NW Live Recap: Playmaking Guards
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Great play starts with the guys on the ball, setting up offenses, and pushing play. These guys made plays for themselves and their teammates, opening up opportunities and creating space through methodical play, great awareness, and high-effort plays. They affected…
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Continue ReadingGreat play starts with the guys on the ball, setting up offenses, and pushing play. These guys made plays for themselves and their teammates, opening up opportunities and creating space through methodical play, great awareness, and high-effort plays. They affected both sides of the ball and stood out for their ability to get the whole team involved and raise the level of their teams’ game. Check out some of the standout playmakers from The Hoop Circuit NW Live.
Nikita Tyukalo Nikita Tyukalo 6'7" | CG BFL Prep | 2024 State WA 6’6 PG Bothell 2023 Elite Prep
When I watched Tyukalo during the high school season he was a volume scorer who took a ton of threes and could spray from deep. Watching him Sunday I got to see the playmaking side of his game in a way I hadn’t before. I wouldn’t have thought of him as a point guard but the way he created for others and incited the offensive action was eye-opening. He took it upon himself to be the engine on offense, getting the ball in motion and making passes that kept the defense shifting. He was calm and handled the ball with ease, keeping his vision up and over the defense. When he did shoot, he followed his misses extremely well and was a presence in general on the boards. It presented a well-rounded game for Tyukalo and he showed the ability to play from either guard spot.
Lucas Dickau 5’10 PG Mt Spokane 2025 Spokane Flight
Watching the Spokane Flight 16U, I didn’t notice much about Dickau’s game at first. He was slightly overshadowed by the playmaking and scoring ability of some of his teammates, but as the game went on, and even more so in the next game, Dickau’s ability to run a talented team stood out. He showed a lot of the characteristics of a classic point guard; taking care of the ball, quickness, and high awareness. Dickau’s ability to protect the ball and create space, while keeping his eyes up can not be understated. For much of the first game I watched he was a patient orchestrator of the offense. In the second game, he started attacking more and showing off an ability to penetrate the middle of the defense and make plays from there. He can finish around the rim using high-arcing shots or stop just short of the rim and flick a floater up. He doesn’t force shots and kicks it back out when defenders collapse. Dickau is already a smart player who seems to soak things in and should learn a lot this summer.
Nahmier Robinson Nahmier Robinson 5'10" | PG Skyline | 2023 State WA 5’9 PG Rainier Beach 2023 FOH Seattle
Robinson is a player with elite quickness and a high IQ to maximize that speed. When he was on the court he could get to his spots seemingly whenever he wanted. He’s a skilled finisher inside but sometimes the size of bigs really closed up lanes on him. Robinson reacted by shooting a good amount of pull-up jumpers from around the free-throw line. His quickness was too much for defenders and Robinson was able to get guys on their heels before rising up for the jump shot. It’s an excellent addition to his game and with it he’ll be able to really toy with defenders, getting some good push and pull with his stop and go play. On the other side, he’s a phenomenal on-ball defender that forces ball-handlers out further than they’d like and puts distance between passes that opens up lanes for his teammates to jump. His defense at the top reaks havoc on half-court sets and the cause-and-effect was a lot of turnovers for his squad Sunday afternoon.
Eli Trichler 6’1 PG Sultan 2024 North City
Trichler came in Saturday and provided a huge boost off the bench. His energy was infectious and he helped create turnovers, spur quick transition buckets, and ramp up the pace of the game. The game changes with him on the court. On offense, they try to run a free-flowing game as much as possible, pushing the ball up and forcing defenders into awkward positions. With Trichlers open court skills he can finish from tough angles, take on contact and make sure fast breaks aren’t wasted. In the half-court, he has good vision with skip passes and finding driving angles. He also showed the ability to knock down outside shots from spotting up and off the dribble. He makes you defend him at all levels offensively and was a constant presence on the floor.
Toby Trichler 6’1 SG 2024 Sultan 2024 North City
Just about everything said about his brother goes for Toby too. They have very similar styles, and together in the backcourt are a headache for opposing teams. He’s a strong finisher, draws fouls, and has great vision. He really stood out on the defensive side, using quick hands and a ready mindset to steal a number of passes and dribbles. He has outstanding pace with the ball in his hands and was a playmaker on both ends Saturday. While the Trichlers play a similar style, they also complement each other’s games well. They both excel in open court and up-and-down play, bring a ton of energy and effort, and offer no breaks for opposing backcourts.