The Come Up: 2025 Part 2
In part two of the 2025’s, we’ve got some lesser-known names; guys who didn’t see as much action on the court or aren’t as heralded as others but have flashed the potential that should get them notoriety next season. A…
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Continue ReadingIn part two of the 2025’s, we’ve got some lesser-known names; guys who didn’t see as much action on the court or aren’t as heralded as others but have flashed the potential that should get them notoriety next season. A lot of these teams have spots opening up and these are the names that could step up to fill those vacated roles. Bank these names for later as guys to know in the 2025 class.
Kainalu Vargas 6’3 SG Mt Spokane Spokane Flight
Vargas wasn’t featured on Mt Spokane last season but surely he was watching as the varsity team made a deep run at state. They were a strong team top to bottom and while that may limit Vargas’ opportunities next season, he does offer something that can’t be overlooked – shooting. At the NW Live event, Vargas opened a game up knocking down three quick threes, and continued to spray. He provides good size for a shooter and is not easily bothered by good closeouts. He primarily shot off of the catch, spotting up from all angles around the arc. It isn’t worrisome I didn’t see him shoot off the dribble more because he showed he has a good handle and can make moves to evade pressure. The thing is, he wasn’t asked to do much creating on his AAU team, and the story should be the same if he sees the court for Mt Spokane. He can settle into his role as a reliable spot-up shooter and go from there. With his quick feet, good form, and nice handle, Vargas should be able to develop that scoring ability and become a solid option in the coming years.
Isaiah Cunningham Isaiah Cunningham 6'4" | SG O'Dea | 2025 State WA 6’3 SG Rainier Beach Seattle Rotary
Cunningham is another player whose role on his rotary squad should be similar to his high school team, should he see ample action next season. He was full of energy when I saw him; crashing boards, turning up the heat on defense, and pursuing second chances for the offense. His quickness and decision to sell out for boards allowed him to own both the defensive and offensive glass. He made hard cuts and wasn’t one to let the offense get stagnant. Cunningham also took that fierce attitude to his finishing, going through reaching arms and finishing up high. On offensive rebounds, he found space to put the ball back up quickly and had nice touch from tough angles inside. His style of play should fit in great at Rainier Beach next season and he could flourish as one of the first guys off the bench for the Vikings.
Marco Varani 6’5 SG O’Dea Seattle Rotary
O’Dea has some talented sophomores and juniors ready to step up and fill big voids left behind by the departed senior class. Varani could be a sneaky player to steal minutes if he has a productive spring and summer. He’s not someone who will dominate the ball but he’s a big kid at 6’5 and has a nice-looking stroke from outside. He’ll have to mix it up inside a little bit more and make that size count for more than just a good look at the rim as a shooter. Then he can really present a match-up problem for bigs that have to come out on him, or take guards to the post and go to work. Having a nice shot is a good place to start and with Varani’s size, it’s up to him how he develops going into next year.
Eli Esquivel 5’7 PG East Valley (Yakima)
Esquivel is sort of an exception to this list. These other guys don’t necessarily have a place in the lineup locked in. Esquivel, however, was the starting point guard for the Red Devils last season as a freshman. On the court, he is all business. He’s a quick and calculated ball handler. He shields the ball extremely well while not letting ball pressure slow down the half-court sets. He has a good feel for when to run the offense, when to attack the cup, and how to space the floor when he’s off-ball. His high IQ is impressive for a freshman but his confidence is even more noteworthy. Most players his age, or of his height, would have reservations about finishing on the break or attacking the middle of the defense. Esquivel does not think twice about diving in and going right at guys. This attitude has no doubt helped him figure out how to attack taller defenders and he will only get better at it. He doesn’t shoot too often from outside but can knock it down. The primary area that could lift his game to the next level is getting stronger to further improve his finishing and on-ball defense.
Dylan Gilderhaus 5’10 PG Rogers (Puyallup)
Here’s another player not lacking confidence. Giilderhaus showed last season he is not afraid of the moment and knocked down more than a few clutch shots for the Rogers Rams. With eight Rams graduating, there is a big void in minutes that Gilderhaus should be able to take advantage of. He was one of two underclassmen on varsity last season and already was able to garner good minutes. He can step outside and hit tough threes or dribble in and drain jumpers from inside the line. His ball-handling is superb and likewise is an irritant on-ball defensively. This guy plays fast, aggressively, and while many times it is to his advantage, he was susceptible to making bad decisions probably from going too fast. Gilderhaus is going to make some heads turn next season and could end up playing more off-ball and put up big scoring numbers.