long arms and an athletic frame, he mades plays around the basket on both ends of the floor. Lake has great bounce, which he displayed while hammering home some highlight-reel slams. He also blocked shots and rebounded at a high level. Lake still needs to develop a consistent jump shot, but if he's able to do so, he has the potential to make an impact at the next level.
Jacob Hartle, 2015 SG, Team Winston: Hartle carried his team on the offensive end on Saturday, as he found ways to make plays from all over the floor. He hit threes, drove to the basket, coverted on put-backs and pushed the ball in transition. At 6'4", Hartle has the ability to handle the ball or play the off-guard. He is an extremely smart player and he makes his team better when he is on the floor. Every coach looks for that kind of makeup when they are trying to build a winning program.
Comments:
Be the first to post. Just use the form below.