NY Section III: Best Juniors in the CCL
Upstate New York has been a hotspot for undiscovered basketball talent, and this year looks like no exception. The CCL, which services seven high schools in middle New York continued to provided a demonstration of talent as it has done…
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Continue ReadingUpstate New York has been a hotspot for undiscovered basketball talent, and this year looks like no exception. The CCL, which services seven high schools in middle New York continued to provided a demonstration of talent as it has done in the past. Here, we take a look at the top juniors in the CCL as they ready for their final chance to put a show on for colleges.
Tristan Worlock | DeRuyter
Tristan Worlock has been a rock all season for DeRuyter. Worlock constantly provides an offensive presence who is capable of both finishing at the rim and shooting from the outside. Worlock has demonstrated that he can handle the ball and control the offense himself, or he can space the floor and provide impeccable spot-up shooting from the wing or corner. On defense, the word “tenacious” can be used to describe him, as his quick hands and feet often pick apart offenses and leave defenders without the ball. Worlock was a 5th team CNY All-State selection
Caleb Smith | Mcgraw
Caleb Smith has been an elite protector at the rim to Mcgraw all season. On defense, Smith is able to stop opponents from coming inside with his sizeable frame and agility, forcing the opposition to rely on shooting rather than finishing. On offense, Smith has proven to be a double-double machine, securing rebounds on both ends of the floor, as well as being a near lock to score 20 plus points per game as he towers over defenses in the paint. Caleb Smith was also named a 4th team CNY All-State selection.
Benjamin Barnes | DeRuyter
Barnes, the shifty guard out of DeRuyter, has proven his ability to “do it all.” Barnes could use quick handling and dynamic speed changes to penetrate defenses and his finishing to score in ways most people haven’t dreamt of attempting. Barnes can also shift to a spot-up shooter role, able to create his own shot off a bounce, pass, or dribble. He also can function as a ball-dominant guard, taking control of the game and picking apart defensive schemes to set up his teammates for the open bucket. Barnes, along with Smith, was a 4th team CNY All-State selection.
Eammon Shields | Madison
Eammon Shields exited this season at Madison as the unquestioned number one option on the team, and for good reason too. Shields can play two roles on offense. He can emerge as the ball-dominant playmaker who constantly penetrates defenses where he can either easily finish or kick out to a teammate, or Shields can play as the spot-up shooter, who can use his height and athleticism to post up in the paint, essentially creating a scoring opportunity wherever he is. One place where Shields is always dominant is the defensive end, where Shields is able to make quick jabs at the ball to destroy any offensive momentum.
Kodie Abrams | Brookfield
Kodie Abrams has been a scoring machine all season for Brookfield, and when watching him in a game, its not unreasonable to expect him to score over 20 points. Abrams is able to get at the rim through his dribble and off-ball motions, while he is perfectly capable of shooting from both midrange and clip. Abrams was named a CNY Honorable Mention.
Trey Foster | DeRuyter
Trey Foster has been an extremely reliable forward from the loaded junior class of DeRuyter. Foster has been a ball-stopper in the middle of opposing offenses, often adding emphatic rejections to a weakly placed opposition shot. On offense, Trey Foster uses his clever footwork and stance to make defenders dance in the paint, and once a mistake is made, its an easy two points or a trip to the line.