Getting to Know You (Pt. 2)

<p>It has been a few weeks since Getting to Know You (Pt. 1) went live, but, as promised, I’m back with Part 2. The regular season is underway, and many of the players high school coaches told me to watch out for have got off to quick starts. Let’s dive right in!</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1285317" first="Kevin" last="Wiltz"] // 6’2” PG // Breaux Bridge // 2022</p> <p>The senior point guard is one with the basketball and has great vision and instincts. He seems to see things a step ahead of most everyone else, whether he’s delivering a pass no one saw coming or getting a hand in the passing lane on defense. Wiltz can also create his own shot and has proven he can knock down the three-ball off the bounce or when spotting up. His midrange game is also formidable, and he has a Tony Parker-like floater inside. Keep an eye on him early.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1051634" first="Titus" last="Thomas"] // 6’3” CG // Beau Chene // 2022</p> <p>Thomas, along with [player_tooltip player_id="783260" first="De’vondrake" last="Arvie"], gives the Gators a dynamic starting backcourt. His high motor and length enable him to be an absolute pest of defense and a solid rebounder. He scores consistently at all three levels and is a good passer. If you add everything up, Titus can fill up the box score on any given night. Case and point: He averaged 18.5 PPG, 7 RPG, 4 APG, and 4.5 SPG in the recent Ville Platte Tournament. Wow.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1206918" first="Shamarian" last="Brantley"] // 5’11” PG // Simsboro // 2022</p> <p>It’s easy to overlook the impact Brantley has on this Tigers squad. The perennial powerhouse boasts two of the best guards in the state ([player_tooltip player_id="981495" first="Jordan" last="Crawford"] and [player_tooltip player_id="932860" first="Nick" last="Maryland"]), but Brantley’s presence makes their lives on the court a little easier. In addition to being a lockdown defender, he helps extend the defense with his great 3-point shooting. His ability to put points on the board prevents defenses from giving too much attention to his teammates, as he’s a threat to get 10-15 himself.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1275283" first="Treylin" last="Whaley"] // 6’5” PF // Livonia // 2022</p> <p>Whaley is a two-sport athlete who puts his physicality from football to good use in basketball. He’s an adequate rebounder and a tough defender inside. He is also great in transition, loves contact, and finishes well through it. Treylin’s face-up game is a work in progress, but he does possess a pure shot and quick release. As his consistency improves shooting the ball, he will become even more difficult for the opposition to handle.</p> <p>Treyen Johnson // 5’10” PG // Plainview // 2023</p> <p>It’s no secret anymore that Treyen Johnson can flat out shoot the ball from deep. If he has any space at all, whether it’s off the dribble or spotting up, the ball is going through the hoop. He already dropped a 30-piece in 16 minutes this season on 12-16 FG, including 6 of 8 from three-point range. But what has impressed me most is his ability to finish with both hands in the paint. Look for Johnson to continue to put up big scoring numbers and play his way into All-State consideration in Class C.</p> <p>Tae Henyard // 6’7” PF // Live Oak // 2022</p> <p>Henyard is a double-double waiting to happen. He is very active on offense and defense and always moves with purpose. Whether he’s posting up, defending on the perimeter, or following up a teammate’s missed shot, the senior big man moves his feet extremely well and is rarely out of position. He recently picked up his first offer from Waubonsee, and I expect more colleges to follow suit soon. Henyard is a next-level talent hands down.</p> <p>Titus Washington // 5’11” CG // West Feliciana // 2022</p> <p>West Feliciana has an all-around athlete in Washington. He is a tough defensive back, finished fourth at the state track meet as a junior, and gets the job done on the court. He has a sweet stroke from deep, and his athleticism allows him to contribute to his team’s success in a variety of ways. He’s active in the passing lanes and isn’t afraid to get on the floor for loose balls. While a lot of what he does won’t show up in box scores, Washington has the potential to fill it up at any time as well.</p> <p>As I close this article, I want to thank all of the high school coaches that reached out to me on Twitter. I’m still evaluating some of the guys you sent me, but I will be writing about most of them shortly.</p> <p>To all of the players reading this: Stay humble and never stop working. Be a team player and quick to give others credit. Listen to your coaches and teammates, even when you don’t agree with them. Never stop learning.</p> <p>Jonker out.</p>