Week 12 Scouting Report: Standout Forwards

<p>I was able to see two Week 12 matchups. The Celina Bobcats went on the road and defeated the Melissa Cardinals 44-38 on Tuesday, and the Rock Hill Blue Hawks earned a 76-46 home victory over the Wylie East Raiders on Friday. There were several individuals who caught my attention during these contests. With that in mind, here are seven standout forward prospects from this past week’s action:</p> <p><strong>Brower Nickel | 2022 | 6’5’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Celina HS</strong> - Nickel contributed 16 points in Celina’s Tuesday night victory. He was terrific from mid-range, draining a number of off-balanced shots from a variety of spots in the in-between area. The senior forward also showed that he can deploy the turnaround jumper from the high post. Beyond that, Nickel is a fluid two-sport athlete whose wide-receiver background shows up in his rebounding at both ends. </p> <p><strong>Ayden Greenlee | 2022 | 6’1’’ Small Forward | Celina HS</strong> - Greenlee came up big for Celina in some key spots of this matchup. He recorded some timely offensive rebounds, was solid as an interior scorer on the block, and came up with some steals when his team desperately needed a stop. The Celina senior made things happen for his team, and while some of his contributions won’t show up in the box score, they were certainly noticed. He ended the night with eight points, six rebounds, and three steals. </p> <p><strong>Grant Jessen | 2022 | 6’5’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Rock Hill HS</strong> - Jessen was productive in a variety of areas vs. Wylie East, accounting for six points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. He is a tremendous all-around two-way player. The Rock Hill forward is an explosive athlete who can elevate to finish above the rim on offense. His vertical ability shows up on defense too. He did a great job of altering and turning back shots, while also going up to grab rebounds. Additionally, Jessen is an excellent passer and just a savvy all-around hooper. He is a hidden gem in this senior class. </p> <p><strong>Clemente Dennis | 2023 | 6’6’’ Power Forward | Rock Hill HS</strong> - Dennis in another under-the-radar stud from Rock Hill. The junior big man possesses an ahead-of-schedule build. However, he is incredibly light on his feet and runs the floor very well. He plays with a sense of urgency and is fundamentally sound. He can handle physicality and finish through contact down low, but also has some finesse to his game. His rebounding was solid as well. There is a lot to like about his game.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957681" first="Riley" last="Shore"] | 2023 | 6’8’’ Small Forward/Shooting Guard | Rock Hill HS</strong> - Shore possesses a smooth shooting stroke. He does a good job of elevating on his jumper. Most guys at this level don’t stand a chance of contesting the 6-foot-8-inch forward’s shots, and that could be true at the next level too. Furthermore, Shore displayed good off ball movement and understands how to utilize screens to get himself open when operating off the ball. His size benefits him in the rebounding department as well. He already has a good amount of skill, yet his ceiling is still pretty high.</p> <p><strong>Adam Herod | 2023 | 6’2’’ Small Forward | Wylie East HS</strong> - Herod came off the bench for Wylie East on Friday and provided some much-needed scoring after the Raiders got down early vs. Rock Hill. He recorded some crafty finishes in the paint, using ball fakes to get defenders off the ground. The junior small forward knocked down a catch-and-shoot three too. In addition, Herod took a charge and hustled back in transition for a chase down block, displaying a consistent effort at both ends of the court. </p> <p><strong>Tavenor Watts | 2022 | 6’5’’ Power Forward/Small Forward | Melissa HS</strong> - Watts is a sharpshooting forward. He hit a trio of three-pointers in the second half that helped fuel Melissa’s comeback attempt. The 2022 prospect is great about getting himself squared up before releasing shots from the outside, and also does a nice job of not rushing his shooting motion. Colleges are always in the market for a forward who can shoot the three, and Watts fits the bill. </p>