Five Forwards that stood out in Week 13

Josh White

January 31, 2022 @ 08:30 PM

This weeks edition of top five forwards contains some of the best defense the state has to offer. This group primarily made their impact on the defensive end with effort, hustle, and grit. They also contributed to offensive end with efficiency and variety. [player_tooltip player_id="902722" first="Azeer" last="Hicks"] 6’6 Marbury SF/SG 2023 Hicks is a shot creator who can operate within the mid-range and dominate inside. He has a tight handle for a player his size and has a variety of crossovers, hesitations, and advanced moves to create space for himself. Hicks’ quick first step also makes his jab off the triple-threat, something a defender must respect. He excelled with the stepback and created great space when getting his shot off. Hicks is also a versatile and effective defender who can guard 1-4, play the passing lanes, block shots, and be fundamentally sound when locked in. Hicks is easily one of the more promising prospects and has all the tools to be a D1 prospect. Derek Moore 6’6 220 PF/C Springville 2022 Moore is an old-school big with excellent size and skill. He proved he could consistently knock down stationary shots off the catch and hit shots from pick and pop situations, making him a solidified stretch 4. He runs the floor with conviction and gets a lot of points from rim runs and pure hustle. In the half-court, Moore does the work before the ball arrives. He battles for position and does an excellent job of sealing and giving his teammates a target for the post entry pass. Moore uses his strength well and has nice touch on his hook shot. He’s also active defensively and can block shots, pickpocket ball handlers, and rotate in a timely fashion. Markell Oneil 6’3 SF West Blocton 2024 O’Neill is a defensive slasher who creates high percentage looks in transition from his defense. His ability to block shots from a small forward position is impressive, and he serves as an extension of the center when protecting the paint. He also showed an ability to pickpocket pocket ballhandlers and cause deflections and still. His length, quick hand, and anticipation allow him to pick guards up full court, disrupt offenses, and rush guards into bad decisions. Offensively he’s a constant threat to be a one-man fastbreak who can finish efficiently at the rim. He also can knock down an occasional three-ball and find his shot off the ball with offensive rebounds and cuts. Amir Williams 6’4 SF/SG Russellville 2024 Williams posted back-to-back 10+ point performances which are impressive given he’s only a sophomore. His potential as an elite three and d wing is evident with his size, hand quickness, and ability to produce consistently from deep. He’s a corner specialist and optimizes spacing by forcing his man to stick with solid shot mechanics. He can defend well and is always active in the pass lanes. Has enough size and length to cover bigs and foot speed to cover guards when needed. Williams, with his early success, Williams can turn into an elite three and D wing if he keeps up this level of play. Jazion Reed 6’5 C Elmore County 2022 Reed is a defensive-minded five that uses his length to dominate the paint and the boards. His high activity level gives opposing teams fits. He consistently draws fouls, creates second chances, and. He takes high percentage shots on the offensive end and knows his role within the offense. He cuts with conviction, catches balls cleanly, and finishes efficiently. He also has a solid post hook he can knock down consistently when he has a mismatch.