Section II – Juniors To Watch for 20-21
After almost a full year hiatus, New York State High School Basketball is back. Today, Monday, February 1st, 2021, marks the first day that “High Contact Sports” are able to begin practicing again. With the return of basketball comes the…
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Continue ReadingAfter almost a full year hiatus, New York State High School Basketball is back. Today, Monday, February 1st, 2021, marks the first day that “High Contact Sports” are able to begin practicing again. With the return of basketball comes the return thousands of student athletes looking for a shot at playing on the next level. While Seniors are probably ecstatic on getting their final season and will be poised to have some collegiate-level talent, there’s a very talented set of underclassmen that have had a year of growing and grinding against more adversity than any class prior.
The last time we saw these guys they were inexperienced Sophomores just looking to battle for minutes against players one to two years their senior. Let’s take a look at a few players ready to step into pivotal roles during their Junior Season this year.
Mason Courtney – 6’3 G – Shenendehowa
Courtney stands out as one of the only returners on a Section II winning Shen team last year, and is also the first of three players on this list who play AAU with the Adirondack Wild. Mason’s offseason clips show he’s made a massive leap both physically and as a player. Mason sits at a good length and size at 6’3, and is hyper athletic. His newfound size, strength, and speed from the guard position elevate the other strengths he already had. Courtney facilitates the offense in many ways. His vision and passing ability allow him to snap passes to cutters from the top of the key. He uses his physicality and body control when driving to shield defenders and glide to the hole. Like many, he’s added the step-back 3 to his arsenal as well. He’s shot 41% from three on the offseason as well. On the defensive end he’s tenacious; he’s the type of player that even if he gets beat he’s hauling to get back and has a knack for chase down blocks. He’s a next level player right now, imagine what he’ll be after two more years.
Dayshaun Walton – 6’5 G – Green Tech
Dayshaun Walton is an electric lefty point guard out of Green Tech. Featured on my Section II Players to Watch list for this season, Walton plays head and shoulders above is age group. Coming into the season as one of if not the team’s best player, Walton has elite size from the guard position. He’s 6’5 and wiry with great length. Because of his athleticism and size alone, Walton is a collegiate caliber player right now, and that’s without knowing anything about his game. Walton’s biggest strength is his drive creativity. The combination of his size as well as him being a lefty makes him an unorthodox cover for any defender. He loves to get downhill, and he has a unique way of both exploding down the lane yet also slicing by defenders with finesse at the same time. Walton finishes with both hands, and can play angles off the backboard to get buckets at an elite level. Once Walton begins to breakdown his defender off the dribble with a tight handle, he then can begin to pick collapsing defenses apart with his passing ability. His passes are flashy and often no look but they never feel like they’re for show. The no looks throw the defenders off, and the flashier passes are usually quick dimes through traffic. Walton is a fun player to watch, and it feels like a gift that he’ll be hooping in the area for two more years.
Aydend Harrison Aydend Harrison 6'9" | PF Christian Brothers Academy | 2022 NY – 6’9 F – CBA
Aydend Harrison Aydend Harrison 6'9" | PF Christian Brothers Academy | 2022 NY is another key member of the rising AAU program the Adirondack Wild. Harrison has the feel of a Eurobig. He has great touch, whether it be from a foot out or 30 feet. At 6’9 that already makes him a prospect to watch. What sets him apart is his classic-bigman style post moves and footwork, as well as his motor on both ends of the floor. An underrated trait Harrison possesses is his decision making as an off-ball defender. While his quickness may leave something to desired, Harrison is a great helpside defender and rim protector, and makes a difference on the defensive end. If Harrison can continue to stretch the floor and shoot more from deep, he could be an effective wing/forward on the next level.
Marquis Hamby – 6’1 G – Troy
In an interview late last year, Marquis Hamby said the biggest inspiration for his game growing up was Kyrie Irving. The inspiration shows through in this agile Junior Guard. What sets Hamby apart from the other guards in the region is his elite shooting as well as his creativity when getting downhill in the lane. Sound familiar? Hamby has a knack for not just shooting the ball, but for finding perfect shooter’s pockets. Hamby always has his hands locked and loaded, ready to pull whenever he gets the ball. He identifies space well. analyzing both where to open spot on the court is as well as how to beat his defender to get there. Hamby has a next-level bag when attacking the lane, throwing variations of hop steps, euros, and long striding moves that were surprisingly polished for a Sophomore last year. His athleticism is where he struggles currently, but where he lacks athletically he compensates for in skill. Troy’s leading scorer last year will get on the map this season.
Thomas Keane Thomas Keane 6'2" | PG St Peters | 2022 State NY – 6’5 G/F – Niskayuna
The last Adirondack Wild player on the list, Eldaye brings premiere hustle and shooting to the table. He was included in a list of Section II’s best shooters about a month back, which he earned by way of his uncanny ability to get his feet set on his jumpers as well as a shooting form that is a mirror image of Klay Thompson’s. Eldaye shows promise as a perimeter defensive stalwart, and with some more growing and work in the weight room, Eldaye will have no problem guarding multiple positions. Eldaye will say himself that he doesn’t need to be directly involved in the offense to score. He’s the perfect Swiss Army Knife guy to have on your team with his combination of off-ball shooting and cutting, multi-position defending, and hustle plays like taking charges and boxing out. While he has the looks of a collegiate high level role player now, some growth and ball handling work will have Eldaye looking at more than just role minutes.
Isaiah Austin Isaiah Austin 6'1" | PG Albany | 2022 State NY – 6’1 G – Albany
Isaiah Austin Isaiah Austin 6'1" | PG Albany | 2022 State NY is the epitome of a microwave. The last time Austin was hooping with Albany, he dropped a game-high 24 points in a Sectionals opener as a Sophomore. An AAU teammate of Dayshaun Walton’s on the Cap City Scrappers, Austin enters his Junior Year as an absolute bucket. Austin’s cornerstone trait is his shooting. His ability and tendency to pull from NBA range opens up the rest of his game for him. While he has shown he can explode for poster jams and get to the hoop, Austin usually uses the threat of the drive and the threat to shoot from deep to utilize a proficient mid range pull up jumper. Especially when getting the ball kicked out to him, his first (and second) step is so quick he can take a dribble or two and get the clearance to pull up and shoot before his defender has even left the ground. Austin quick release and range make him an asset with any program. If he can continue to work in his game around the rim, he could make the jump to elite combo guard by the end of this season.