GWC: Who Shined in the Final Day- Part 1

<p>The last day of tournaments can often be the most difficult to scout players. Of course, everyone is tired after a grueling week of play, but at the same time, doesn’t that make it even more impressive when competitors can overcome the soreness and show out. With that in mind, let’s look at some players that stood out on the last day of the Great Western Classic.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1207062" first="Jackson" last="Rhees"]- 6’0/ SG- Spanish Fork <br /> Rhees is one of those rare guards that can do it all. He excels at  both scoring and getting his teammates involved. This senior guard has an excellent feel for the game, allowing him to impact both ends of the floor. On defense, he knows just when to leave his man to help on drives and swarm the paint. Rhees is also a good athlete who can soar through the lane on offense. He likes to drive to the hoop but will not force bad shots, instead opting to suck defenders in and kick it out to his teammates. The Spanish Fork senior is also a strong shooter in his own right. He can come off curl screens to knock down triples and be the one who sets a screen and pops out. Once defenses begin to respect his shot, Rhees has the awareness to pump fake and let defenders fly by.</p> <p>Javonte King- 6’4/ SF- Blackfoot Idaho <br /> A few schools came down from Idaho to play in the Great Western Classic, but not many have a player like Javonte King. His length and athleticism make him a nightmare on both ends of the floor. He excels at switching onto smaller players and possesses the leaping ability and wingspan to swat shots. King’s athleticism makes him tough to stop in the open court, with his long strides allowing him to glide past defenders. The Blackfoot, ID senior also possesses a nice low post-game. He doesn’t shy away from contact and powers through double teams to score. King can also get the ball on the block and shoot over the defenders with an impressive fadeaway jumper. Speaking of shots, King is comfortable shooting off the dribble or the catch. He is also capable of attacking defenders off the dribble in the half-court, and once he gets a head of steam, lookout. The 6’4 forward is also a prolific wide receiver back in his home state and it’s easy to see why.</p> <p>Laiken Wilden- 6’3/ G- Dixie<br /> Wilden showed great shooting touch from both inside the paint and outside the three-point range. The senior Dixie guard spotted up from the top of the key, wings, and corners, knocking down three after three. It didn’t matter if he was wide open or a defender was scrambling over to get a hand up, Wilden was locked in. The 6’3 guard employs a nice mid-range shot and was comfortable shooting off the dribble. His quick release allows him to also get his shot off over bigger defenders, and it was on full display when he dropped in a floater over an opposing seven-footer. Wilden also showed a willingness to follow his misses and attack the offensive glass with a purpose. The senior also understood how to use shot-fakes and got defenders to fly past him. Defensively, the Dixie guard navigated the floor well and has good arm length, allowing him to disrupt passing lanes.</p> <p>Houston Johnson- 6’6/ F- Crimson Cliffs <br /> Johnson boasts a strong frame that enables him to bulldoze his way through the lane. Few players can match his combination of size, speed, and power. The 6’6 senior forward can take long strides and shake off defenders as he drives to the hoop. His quick first step gives him the initial advantage he needs on both ends of the court. Defensively he is comfortable moving around the perimeter and rarely gets beat off the dribble. On the low block, Johnson can also utilize his strength on defense with opposing bigs having a hard time backing him down. He also understands when to go for a block and when to go straight up. Johnson is also a load on the glass, where he does a great job of boxing out on defense and grabbing offensive rebounds on the other end.</p>