Finishers to watch out for – player notes
With the season right around the corner, We’ll have new evaluation pieces throughout the week. First up, a look at the players who most impressed with their abilities to slash and explode with the ball in their hands this past summer and fall league.
Hockinson High School 6’4 wing Peyton Brammer has good size and mobility. Excellent area rebounder that snatches boards with his strong hands. Versatile offensive threat. Peyton has expanded his game to where he is now a legit threat in the pick and pop game shooting it. Good screener that can both pop and roll to the hoop. Good hands catching passes in traffic and finishes with a soft touch around the rim. Seals in the high/low game. Solid passer out of the post. High IQ type of player and with the expansion of his long range shooting can really spread the floor and make room for others to attack. High level D1/D2 wing/forward prospect that has his stock on the rise heading into July.
Eloheim Johnson – 5’10 – Team Blackout – 2020. Elo is one of the top players in Washington in his class. He is a very shifty point guard who can create his own shot as well as create shots for others. He has the ability to slice through the smallest openings at high-speed. When running the pick and roll game, when he is going downhill he is virtually un-guardable. Recruitment should start to pick up for this young man starting early this year.
Collins will bring some toughness and skill to West Seattle, and defined his playing style as well as what he’ll be looking to improve as he heads into the winter. A skilled guard who has great court vision along with a quick first step and the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. He is quick in transition and has the ability to get by defenders and distribute the basketball to his teammates. No one displays better leadership on the floor than the guard from West Seattle. Coaches love his constant talk and communication on the court. He is always the one getting teammates into the right spot so that West Seattle’ offense can operate effectively. As his shooting and ball handling have improved, Collins has climbed up our ranking list. A quality student with a 3.0+ gpa, he should be on the priority list for high academic schools.
Rainier Beach’s dominant post, Nehemie Kabeya is ready to pick up some offers. Standing 6’9, Kabeya has the size to play Division 1 basketball. He already has the size of a college post player. His strengths are his post defense, with his ability to block shots and rebound the ball. He really needs to work on his balance and foot work. Once he gains better foot work, he will be a huge threat in the paint offensively.
West Seattle’s new guard Elijah Nnanabu is excited to play in the Metro League. The 6’3 senior transferred to West Seattle from Federal Way high school. He is a solid combo guard, who has a nice touch on his jump shot. He’s confident with his scoring ability and can also create for others. Nnanabu can’t wait for the season to start.
Cameron Tyson has already a nicely developed player, and with some decent size and better ability, he pieced together one of the finer seasons in Washington this past winter. “I like to score the basketball; I can score from the outside or pull-up from mid-range, or get to the basket when needed. I’m starting to develop my defensive mentality a little bit more. So, that’s how I’d describe my game,” said Tyson, who can play either guard spot effectively.
Standing 6’1 Elijah Pepper is a shifty guard who can handle it with both hands and can see the floor better than most guards in his class. He is a nose to the floor defender and can guard multiple positions because of his build and strength. In the West Coast Elite camp this year. Coaches have made comparisons to younger version of Rex Chapman. He has the ability to shoot of both legs and from pretty much anywhere on the court. He has an assortment of ways to get his shot off and create space. If defenders close out to hard he can also blow by you with his quick first step.
Isaiah Hart is ready to finish his high school career strong at his new school, Federal Way. Hart has transferred from Chief Sealth to Federal Way for his final school year. He will join a much experienced group and a dominant legacy. Hart will take on a point guard role, where he will need to facilitate but also score at an high level.
Lincoln High School’s 6-foot-1 point guard Lezjon Bonds is a force to be reckoned with. 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. Was dominant this past weekend in Oregon. Got to the rim at will, spread the wealth at a high level and did a great job keeping opposing guards in front of him defensively. Knocked down shots in transition and executed well in pick and roll. His recruitment should trend up sooner than later.
Trey Lawrence, a class of 2018 combo guard at Glacier Placier Peak High School, caught my eye at the Saint Martins College High School Team Camp. The 6’5 rising senior does many things well on the court, and is a tremendous athlete. “I am mainly a drive first type of guy, but I love the mid range and I also will take you baseline. Its all hustle on defense making sure my man does not score, grabbing every rebound, and put back for a dunk!” Trey stated. “On the court or even on the bench a lot of people may not see the way I pick my teammates up. Encouraging them to keep playing hard and focused on the next play.”