Oak Creek Autism Showcase Standouts
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Oak Creek held their Autism Showcase on Saturday with teams from across Wisconsin competing throughout the day. These are seven standouts from the games I watched! Stats via wissports.net and Twitter Devin Brown WI #6 PF #1 HEIGHT 6'7" POS…
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Continue ReadingOak Creek held their Autism Showcase on Saturday with teams from across Wisconsin competing throughout the day. These are seven standouts from the games I watched! Stats via wissports.net and Twitter
I really like Devin’s mindset to dominate games in the paint. You see a lot of 6’7 guys try to float around the perimeter and makes plays from there, but Devin knows who he is as a player. With his strong and explosive frame, Devin is going to run the floor hard for transition dunks, compete on the glass, and power his way to the basket any time he gets a paint touch. This leads to high percentage shooting numbers, constant trips to the foul line, and plenty of highlight dunks. His effort in the open floor sees him constantly beat opposing bigs to the rim. Defensively I thought he did a nice job containing a D1 offered forward and not allowing any easy looks in the half-court. Devin also showed off his skillset with an impressive spin move in transition and by knocking down an open three.
In just the first week of the season, Jaquan may already have the most impressive stat-line you’ll find all year. Finishing with 39 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and 8 steals, Jaquan nearly came away from the game with a quadruple-double. No matter what speed Jaquan was operating at he always looked under control, and you can tell his coach trusts him to go out and make plays based on how the game is going. In the second half he started to take over more as a scorer, able to get into the lane , stop on a dime, and then score over the top with a floater that rarely misses. Really like his passing vision in the paint as well as Jaquan always seems to know where the open man will be before anyone else on the floor does. Defensively he has quick hands, and his strong frame allows him to take some contact to the body without needing to foul when his man tries to drive on him.
Highlights
In his freshman debut Deuce came away with an impressive 20 points and 7 assists in the win for Oak Creek. He started off slow, but once Deuce got a feel for the pace of play he was able to take over. He closed out the first half on fire from three, creating space off the dribble and also knocking down some shots off the catch. Burkes possesses a lightning quick release, meaning he doesn’t need much space to get off his shot. Showed some potential as a creator as well, utilizing his quickness to get into the paint and dumping it off to one of his forwards around the rim. Deuce brings an extra level of toughness to the floor and has a look of a player who won’t back down from anyone even as a freshman.
Highlights
Even after a slow start, Dunham finished his season opener with a game high 21 points leading South Milwaukee to a win. One of the things that makes Jake so good is his ability to move off the ball. If I remember correctly, not a single one of his baskets required a dribble, as he was in constant motion off the ball. He excels at running off screens, quickly getting his feet set, and getting his shot off before a defender has a chance to recover. Also spent some time running the offense where he had a really nice assist off a pick & roll as well as another assist driving in and kicking it out after the defense collapsed on him.
Even though he didn’t start, Amare may have been the most impactful player for MAS in their win over St. Thomas More. He immediately brought a burst of energy to the floor, helping force a turnover before diving on the ball and finding his teammate sprinting up the floor for a dunk. Offensively he flashed an improved pull-up jumper, and has the explosive burst to put the ball on the floor and get all the way to the rim to finish. Amare is an impressive player in transition who threw down a dunk with ease and also added in another tough finish over the top of a defender.
There wasn’t anything flashy about the way Devin was scoring, but the sophomore was providing consistent production across the length of the game for Greendale. He found a ton of success catching in the high post area and facing up. Because of his size as a guard he was able to see over the top of his defender and either rise up for a short jumper, or attack a side and get all the way to the basket. Added in a few transition finishes and putbacks on his way to 24 points in a win.
Highlights
Willie showed a ton of potential as an underclassman, and now as a junior it’s time to start turning that into consistent production. In Park’s season opener he did just that as he finished with a team high 18 points while pulling in 6 rebounds. He’s a gritty player with an explosive burst around the basket who rarely seems to miss when he gets into the paint. Willie has impressive body control to elevate, take some contact, and keep his eyes on the rim to finish at a high percentage. Even with bigger players around him Willie was often coming up with rebounds because of his effort and ability to get two hands on the ball and rip it free. Defensively he drew the task of guarding South Milwaukee’s best player and held him to a very quite first half before his team started to free him up with off-ball screens. Willie’s motor never stops, and that should allow him to consistently guard opposing teams’ best players while also going down and providing a scoring threat for his team.