The Hoop Circuit NW Live: Breakout Players

Ryan Morgan April 13, 2022 @ 08:24 PM

All of these players have flashed major potential before this past weekend, but after their performances, they look primed to break out this summer and carry that momentum into the high school season. Take a look at who’s got next in this batch of 2024 and 2025 breakout players.   Beckett Currie 5’11 PG Camas 2025 Seattle Rotary Watching Currie this weekend, he reminded me a lot of [player_tooltip player_id="931155" first="Kaden" last="Hansen"]. No, he wasn’t raining down threes when I watched him (though he gave a glimpse of that ability last year for Camas). Currie’s game mirrors the Auburn standout’s in another way. His movement with and without the ball is exceptional. He sets up his dribble moves with a little floating hesitation before bursting by defenders, and even though he’s a point guard, he knows how to fill off the ball and use cuts to make himself available. Currie is also a fantastic finisher in the paint. Whether he’s going all the way to the cup or stopping up short for a floater, he’s able to use the glass in a way most kids don’t. He finds the angles and puts good arc on his shots that allows him to hit from dead zones in the defense. Currie is part of a very talented Rotary Select team and should continue this breakout through the summer. Cesar Hernandez 6’0 PG Davis 2025 Central WA Elite In a game that was getting away from them, Hernandez stepped up and started to take over. Early in the game he showed a capability to hit threes, hit mid-range pull-ups, and use a quick first step. Later on, he took a bigger role creating opportunities and often making something out of very little. His quickness and ability to knock down the pull-up were critical in climbing back into the game, but he was also able to find teammates when the defense swarmed, kicking the ball out mid-air off of drives that collapsed. Hernandez makes smart plays and was a great communicator on the floor, telling teammates where an open pass was and talking between plays. His squad came up short of the victory Friday night, but Hernandez showed he’s a candidate to break out at point guard. Blake Garza 6’4 SF Davis 2024 Central WA Elite Garza was one of the taller players on the court for the game I watched. If you’ve ever been the big guy on the court, you know what comes with that. He had to deal with a lot of hacking and bumping inside but played a strong game, making a big impact on the glass and staying calm in crowds of defenders. I mostly have seen him play on the wing and he exhibited the skills necessary to stay out there; hitting threes and showing comfort with his dribble. But what he showed this weekend was an ability to play big when he had the advantage. He skied for rebounds and kept the ball secured up high, held down a strong pivot foot while under immense pressure, and looked good operating with his back to the hoop. Garza showed he is a versatile player that can be an effective stretch forward with some ball-handling and play-making ability. Jamari Harris 6’3 SG Kentridge 2024 Renton Select Man, Kentridge has some ballers in the backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id="1270691" first="Jalon" last="Blackwell"], the Randhawa’s, and now Mr. Jamari Harris, make up a terrifying matchup going into next year. This weekend, Harris showed he can put the ball in the hoop in flurries. The lefty was a catalyst for his team Saturday afternoon, picking up points in a variety of fashions. He sets up defenders with a killer crossover and has the savvy to keep them on his hip while he goes to the hoop, making his shot incredibly difficult to block. He’s an electric finisher in transition, soaring to the rim or working through contact and traffic in the key to put it in. In the half-court, he’s able to set himself up with good looks and doesn’t have to force tough shots. His growth will be on full display this summer and should help his high school team play at a faster pace this coming year. Jaxon Dubiel 6’0 SG Mountlake Terrace 2024 North City North City 2024 played a fun game to watch Saturday against Select Blue. They caused a tornado of turnovers and were running at every opportunity. Dubiel was all over the court, starting breaks and finishing them. He has legit court vision on both ends, reading passing extremely well, jumping passing lanes, and then taking it down to finish tough shots consistently. He is highly skilled at controlling his body at high speeds to make crafty finishes and keep defenders at bay. He is an exciting player that seems to never tire out.