Player Breakdown: Lakota Steele

<p>[player_tooltip player_id="969740" first="Lakota" last="Steele"] is a 6’4" shooting guard/small forward from the class of 2022. Last season, Lakota was a starter for the Cole Valley Chargers and contributed big minutes and lots of scoring during the 2019-20 season. This year, Lakota will look to improve his offensive output as he attempts to lead the Chargers to a district championship and a deep run at the state tournament. Continue reading for a breakdown of Lakota’s skills and abilities on both sides of the floor.</p> <p><strong>Defense:</strong> Lakota is a great defender for the Chargers and will continue to improve in his next two seasons of competition. He has long arms and a solid frame that allows him to guard both guards and bigs with ease. Against opposing guards, Steele likes to space and trace in order to contest jump shots without also giving up easy driving lanes. He has solid lateral footwork and can keep any offensive player in front of him. Against posts, Steele holds his own and can either front or play behind. He is strong enough to battle in the post and long enough to contest shots taken from mid-range, the short corner, or jump hooks from the block. As a rebounder, Lakota crashes the glass after boxing out and is constantly in the paint attempting to grab a board so that he can push the ball in transition to the other end.</p> <p><strong>Offense:</strong> Steele is a solid offensive threat for Cole Valley. At 6’4", he has the ability to play anywhere on the court and thrives both on the perimeter and in the post. On the perimeter, Lakota has a great jump shot that he shoots either off the dribble or in catch and shoot opportunities. He has a smooth stroke and high release that he can shoot over anyone in the league. Steele also has the ability to drive to the rim after a shot fake and either finish at the rim, or shoot a pull-up jumper. He has great finesse at the rim and can finish with either hand. As a ball handler, Lakota is comfortable in pick and roll situations and can make great reads out of a double team. He has excellent vision due to his height and can pass really well.</p> <p><strong>Overall: </strong>Altogether, Lakota is a great player for Cole Valley. On defense, Steele matches up well with anyone and is a solid defender at all levels. On offense, Lakota is a threat from anywhere on the court and has solid skills across the board. In the next two seasons, I expect Lakota to continue getting better and he will be a force by the time he is a senior.</p>