Money is made in the Paint – player notes
The paint refers to the area only within the rectangle, excluding the semi-circle. The four corners of the paint are known as the high post (two top corners) and low post (bottom two corners, closer to the basket).
The paint is the most valuable position on the floor for an offensive player because of its proximity to the basket. A player receiving the ball in the paint will have a higher percentage of success, whether it is to score or pass, because he will either have an easy shot, or he will potentially be swarmed by defenders, leaving a teammate open. For this reason coaches design lots of plays to get the ball into the paint on offense and out of the paint on defense. Furthermore, there are rules at every level of competition which govern the behavior of players inside the paint, the most well-known of which is the “three-second rule.” The three-second rule prevents an offensive player from standing in the paint for more than three seconds.
Rainier Beach’s electrifying junior guard Kevin Porter Jr. has taken his game to the next level. Porter has great size, with elite ball handling skills, allowing him to play more at the point guard position. He’s very quick and shifty, creating off the dribble with nice moves for separation to his pull up jump shot or strong finishes through contact.
At 6’8” J’Raan Brooks who is a native of Garfield High School in Washington. He is a long and lanky post with broad shoulders and a great frame. The west coast star high pointed rebounds and snatched them out of the air in bunches. Offensively has some potential as a face up four man from mid-range with his jump shot. Also can score with his back to the basket on the block.
Lincoln’s 6-foot-1 point guard Lezjon Bonds being underrated could be an understatement. Bonds possesses great pace, understanding of the game and a knack for making the right plays time and time again. Bonds is a aggressive point guard who loves to push the pace on both ends of the floor. He is constantly coming at his opponents without any letup, especially on the defensive end, where he was one of the top on-all defenders in the tournament. He doesn’t mind picking his man up in the full court. He attacked the basket well on the offensive end and finished many buckets in traffic.
Class of 2021 6’1 guard Omari Maulana is poised and ready to have a break out freshman year for the Life Christian Academy Eagles. This young man is as aggressive as they come. He has a very good handle, good foot work to set up his blow by attacks and is a physical defender on the wing. He has a good mid-range jump shot and has the ability to apply pressure to the opposing guard all game along, which doesn’t only take intensity but HEART.
Class of 2018 6’3 guard Casson Rouse of the Timberline Blazers has a serious handle and pull up jump shot. He has a good feel for the game and can change speed and direction at the drop of a dime. I was mainly impressed with his ability to defend at a high clip.