The Brandon Miller Debut: Player Evaluations

Andrew Force February 2, 2021 @ 09:00 PM

Cane Ridge w/ Starters*
#4 Caleb Wilson Caleb Wilson 6'2" | CG Cane Ridge | 2021 State TN * (2021)
#10 Ryan Oliver* (2022)
#14 Chris Hillsman Chris Hillsman 5'5" | PG Cane Ridge | 2021 State TN * (2021)
#24 Brandon Miller Brandon Miller 6'8" | SF Cane Ridge | 2022 State #18 Nation TN * (2022)
#33 Nijal Turner* (2021)
#1 Clarence Cobbins (2022)
#2 Maceo Franklin (2024)
#23 Ja’Lynn Lawrence (2022)
#32 Kevin Lusk (2023)

Hunters Lane
#1 Marke Mangum (2022) @Marke_Mangum
#4 Edwin Cruz Centeno (2022)
#5 Samuel Matata (2021)
#10 Asa Hardyway (2022)
#21 Carson Breeden (2021)

#4 Edwin Cruz Centeno ('22 Hunters Lane)
Edwin feeds off energy. He likes to press fullcourt and while he isn’t going to stop any point guards he does do wonderful trapping. High energy player. Truly commits on defense. Heady. High basketball I.Q. Grinder.

#10 Asa Hardyway ('22 Hunters Lane)
Asa is the top athlete in the Hunters Lane system. He is a bouncy guard with both point guard and off-guard skills. Very quick feet.

Windmill for Brandon Miller. Weak hand outlet by Chris Hillsman was just as pretty.

72-49 Cane Ridge late 4th.
— Prep Hoops Tennessee (@PrepHoopsTN) February 3, 2021

#21 Carson Breeden ('21 Hunters Lane)
Carson Breeden (Hunters Lane ’21) showed bravery and some toughness on defense. He made shots difficult for penetrating guards. Breeden is grimy, a warrior in the lane. He wrestles for basketballs like Dennis Rodman used to. The hunger is ferocious and uncommon. Sets a solid screen on offense. Very undersized for a college forward. Likely lead the team in deflections.

Chris Hillsman Chris Hillsman 5'5" | PG Cane Ridge | 2021 State TN (Cane Ridge)
Hillsman does his job. Classic point guard. Hillsman plays at the rim when given a runway. Midway through the second quarter, Hillsman caught a fumbled perhaps forced errant inbounds pass. he drifted out to the three-point line and then climbed three steps of a mythical ladder to attempt a fantastically surprising and-1. His bounce is sincerely legit. Always dependable at the free throw line and beating the press.

Clarence Clobbins (Cane Ridge)
Though his minutes were only moderate, Clarence played feisty and deflected many passes.

#1 Marke Mangum ('22 Hunters Lane)
Marke played with toughness. His handle is better than average and his strength is plus-plus for a high school point guard. Mangum helped Cruz Centeno trap Cane Ridge several times when Hunters Lane elected to extend the press to fullcourt.

Caleb Wilson Caleb Wilson 6'2" | CG Cane Ridge | 2021 State TN (Cane Ridge)
Caleb slimmed down. He looks very trim and still wildly aggressive on the glass, both offensive and defensive ends. Wilson’s best spurt came early fourth quarter. He jumped a passing lane and took two giant steps en route to a soaring dunk attempt. He was fouled hard and missed though he capitalized at the free throw line.

Brandon Miller Brandon Miller 6'8" | SF Cane Ridge | 2022 State #18 Nation TN (Cane Ridge)

To close out the first quarter, Brandon Miller Brandon Miller 6'8" | SF Cane Ridge | 2022 State #18 Nation TN roofed a Hunters Lane player, with both hands raised high, high above the release point. Brandon subbed out at the end of the first quarter an sat about 90 seconds to begin the second quarter. This is a clever, proven move of giving your star player extra minutes of rest. Miller blocked another shot upon returning. The one possession Miller really looked vulnerable occurred with Marke Mangum up into his chest. Mangum was able to play hyper aggressive into Miller’s body because he was giving up about 10" of height and shares Miller’s quickness. Miller took a dribble to the baseline and pulled up. It was his poorest shot of the game, and certainly low percentage for him. The three-pointer was pure all night long. Hunters Lane simply forgot to close out two times and he made them pay. Wisely, he baited the defender the subsequent possession by slowing the dribble and then blazing by for an easy pull-up. Miller clearly enjoys the 10’ J.