Undervalued talent in the SeaKing Semifinals

<p>After a big upset by Rainier Beach over Mercer Island, we find ourselves with an all-metro lineup of semifinalists in the SeaKing district tournament. Eastside Catholic will take on Rainier Beach, and Garfield will face O'Dea for the nightcap. All four of these teams have clinched spots in regionals, but they're still gunning for a district championship, and storylines abound especially between Eastside, O'Dea, and Garfield - three teams who have been rotating through the top spot in Metro and 3A state rankings. By this point, I've covered just about every starter for these squads, but I wanted the chance to highlight some of the undervalued talents for these teams, including three seniors who are finishing off impressive careers. </p> <p><span style="color: #f75617; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/paul-johnson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/paul-johnson/">Paul Johnson</a></a> | 6'0" G | O'Dea, 2020</strong></span></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/paul-johnson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/paul-johnson/">Paul Johnson</a></a> is the lone senior in the starting lineup, and it's easy to look at O'Dea and think about how great they can be next season with their four strongest players returning as seniors, but the quality and consistency that <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/paul-johnson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/paul-johnson/">Paul Johnson</a></a> has brought to his team is worthy of more than a little praise. Surrounded by impressive scorers like Banchero and Christofilis, Johnson isn't going to light up the scoreboard with big points. He scored 16 points three times this season, but his scoring average is just over 6 points per game, but what you get from Johnson is consistent hustle and attention to detail - setting screens, moving without the ball, fighting for rebounds, and getting on the floor. That's not to say that he's a slouch when it comes to the numbers. He can knock down threes, grab rebounds, and dish out assists, but he's not going to do too much. He understands the quality of his teammates and his role on the team.    </p> <p><span style="color: #f75617; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Chika N'duka | 6'5" F | Eastside Catholic, 2020</strong></span></p> <p>It's hard to call Chika N'duka undervalued, but as I said about <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-ticeson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-ticeson/">Isaac Ticeson</a></a> in a previous article, it's difficult to get the attention you deserve when your teammates are <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nolan-hickman/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nolan-hickman/">Nolan Hickman</a></a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/shane-nowell/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/shane-nowell/">Shane Nowell</a></a>, and JT Tuimoloau. N'duka is a strong 6'5" forward with relentless effort as a rebounder, especially on the offensive boards. He's going to get just about all of his points from inside the paint, but he's earning every one of them. Like most teams at this point in the season, Eastside Catholic has been impressive on defense, and N'duka's presence is a big part of that success. He has height, strength, length, and agility that's almost unfair for a guy his size.</p> <p><span style="color: #f75617; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/vatrevyon-garner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/vatrevyon-garner/">Vatrevyon Garner</a></a> | 6'3" SG | Garfield, 2020</strong></span></p> <p>A reliable ball-handler with a solid mid-range game, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/vatrevyon-garner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/vatrevyon-garner/">Vatrevyon Garner</a></a> has been an important role player for the Bulldogs this season. Like all the athletes on this list, he is a guy who knows his role. He's going to get the vast majority of his points on open layups or mid-range jumpers, and he's going to limit his three-point shooting and defer to the elite offensive talent that surrounds him. With the addition of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendall-munson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendall-munson/">Kendall Munson</a></a> to their starting lineup, Garner has seen his scoring numbers drop this season, but not his efficiency. Garfield has been a much-improved team on the defensive end of the court compared to where they started the season, and Garner has been a reliable defender by virtue of his speed and effort.</p> <p><span style="color: #f75617; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Josh Conerly | 6'6" C | Rainier Beach, 2022</strong></span></p> <p>At 6'6" and 270 lbs, Josh Conerly isn't your prototypical baller, but somehow he has been able to be a consistent fixture for the Rainier Beach Vikings and an athlete who is giving them big contributions as they look to be peaking at just the right moment. Conerly has great hands that he uses to his advantage on offense and defense equally well. He commands space in the paint and gives his team consistent rebounds as well as deflections and steals. He's a handful on the offensive boards, and he is among the best I've seen in drawing contact and finishing through it. I'll be curious what the battle between him and N'duka looks like in tonight's matchup. </p>