LSI Session Six: Under-the-Radar Guys
Over the next couple of days, there will certainly be no shortage of blue-chip studs waltzing through the doors of Liberty High School as the 24th annual Les Schwab Invitational continues forward. Of course, for every great stud comes at…
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Continue ReadingOver the next couple of days, there will certainly be no shortage of blue-chip studs waltzing through the doors of Liberty High School as the 24th annual Les Schwab Invitational continues forward. Of course, for every great stud comes at least two great supporting players, each of whom making those integral plays for their team without posting eye-popping numbers. On Saturday evening as the Invitational’s semifinals droned forward, a solid batch of these “supporting players” revealed themselves by doing all the small things right.
Here’s our under-the-radar guys from Saturday:
Aidan Slater (2022 Central Catholic)
Slater earns his time for the Rams by knocking down the three with a terrific efficiency that was on display Saturday. The sophomore shooter went 2-for-2 from downtown against Mater Dei and knocked down two more against Churchill, solidifying him as one of the best long-range shooters on arguably the best Oregonian team. Night in and out, the 6-foot-1 shooting guard will bring a dead-eye jump shot to the game plan, making him a valuable piece to nearly any team.
Evan Pia (2020 Churchill)
Pia continually brings tough defense and efficient offense to the Lancer lineup. After a tremendous performance against Norcross, the soft spoken senior couldn’t find his rhythm from long range against Central Catholic, but his presence as a defender and an offensive space-filler is reassuring to the Lancer faithful. The 6-foot-1 guard rarely turns the ball over, making him a solid two-year starter for the dominant Lancers.
Kruger Edwards (2020 Crater)
Anyone looks under-the-radar in the frontcourt alongside five-star prospect Nate Bittle, but Kruger Edwards made his case as a terrific post player on Saturday anyways. The 6-foot-6 senior scored 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting to go alongside six rebounds. These numbers aren’t particularly under-the-radar, but next to Bittle, Crater’s solid supporting cast is easy to miss.
Nate Rawlins-Kibonge (2021 Jefferson)
The 6-foot-9 Rawlins-Kibonge has shrunk as an offensive option with the addition of stud freshman Mookie Cook, but he still finds ways to make a big difference on the defensive end. In a loss to Eastside Catholic, the junior big man collected eight boards and five blocks to keep the Crusaders attack in check. Rawlins-Kibonge’s strength and athleticism make him one of the more complete defenders in the state.
Grant Hunt (2020 Eastside Catholic)
Hunt, a 5-foot-10 distributor for the Crusaders, was splendid on Saturday, taking what the vulnerable Jefferson defense gave him on the way to a game-high six assists. Hunt plays very unselfish and does a tremendous job finding shooters.