James Johnson Memorial Tournament: Stone Cold Standouts
There were plenty of intense, high-paced games at the 1st Annual James Johnson Memorial Tournament. Those moments called for players who can keep their cool and see the game slow down. Awareness, confidence, control, and intention, were on full display…
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Continue ReadingThere were plenty of intense, high-paced games at the 1st Annual James Johnson Memorial Tournament. Those moments called for players who can keep their cool and see the game slow down. Awareness, confidence, control, and intention, were on full display with each of the following players over the weekend. They paced their teams and were vital in steering their squads to victory. Here are the Stone Cold Standouts of the weekend.
Myles Daymon Myles Daymon 6'1" | PG Garfield | 2023 State WA 6’1 PG Garfield 2023 | FOH
Damon leads the way for Stone Cold Standouts because of his play against a tough Fly Select team on Sunday morning. Fly Select was killing the FOH squad with a high-intensity press that FOH’s guards continued to drive into and turn the ball over. When Damon came back into the game he seized control, slowed the pace, communicated to his teammates where to go, when to pass, and successfully mitigated any pressure Fly Select had managed before. He knew exactly how to handle the press and was able to dictate the pace FOH wanted rather than fall into Fly Select’s chaos. As soon as Damon slowed the pace against the press he became the one in control and the defense was forced to react to his speed. He kept the defense in check with his push and pull approach, using bursts of speed to get to the rim at times while also mixing in a slower pace that allowed FOH time to work in the half-court. He kept Fly Select’s defense at bay and forced them to dial back their aggressive play just enough for his squad to hold on to the win.
Sylas Williams Sylas Williams 6'6" | SF Jackson | 2023 State WA 6’6 SF Jackson 2023 | North City
This guy makes the list for being cool and composed while operating in the heart of the defense. Whether he’s rolling to the hoop or catching with his back the basket, he has an exceptional feel for the space around him. Multiple times on Sunday he caught the ball off a roll in the middle of the paint and knew to go straight up with the shot before the defense closed in. Other times, he was able to feel defenses closing in quicker, use the late closeout against them, and spin baseline where there was an open path to the hoop. He’s able to work quickly or be patient, and really freeze defenses while working close to the hoop. Williams also stepped out a couple of times to knock down the corner three without hesitation.
Blake Peterson 6’2 CG Olympia 2025 | Roots Academy
Peterson is another young player coming out of Olympia who just seems to get it. He knows his responsibilities on the floor and performs them with detailed intention. He was able to do a little bit of everything for Roots Academy over the weekend and is a two-way contributor. On defense, he has good lateral quickness, and stays low in his stance with his hands up and ready, making himself big and closing down driving lanes. Offensively, he showed the ability to hit the open jumper and run the break, taking what the defense gives him. He’s not necessarily a player you gameplan for yet but his impact is felt in all the little ways that tip games in his team’s favor.
Gannon Dykstra 5’9 PG Lynden Christian 2025 | D1 Elite
One of the most fun players to watch this weekend, Dykstra is an energetic scorer with more than just a little wiggle to his game. He’s a bit undersized but it doesn’t faze the young guard as he’s got the shift and creativity to create space against bigger defenders and the skill to finish the play. He was a catalyst for his D1 Elite squad in their first game of the weekend, leading them to a relatively comfortable win against North City. Dykstra is an excellent shooter off the dribble and has an impressive ability to create going towards the rim, scoring with difficult finishes or simply sucking defenders in to create spaces for his teammates to operate in. He figures to benefit from being a part of a deep and talented Lynden Christian team who won the 1A state title last season and should learn a lot in the coming high school season.
Jackson Trotter 5’11 CG Arlington 2025 | D1 Elite
I’m not sure there was a player who impressed me more going to the hoop this weekend than Trotter. He isn’t too big but his strength is evident on his drives to the basket. He has a good handle but it’s his mental manipulation of his defender that gets him inside. He changes speeds and directions extremely well, lulling defenders one way before a quick burst the other way. When he shoots the gap he does it with conviction, protects the ball, and is going to make help defenders match his aggressiveness when stepping up. If not, he’s going to bounce you aside and finish at the basket. His recognition of when to drive on his defender is superb. Trotter also keeps his eyes up on his hard drives, finding teammates and playing aggressive but smart. He showed he can step out too and score from distance from time to time.