Team Preview: Upward Upstate 2021

I was able to watch Zach Watson’s Upward Upstate team practice last Thursday at the Star Center. He heads the top 2021 team for the program; they should have a successful season as they continue to gain chemistry and a get a feel for each other. Here is a look at the pieces they have for this spring and summer.

The first thing that jumps out about this team is the two bigs they have down low. Adam Comer (Broome) and Ian Thomson (Southside Christian) man the paint for Upward. They are both legitimately 6’8”, which you don’t see on many 16U teams. While neither Comer or Thomson are overly polished on offense yet, they can finish drop-offs and play with decent motors. Their impact is most obvious on the defensive side. Even if they aren’t blocking the shot, their presence inside makes guys think, adjust, and miss what would usually be an easy basket.

On the guard side, Drayton Watson (Spartanburg) will be the primary ball-handler for this group. He has solid quickness and speed, allowing him to keep defenders off-balance and get downhill consistently. Coach Watson wants Watson to assert himself and be even more aggressive on the offensive end as he is certainly capable of being a scoring threat. While watching practice, it was clear that the leader of this team will be Bryson Bishop (Spartanburg Christian). He was vocal throughout and encouraged teammates. On the court, he provides the team with high-level shooting and toughness. He will mix it up off the dribble sometimes and has a good feel for the game as well. Another outside threat for Upward is Jared Rogers (Seneca). Rogers will specialize as a shooter for this team. He is confident shooting from almost anywhere on the court and never hesitates when he has an open look. Although it’s not an area of strength yet, Rogers will put it on the deck and get in the lane for floaters when defenders fly at him on the perimeter.

Dessie Canty (Byrnes), Bennett Rogers (Christ Church), and Miller DeArmond (Greer) round out the players that were there Thursday night. Canty is an athletic wing forward who gives the team a boost rebounding and thrives in transition. He is best running the lanes and getting ahead of the pack on breaks and will shoot 3’s occasionally also. Rogers showed some craftiness with the ball in his hands and makes good decisions off penetration. He likes mid-range pull-ups particularly but can step out beyond the arc as well. DeArmond is primarily a 3-point shooter on the offensive end but I think his value on this team will be on the other side of the court. He makes some good defensive and hustle plays that most others aren’t willing to. It seems like he has some fight and grit to him that are important on every team. Corey Johnson from Boiling Springs was not at practice Thursday but he’ll give Coach Watson another guard to use.