Best of The Rest: The Best Players Not Moving on to The Playoffs

Western Washington is brimming with high school talent, and they showed out all regular season long. A select few will continue their campaigns on to the playoffs and hopefully even to the dome. But for many, the regular season is as far as they will get this year. However disappointing that may be to the team, that doesn’t mean the players aren't worth watching for. These are some of the best players you won’t see during the postseason this year.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jc-humphrey/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jc-humphrey/">JC Humphrey</a></a>, 6'4 PG Tahoma High School 2020. Humphrey was a severely underrated bright spot this year for a Tahoma team that significantly underperformed. Humphrey's size and strength are undoubtedly above average, which allows him to be an outstanding rebounding guard as he was 2nd on his team in rebounds, averaging 5.6 boards per game. His unique combination of strength and agility also enables him to score practically at will, visible in his season finale, in which he dropped 19 points in the second quarter alone aided by an impressive 5 consecutive three-pointers within 3 minutes. Humphrey distributes the ball very effectively, leading his team in assists. Defensively, with extreme lateral quickness and good hands, he averages 2 steals per game. Humphrey, an unsigned senior, should have little problem finding a home for the next few years, and despite his team's season, his tapes are definitely worth a look.   Kyler Kaveny, 6'5 F Issaquah High School 2022. Issaquah missed the playoffs by just one game following a hard-fought loss to championship contender Mount Si High School. Having missed more than half of the season, Kaveny was thrust back into the action in the harsh atmosphere of a win-or-go-home game against multiple D1 talents, and he handled it like a pro. Kaveny made an immediate impact, scoring a quick 8 points in the paint, and grabbing nearly every board for his severely undersized team. His performance in this game encapsulated the majority of his abilities. His thick but athletic frame makes him an absolute force in the paint and his brute strength coupled with exceptional footwork makes him very difficult to guard. At 6'5 and still growing, Kaveny, a sophomore, will definitely be worth watching in the years to come. Chris Korman, 6'2 SG Kent-Meridian High school 2020. Kent-Meridian is no stranger to missing the post-season. However, their teams consistently feature a standout athlete, and this year, that was Korman. Korman, a shifty guard with elite speed, led his team in scoring, three-pointers made, and free throw percentage. Additionally, he ranked in the top 10 for scoring, blocked shots, total field goal percentage, 3 point percentage and rebounding in his league. Korman plays exceptionally hard and is a visibly passionate teammate. His above-average athleticism more than makes up for what he lacks in size and allows him to be a highly effective two-way player. As an unsigned senior, Korman deserves to be on someone's radar, and it would be worth anybody's time to give him a look.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-church/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-church/">Cooper Church</a></a>, 6'9 F Tahoma High School 2022. Church is a piece from the aforementioned talented young core of Tahoma high school. At 6'9 it should come as no surprise that Church led his team in rebounding and finished the season top 5 in the league in that category, pulling down 8 a game, with a season-high of 15 boards. What stands out about Church, however, is his swiftness and scoring ability. His scoring package includes a nearly automatic Dirk Nowitski-esque turnaround jumper. He is a more than capable ball-handler as well, who can create his own shots and isn't limited to only the paint when it comes to scoring. Defensively he out-performs the expectations of someone of his size, leading the league in blocked shots with 33, and in a league of speed and athleticism, Church is just as good of a perimeter defender as someone 8 inches shorter. As someone with his size and skill, Church has the possibility of becoming a "unicorn" type player, especially as he is only a Sophmore with so much room to grow.   Daviaun Gale, 6'1 SG Thomas Jefferson High School 2020. TJHS had a rough go of it this year, as they were unable to win a single game in a tough league. However, hope lingered for Thomas Jefferson with players like Daviaun Gale. Gale led his team and in scoring and finished at top 3 in the league in that category with 16.2 points per game, and a season-high of 28. With the ball in his hands, Gale is a constant threat and has a particular knack for getting to the line as an aggressive and shifty basket-attacker. Gale moves great without the ball, and open threes are no-doubters. His aggressive scoring ability should catch the eyes of many, and as an unsigned senior, he could be highly sought after.