Oregon Top 250 Expo – Top Passers

Jackson Naugle September 20, 2022 @ 03:11 PM

On Sunday, the Beaverton Hoop YMCA played host to a huge crop of talent from around the west coast, notably the host state of Oregon. Amongst the 125 players rostered, there were numerous standout guards, many of whom used their own offensive tools to score themselves, while others chose to set up their teammates with intelligent playmaking. Here's a look at the top passers we watched on Sunday:   [player_tooltip player_id='1599526' first='Gianni' last='Altman'] (2023 Gold Beach)   Altman was a player I had never encountered until Sunday, and I was immediately impressed with his ability as a facilitator. There weren't many players playing a true point guard role on Sunday, and Altman was one of those guys. With elite explosiveness off-the-dribble and a noticeable basketball IQ, Altman makes plays for his teammates both around the rim and on the perimeter. On Sunday, the 6-foot guard was also a vocal communicator.   [player_tooltip player_id='1338256' first='Jaylen' last='Pankey'] (2023 McDaniel)   Though undersized at 5-foot-6, Pankey was a steady presence when we watched him on Sunday, using his quickness off the dribble to keep the ball moving in the half court. With a first step that can get by most defenders, Pankey regularly creates passing lanes for both his bigs and his shooters   [player_tooltip player_id='1110575' first='Joey' last='Banry'] (2024 North Eugene)   Banry possesses a crafty handle and an apparent unselfishness with the ball in his hands. With a collection of blow-by dribble combos, Banry can generally create his own space, and as a player that's typically an overseer, he can make a huge impact on a game without scoring a whole bunch. At 5-foot-9, Banry was another of the event's most noticeable pure point guards.   [player_tooltip player_id='1174265' first='Jaden' last='Steppe'] (2024 Tualatin)   With long arms and a powerful handle, Steppe was effective leading the break, slinging one and two-handed passes to his teammates for close-range buckets. Additionally, the junior's reach gives him the ability to throw passes over-the-top and around players from the perimeter, picking defenses apart in the process.   [player_tooltip player_id='1315380' first='Gary' last='Le'] (2023 Churchill)   When Le has the ball in his hands, everyone on the court has a chance of touching it next -- his unselfishness is that obvious. At 5-foot-7, Le operates at his own pace, making modest but effective moves to get inside and kick to his teammates. The Churchill senior rarely made mistakes on Sunday, as his basketball sense is perhaps his strongest attribute.   [player_tooltip player_id='1582929' first='Keion' last='James Adell'] (2026 Grant)   James Adell, one of the few freshman to make an appearance at the event, was a standout passer on Sunday, looking to get his teammates involved as much as he looked to score himself, which is quite rare at showcase events. For a freshman, James Adell displayed impressive court vision, using a solid 6-foot frame to create space and dish.   [player_tooltip player_id='1576736' first='Ethan' last='Chiong'] (2023 Westside Christian)   Chiong is lightning quick off the dribble, allowing him to make explosive plays for both himself and his teammates. Like the others on this list, the Westside Christian senior looked to pass frequently on Sunday, which was commendable at an event where most players were trying to get their own shots up. In drive and kick scenarios, Chiong's vision and leaping ability make him a great playmaker.

On Sunday, the Beaverton Hoop YMCA played host to a huge crop of talent from around the west coast, notably the host state of Oregon. Amongst the 125 players rostered, there were numerous standout guards, many of whom used their own offensive tools to score themselves, while others chose to set up their teammates with intelligent playmaking. Here's a look at the top passers we watched on Sunday: