10 Best: P.K. Yonge Blue Wave vs. Eastside Rams
STORY The P.K. Yonge Blue Wave have had their mix of high and low moments this season. But last night on their home floor, they pulled out a gritty 59-53 win against the nearby Eastside Rams. The Wave’s scintillating sophomore…
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The P.K. Yonge Blue Wave have had their mix of high and low moments this season. But last night on their home floor, they pulled out a gritty 59-53 win against the nearby Eastside Rams. The Wave’s scintillating sophomore guard Byron Smith notched 25 points to lead all scorers. Eastside junior forward Malik Robertson laced 12 points and nine rebounds.
MVP: Byron Smith (P.K. Yonge)
No question, Smith is one of the top three best basketball players in the city of Gainesville. Best way I can describe his game: silky. Smith put up a non-quiet 25 points in the win by totally taking over the paint and driving to the glass. Not to mention him going five of nine from the charity stripe. With him only being a sophomore, expect a leap of growth between now and 2019.
BEST OFFENSE: Byron Smith (P.K. Yonge)
Smith ended the win with 10 field goals. No one else in the game had more than three. His game is aggressive, though he will definitely keep his head up and look to kick the ball out to your spot-up three-ball shooter after driving to the cup. His ball-handling is solid, only committing two turnovers all-game while being the focal point of the Blue Wave offense. Again I say, his game is SILKY!
BEST DEFENSE: Joel McNish (P.K. Yonge)
This freshman didn’t defend like he was new to the game. McNish used his 6’3” frame to box-out everyone he was assigned to guard and kept a hand in the face of every shooter he squared-up. He had a nasty stuff in the early third quarter which lead to a transition bucket, as well. Great D all-around by an all-around great kid.
BEST RESERVE: Noah Richardson (Eastside)
While he’s a junior, seeing him work in this game left me no reason to think he won’t be starting next season. It was a back-and-forth game up until the Wave broke away in the mid-fourth, but Richardson made his mark throughout the quarter—leading his Rams in final-period-scoring with six points. Looking at his eyes, I could tell he was thinking of the best ways to make a play, whether for him or for others. Keep an eye out for him next season in his senior campaign.
BEST REBOUNDER: Malik Robertson (Eastside)
He’s 6’5”, 208 pounds, a junior and also a man on the rebounding glass. Robertson used his LaMarcus Aldridge-esque frame to assert his way towards a game-leading nine rebounds. Eight of them were on the defensive side. Just a guy who isn’t afraid to rumble in the paint. With a little fine-tuning to his offensive game, his upcoming AAU and senior seasons can be dominant.
BEST RADAR: Malik Robertson (Eastside)
Not only did he have a solid night on the rebounding front, but he ended up the leading scorer for the Rams, posting 12 points on the night. Also managed one block and one assist while playing big man for Eastside. Mild-mannered when it comes to how vocal he is on the court, but his play is strong and noticeable. Checking out his NCSA report, he didn’t have too much traffic. But if he can build on what he’s doing right now, he’s a guy to look at, seriously.
BEST ASPECT OF THE GAME: Eastside’s Orange Camouflage Uniforms
That was one bright team on Thursday night. The Rams took the floor with uniforms combining the Phoenix Suns-hue of orange with a black army fatigue pattern. Never seen anything like it for a high school basketball team. Every three minutes I had to re-adjust my eyes, a bit. Not that they were bad, it was just a lot for the eye to handle at one time, haha.
BEST SHOES: Tony Garner Jr. (P.K. Yonge)
Garner, like Kevin Durant, dons the number “35” on his jersey. He took his favoritism for KD one more step while wearing the Nike KD 8 “Aunt Pearl” color-way during the win. Though he only posted two points, his presence was felt more on the defensive side—especially in the third quarter. He used his long-armed frame to force a backcourt violation early in the period. The next possession ended with with a bucket. Look for the junior to make more of a splash during his final season next year.
BEST QUOTE: Kevin Doelling (P.K. Yonge Asst. Coach)
“We’re going to appeal it.” – K.D. says after starting point guard Israel Wilcox Jr. was assessed a very questionable flagrant foul less than halfway into the first quarter. The foul resulted in an ejection, meaning that Wilcox Jr. will not be able to play for six weeks—which ends his sophomore season, for now.
BEST ENERGY: William Banks IV (P.K. Yonge)
Banks IV was a joy to watch because of his no-plays-off attitude. Behind Smith, Banks IV had a stellar fourth quarter, getting two put-backs and going four-of-five from the free-throw in the final period. His highest level of energy came during the fourth, where some levels of hype may dwindle for others. Already a starter for the Wave, look for his role to heighten next season as a senior.