10 Best Shooters of the 20′-21′ HS Season

<p><em>Shooting is the most valuable skill on the basketball court, and the ten players listed below are all marksmen of the highest order. In order to make this list, I needed to see a certain amount of shooting versatility from the prospect. Can he make contested shots? Is he able to reproduce a clean shooting motion regardless of external factors, such as a bad pass? How many different ways can the player unlock shooting opportunities? These are a few of the questions I ask myself when evaluating shooting. Here are the top shooters I watched this season:</em></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890479" first="Saint" last="Thomas"] </strong>Millard North 21’</p> <p>Saint hit big shots all season long. The senior had 15 games in which he scored 20+ points, including a 48-point performance against Bellevue West in the Metro Holiday Tournament Final. His footwork is what makes him one of the best shooters off the catch in Nebraska. He is more than comfortable running around screens and flowing into his shot. He has a knack for recognizing when his defender might be relaxed, and relocating into the open space for open shots. Saint is not as developed at shooting off the dribble at some of the names below, but he has a solid stepback that he can turn to with the ball in his hands. The senior shot 45% from three-point range this season on roughly six attempts per game.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890468" first="Frankie" last="Fidler"] </strong>Bellevue West 21’</p> <p>If I was forced to pick the best shooter from this bunch, it would be the Bellevue West senior sharpshooter. His size makes it virtually impossible to truly challenge his shot. Even on the contested looks, Frankie understands the spacing he always has and doesn’t seem bothered at all by a hand in his face. He knows he can get shots off against pressure, which makes his shooting off the dribble a sight to behold. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890589" first="Jayden" last="Dawson"]</strong> Omaha Central 22’</p> <p>Inconsistency is the biggest detriment to Dawson’s game at this point, but one thing he has  is the three-point shot. As a 6’4" guard, he has a tremendous advantage over most of his opponents. Dawson has an effortless motion, and can extend the defense several feet beyond the three-point line. He finished the season shooting 50% from the field, and 44% from three. His free-throw shooting took a big dip as his usage increased in his junior year, and he will need to correct whatever went wrong this season at the charity stripe.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958192" first="Ryan" last="Larsen"]</strong> Millard West 21’</p> <p>You won’t find a quicker release than [player_tooltip player_id="958192" first="Ryan" last="Larsen"]. He punishes defenders who are a half-step behind or are playing on their heels. This deep pullup is an excellent example of how quickly he organizes himself. </p> <p>https://youtu.be/BpTnRRzSFt4</p> <p>In his final four games of the season he shot 12/24 from three-point range, which was a big reason why Millard West was able to make the semi-finals and compete with eventual champion Millard North.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890584" first="Payson" last="Gillespie"]</strong> Omaha Westside 22’</p> <p>Another quick release, and another player you cannot take possessions off against. Gillespie is always evaluating his position in comparison to his defender. If his man floats a step too far away, Gillespie knows it. When he recognizes this space, and the ball gets to him in a timely manner, there’s nothing the defense can do. Once he learns how to better leverage his elite shooting to open up the other aspects of his game, he’s going to be an excellent offensive weapon.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890583" first="Kyle" last="Ingwerson"]</strong> Papillion La Vista 22’</p> <p>Ingwerson is a minimalist when it comes to his jumpshot. He stays relatively still getting into his shot, and through the release. Earlier this season, I watched him hit six threes against Gretna early in the season, and have been a big fan ever since. A 45% three-point shooter this season, the junior was certainly one of the state’s best from distance.</p> <p>https://youtu.be/AQuGGZ5CaW8</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="890514" first="Kallan" last="Herman"] Norfolk 21’</p> <p>Herman was dangerous all season long, especially when receiving a high screen from a teammate. Here is a great example of his overall shooting prowess.</p> <p>https://youtu.be/bK_7vPpT9nQ</p> <p>Here he reads his defender cheating the screen, and rejects it. He then smoothly flows into a pullup at the free throw line, which looks easy for the Norfolk senior. Another excellent example of his ability to pull up off the dribble is from a game against Lincoln High earlier in the year. </p> <p>https://youtu.be/aJGKXtxyDtg</p> <p>Not many high school players can make that play look so simple.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1150659" first="Ayden" last="Zikmund"] </strong>Central City 24’</p> <p>There were several underclassmen who showed great ability to shoot this season, but none did so at the volume that [player_tooltip player_id="1150659" first="Ayden" last="Zikmund"] did. The freshman attempted 214 three-pointers for Central City this season, and knocked down 37% of them. Only three players in the entire state attempted more shots from distance this season. I could go on about his range, his versatility, and his confidence as a shooter, but I will let his highlight tape speak for itself. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FDHw8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A. Zikmund Hudl</a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890580" first="Daniel" last="Brocaille"]</strong> Papillion La Vista South 22’</p> <p>Brocaille is a complete basketball player on both ends, but one of his best skills is shooting. If the defense is in rotation, you’d be happy if the ball found itself in Brocaille’s hands. He is quick to rise, and his ability to handle the ball under pressure helps him get into his shot cleanly. While many of the players on this list I would consider three-point specialists, Brocaille is a complete scorer who will knock down pullups from any location on the court.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890486" first="Graham" last="Cassoutt"]</strong> Papillion La Vista South 21’</p> <p>Cassoutt made a conscious decision to take and make more three-pointers in his senior season. He increased his three-point attempts from 86 as a junior, to 115 this year. And he did so while also improving his efficiency. Cassoutt was 43% behind the arc this season, and his spacing was a huge factor in the Titans’ success.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>