Week Two’s Underclassman Standouts
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Week two of the boy’s hoops season in Wisconsin has wrapped up, and I was able to catch a number of games both in person and online. These are the seven freshmen and sophomores who stood out the most in…
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Continue ReadingWeek two of the boy’s hoops season in Wisconsin has wrapped up, and I was able to catch a number of games both in person and online. These are the seven freshmen and sophomores who stood out the most in the action I was able to catch!
Jamariea Dalton Jamariea Dalton 6'3" | SG Fond Du Lac | 2023 State WI (6’2 2023 G, Fond du Lac)- Going up against arguably the state’s top team in Brookfield East, Jay Dalton showed no fear going off for 28 points. An explosive athlete who can absolutely fly around the rim, Jay found success beating his man off the dribble and getting to the basket at will, where he was able to hang in the air and contort his body for some tough finishes. He also looked comfortable spotting up from three, knocking down a few shots from beyond the arc with his high arching shot. Add in tons of defensive potential due to his long arms, athleticism, and toughness, and you have an intriguing 2023 guard to keep an eye on.
Nacir Beamon (6’2 2024 G, Martin Luther)- A physically strong guard with excellent body control for his age, Nas made tough finishes look routine in a close game against Racine St. Cat’s. Nacir had a good understanding of angles that allowed him to attack the basket, get his defender on his shoulder, and elevate to score with touch. As just a freshman he’s also able to sit low in a stance and compete defensively against talented upperclassmen. He’s such a tough player to guard when he gets into the paint, because he’s strong enough to power through contact, and then has the touch to finish from difficult angles. Finished with 18 points in the game I watched.
JR Lukenbill (6’3 2023 G, Burlington)- Really liked the versatility that JR brought to the floor for Burlington in their win over Wilmot. At around 6’3-6’4 he has a solid frame to work with, and his skillset allows him to play multiple spots on the floor. In the game I saw JR handled the ball at times, and also saw time on the wing where he has the mold of an athletic slasher who can attack the basket and score. JR has a nice feel for the game, and has a maturity that not many underclassmen have on the court. He knocked down two 3’s on his way to an 11 point game against Wilmot.
Bennett McCormick (6’3 2023 W, Catholic Memorial)- Faced off against the #1 ranked team in Division 3, Bennett put in a strong second half that had Catholic Memorial in it until the very end. At 6’3 he offers a strong build that allows him to play through contact and keep his balance going to the rim. He showed the ability to read his defender, and then counter their momentum with a quick spin move in the lane to get a clean look around the rim. Bennett is such a tough player to stop when he’s looking to attack, as he finishes at such a high rate and excels at drawing contact. He finished with 13 points against Racine St. Catherine’s.
Tayshawn Bridges Tayshawn Bridges 6'2" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2024 #86 Nation GA (6’2 2024 G, Brookfield East)- Tayshawn missed most of the first half against Fond du Lac with foul trouble, but put together a strong second half on his way to 15 points in the win. Tayshawn’s change of speed is so dangerous, and he does a good job of getting his defender to retreat before pulling-up and knocking down a jumper with the space he created. The threat that he poses attacking the basket forces his defender to pick their poison, as he has an endless amount of ways he can score. Tayshawn also showed some flashes as a passer, getting into the lane and reading the help defenders to find the open man for a clean look.
Domonic Pitts (6’4 2023 F, Racine St. Catherine’s)- Domonic scored just 2 points across both of the games I saw, but makes this list for what he did rebounding the ball and defending. Against Martin Luther in a comeback win, Domonic made big plays down the stretch by contesting around the rim without fouling, and pulling in a few clutch rebounds. He also stepped out and guarded on the perimeter, moving his feet and drawing a five-second call to give his team the ball during a key moment of the game. Pitts is extremely hard working on both ends, and plays even bigger than his 6’4 frame due to his motor and ability to contest straight up in the paint.
Braden Mcglothlin Braden Mcglothlin 6'0" | PG Catholic Memorial | 2023 State WI (6’1 2023 G, Catholic Memorial)- As just a sophomore, Braden already has opposing teams game planning for his shooting ability. Against Racine St. Cat’s, multiple defenders took turns following his every move around the floor limiting his touches, and yet he still found ways to get open. He’s a quick guard who works extremely hard off the ball, running off screens tight to lose his man and get open beyond the arc. Once he finds some space, there’s not much you can do besides hope he misses, as he hits at such a high percentage. Braden finished 5-10 from three, scoring 17 points in the close loss to St. Cat’s.