4A Northern Idaho Players to Watch

<p>Up north, the 4A level is stacked with talent, and especially some young players looking to make their mark on state history. The Panhandle is not always given the proper respect when it comes to basketball, but the 2020-21 season will show that the north can play ball just as well, if not better, than anywhere else in the state. Continue reading for my breakdown of the players to watch from north Idaho at the 4A level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="919693" first="Carson" last="Seay"], 2021: </strong>Carson is a 6’1" point guard/shooting guard with the ability to score at all three levels. The Lakeland Hawks run a lot of different actions for Seay in order to put him in positions for catch and shoot jumpers, or easy driving lanes to finish at the goal. Seay has a great looking jump shot which he gets off quickly and has the ability to extend his range at least a couple of feet behind the three-point line. Carson is also a skilled passer and consistently finds the open man and delivers the pass on time and on target. Look for Seay to lead the Hawks this season on their quest for a conference championship and a birth at the state tournament.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="923085" first="Arie" last="VanDenBerg"], 2023: </strong>Arie is one of the most exciting young players in the state after finishing his freshman season for the Sandpoint Bulldogs. As a freshmen, VanDenBerg has already proven himself as a great shooter and he plays like an upperclassmen. A 6’0" shooting guard, Arie runs the lanes well and always has his feet ready for catch and shoot opportunities. Driving to the basket, VanDenBerg is crafty and can finish with either hand using a variety of pivots, foot fakes, and finesse at the rim. Remember this statement 3 years from now: VanDenBerg could be the best shooter in the state by the time he becomes a senior.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917694" first="Benny" last="Kitchel"], 2021: </strong>A returning member of the dominant Moscow Bears, Kitchel is a 6’4" shooting guard/small forward who can do a little bit of everything on the court. The Bears place Kitchel at the short corner or elbow in a lot of their sets allowing him to shoot the jumper, or drive to the basket from a short distance. Kitchel can also step back and hit the open 3 or dish out an assist on a drive to an open teammate. Benny is a strong player who loves finishing through contact and constantly crashes the boards. Moscow will look to Kitchel for lots of production on both ends of the floor this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="923077" first="Blake" last="Buchanan"], 2023: </strong>To say that the Moscow Bears are stacked yet again would be a vast understatement. Buchanan is a 6’7" forward from the young class of 2023, and he has the potential to etch his name among the greats to have ever graced the court in the state of Idaho. Though he is young, Buchanan plays like an upperclassmen with great footwork and coordination for his size. At this point, Blake has all of the skills necessary to be a great player, and polishing those skills over the next 3 years will allow him to maximize his potential. Buchanan has the ability to step out and knock down a 3 on one end and protect the rim on the other. Blake will be a dynamic two-way force for the Bears for the next couple of years and will quickly climb the 2023 ladder.</p>