NW Live Hoop Circuit: Eight 2023 Risers
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With 100+ AAU squads from across the Pacific Northwest in attendance at three separately packed gyms in Bellevue (Bellevue College, Juanita High School, and Hidden Valley Boys & Girls Club) for the NW Live Hoops Circuit, the talent pool was…
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Continue ReadingWith 100+ AAU squads from across the Pacific Northwest in attendance at three separately packed gyms in Bellevue (Bellevue College, Juanita High School, and Hidden Valley Boys & Girls Club) for the NW Live Hoops Circuit, the talent pool was massive. Here’s eight names to remember heading into Day 3 of the event:
Sylas Williams Sylas Williams 6'6" | SF Jackson | 2023 State WA , 6’6, Forward/Post, North City 2023, Jackson High
A multi-skilled big man, Sylas is starting to make a big name for himself as time goes on and has molded into a player you can run an offense through and he plays with such a calm demeanor. His polished tools (rebounding, rim protection and finishing at the rim) were on full display for North City on Day 2 in Bellevue, but he showed guard skills too. He was dominating in their second game of the day; Sylas can score inside using a killer ball-fake, and showed improved playmaking skills from the mid-post, finding back-door cutters and open teammates for 3s all game long. After posting season numbers of 18 RPG and 14 RPG for Jackson as a junior, the Wesco 4A First-Team pick is primed for a big summer and should be on everyone’s short list moving forward.
Levi Pepper Levi Pepper 6'6" | SF Selah | 2023 State WA , 6’6, Guard/Forward, Seattle Select, Selah High
After being named as one of our Top 10 prospects in the state for the class of 2023, Levi Pepper Levi Pepper 6'6" | SF Selah | 2023 State WA stood out as one of the best all-around players at the Hoop Circuit. His skills as a crafty ballhandler, shooter, and rebounder at 6-foot-6 make him an elite talent in the state. His breakout junior year (23 RPG, 12 RPG, 3 APG, 4 BPG) speaks for itself. Seattle Select ran the majority of it’s offense through Levi against a talented 18U Oregon Prospects group. He is a nightmare to guard in the pick-and-roll. He can skate into the lane and get buckets with floaters, push shots, reverse lay-ins, you name it. He can probe the lane and puts himself in situations where he can get quality looks for himself and others.
Hayden Conaxis Hayden Conaxis 6'6" | SF Everett | 2023 State WA , 6’5, Forward/Post, North City 2023, Everett High
Standing with a long 6-foot-5 frame, Hayden strikes me as an interesting prospect and one that’s hard to describe (in a good way). He does a lot of things well on the court, mainly being multi-positional. His defensive versatility pops out. He can bother just about anyone while on an island, and can recover to the basket quickly and bother shots in the paint as well. Offensively, he gets quality looks by just running the floor and finishing plays. He operated well as a two-way stretch big for Everett at times, but can easily be moved to the wing spot and be just as impactful. He has a soft touch around the basket and uses his length to glide by defenders and score, or dish it off to the open player for an easier look.
Connor Sevilla, 6’0, Guard, Infinite 17U Gold, Dougherty Valley High (California)
A dynamic scoring guard with range, Sevilla faced a deep North City squad and was able to keep Infinite Gold in the ball game late. He has a quick release from deep and he showed defenders that they can’t leave him alone on the perimeter and they have to guard him beyond the 3-point stripe. A Second-Team All-EBAL pick this past season, he looks like he’s put on considerable weight since his 19-20 and 20-21 seasons, and definitely showed an ability to battle past opposing guards to get to the rim in addition to his strong shooting.
Joshua Matthew, 6’5, Forward, Infinite 17U Gold, Monta Vista High (California)
Another member of Infinite Gold that can’t be left open, Joshua Matthew was a fun player 3-And-D style wing to watch on Day 2. He’s got a good-looking stroke from the 3-point-line and played excellently off the ball. His pull-up and catch-and-shoot abilities were honed in. On the defensive end, he’s a lockdown guy. Against the arsenal of forwards North City threw out on the floor, he fared well and competed hard on that end of the floor, deflecting passes and contesting shots.
Keegan Williams Keegan Williams 6'4" | SG Lynnwood | 2023 State WA , 6’4, Guard/Forward, North City 2023, Lynnwood High
Keegan Williams Keegan Williams 6'4" | SG Lynnwood | 2023 State WA is a guy to keep an eye on this summer as he keeps improving his skillset as a standout athlete, defender, and a guard who can score in different ways. He can take it to the rack and knows how to use his size and strength to power through defenders to convert shots at the rim. He’s able to nail perimeter shots, score in the mid-range, and attack the paint. Keegan plays with a fire to him and has shown that he’s able to fit in with a variety of different lineups as either a guard or a forward. A 3A Wesco Honorable Mention this season, he’s due for a bump up next year.
Miles Clark, 6’7, Forward/Post, Seattle Select, O’Dea High
A Metro League forward who went somewhat unheralded with all the talented bigs the Seattle area had to offer. With most of the elite league post threats set to graduate in 2022, he’s off to a great start this spring in terms of becoming on of the top players. Incredibly long and athletic, Clark is a handful to box out and is a straight up fighter while flying in for rebounds and defending bigger/taller players. He plays with a ton of energy and is a pest in the post. Averaging 6.9 points, 6 boards and 1.1 steals per night for an O’Dea squad who was out-dueled in the regionals by Gig Harbor, he’s in line for a nice opportunity to make a jump in the spring and summer.
David Zachman, 6’5, Forward, Seattle Select, Arlington High
Zachman shined as Arlington’s secondary scorer behind senior teammate Ethan Martin during the high school season and largely flew under-the-radar in the Wesco League. He’s seemingly going to see more of the ball in his hands next year and he was a nice site to see in Bellevue on Saturday for Seattle Select. With crisp offensive skills, he’s a smart shot taker and plays so well as a baseline cutter. If there was one moment that stood out the most, it was his vicious one-handed pack over a defender to seal the win against the Oregon Prospects. He’s got sneaky athleticism and showed he’s more than capable of heating up on the offensive end.