CIF-SS Under-the-Radar 2021 Playmakers to Watch
The CIF-SS rank has a multitude of superb playmakers. From creative passers to those that impact the game off the ball, the section has an array of under-the-radar players in this area of play. These four 2021 playmaking talents in…
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Continue ReadingThe CIF-SS rank has a multitude of superb playmakers. From creative passers to those that impact the game off the ball, the section has an array of under-the-radar players in this area of play. These four 2021 playmaking talents in particular are ones who are deserving of more attention.
Liam Woodrum — Canyon
Liam Woodrum shined for Canyon this past season. He was the main distributor on the court with much of his playmaking success coming from fast-break opportunities. He does a good job of surveying the floor when on the ball and dishing off near-flawless passes to the player patrolling into the restricted area. He also always has his eyes on the wings and corners as he often strives to patiently wait to find open teammates in these two areas of the court. The team’s senior duo of Jake Martin and Nathan Williams were often the beneficiaries of Woodrum’s superb playmaking ability on the court.
Woodrum finished the season with a team-high 5.0 assists per game average.
Kai Smith — La Habra
Kai Smith did well for La Habra when he operated as the point guard for the team, which is why he wound up earning a selection in the All-Freeway League Second Team. At 6’1”, Smith is a guard who found success as a passer by simply being a cautious ball-handler. There is sound ball movement whenever Smith has multiple touches in a possession because of his sheer patience on the ball. He is not one to dish out reckless passes but is rather patient to wait for defenses to breakdown and find the mismatch on the floor. This certainly frustrated opposing defenses, even in transition sequences as well.
Smith has what it takes to be a more assertive playmaker with more on-ball responsibilities.
John Belardi — Loyola
Loyola’s John Belardi created havoc for defenses both on and off the ball. As a guard for the Cubs, he was a facilitator within the perimeter. His superb ball-handling skills often created separation against his defender, which provided him with just enough time to survey the paint and dish passes inside. He is constantly scouring around the perimeter and possesses an unselfish mentality that creates for strong team chemistry.
Belardi is a capable scorer but can do damage as a playmaker as well.
Cameron MacDonald — Brentwood
Another under-the-radar playmaking talent is Cameron MacDonald. The Brentwood junior was the high-energy guard on the team. His work on the defensive end made him an influential playmaker. After corralling a loose ball from a turnover, MacDonald was often set on finding teammates for quick transition baskets. On the ball, he has good ball control as he possesses a superb skill of halting his dribble and becoming a crafty distributor.
MacDonald is growing as a 3-and-D player, but his playmaking ability is an aspect of his game which opposing defenses must be wary about.