Thanksgiving Week: Basketball’s Top Five Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would say this Thanksgiving week has been stuffed with more than just turkeys. This week has been electrifying with some of Alabama's most talented high school basketball players. These athletes have been improving each and every week and only getting better as the season progresses. Getting the opportunity to follow some of these great players as they play in some huge Thanksgiving tournaments and many others has been nothing short of amazing. These young men are destined for greatness when it comes to improving and excelling at their crafts. The coaches of these young men are way makers who are setting them up for success. I'm excited for the rest of the season, but let's jump right into Thanksgiving Week: basketball's top five players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I always say let's dive into some Alabama basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Chase Bell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sparkman High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Let's talk about a effencientlty profound athelte that has passing, rebounding, and defense all apart of Chase Bell game. His unusually long wingspan makes him a dangerous defender who can guard several spots. On defense, he is highly aggressive, using his active hands to play passing lanes and slow down ball-handlers. Chase  is a force on the boards, averaging over seven rebounds per game. On defense, he enjoys attacking the boards and pressing the ball to generate opportunities in transition. He specializes at getting downhill and creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Although he enjoys getting out on the fast break, Bell is equally effective when the game slows down in the half-court. His floater game is a powerful threat he may use against the opponents he faces.He's already mastered that aspect of his game. Bell is also agile enough to finish at the rim but is more than capable of take what the defense gives him. He's at ease enough to switch to his mid-range jumper or floater if necessary. Bell has an exceptionally strong shot that can be used in any circumstance in the game. Everyone knows that when he has the ball in his hands, he will make a smart and accurate decision to generate opportunities to get a bucket.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://twitter.com/ChaseBell_2023/status/1596221800975060994?s=20u0026t=f_NZbxH9f5njeVk-_BeZAA[/embed]","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Sam Wright","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Spain Park High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Wright's high school stock had significantly improved entering this season. He showed an outside shooting skill that college scouts had not seen from him before. Perimeter shooting has transformed from a weakness to a strength. Wright is quite comfortable in catch-and-shoot scenarios. He has superb footwork to keep himself available for a pass and understands where he has to be to have enough room to get his shot up.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWhen you first see Wright, his ability to score from all levels of the court, particularly in the paint, sticks out. Wright's outstanding ball skills for a 6'10u0022 forward are on full display in transition. He will frequently rebound the ball and establish total control before scoring or helping another player score. When watching Wright play, one of the most noticeable things is that he has an excellent feel as the roll man in the pick and roll. He finds an open place on the floor and is skilled at timing his run to the hoop to grab a pass and finish at the rim. u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://twitter.com/SPHSBoysBskball/status/1595621864566661121?s=20u0026t=f_NZbxH9f5njeVk-_BeZAA[/embed]","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Mason Hartman","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Oneonta High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Hartman may be the most explosive athlete in high school basketball, as it's difficult to find players with his mix of quickness and jumping ability, allowing him to create a variety of highlight-reel plays on both sides of the court. Even though his talent level is always growing, Hartman has been dropping spectacular flashes of passes and touches inside the arc. He enters the game with a high level of passion and flexibility on defense, demonstrating the ability to take on everyone from point guards to big guys while also being a huge facilitator by crashing the glass, getting into passing lanes, and defending the basket. Hartman has become better with each game. It's difficult to find players with this sort of long-term ability now that he can put the ball in the basket regularly enough to gain from several 20-point games and giving his team an opportunity to win big.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://twitter.com/Oneonta_Hoops/status/1595069257657761792?s=20u0026t=f_NZbxH9f5njeVk-_BeZAA[/embed]","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1392153"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Harrison is coming off an incredible start to the season at Huntsville High School, where he has emerged as a two-way force with great flexibility while dropping a dime as a midrange shooter, ball handler, and passer, giving him tremendous opportunity to be an all-around threat in today's game. He has great size for a power forward, at only 6-9, where he also have a  massive wingspan, sculpted physique, and intriguing combination of strength and explosiveness.Harrison is a very competitive defender who can slow down guards, wings, and big men equally while still being fast off his feet for blocks and a force in the passing lanes due to his length. He's also a steady offensive player with excellent shooting mechanics and decision-making skills who contributes to the game in a variety of ways. His physical play style, excellent demeanor, and competitive spirit give him a high ceiling as a prospect. This kid can also pass the ball extremely well, which will give his teammates an opportunity to score as well. Harrison's jumper has been improving to create a different threat to getting the ball in the basket.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://twitter.com/HHSPantherHoops/status/1592737416548610050?s=20u0026t=f_NZbxH9f5njeVk-_BeZAA[/embed]","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Matthew Grice","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Minor High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Grice is a sophomore on the minor high school squad. He plays as if he were a seasoned veteran on his squad. Grice is a solid decision-maker and passer who is well-coached and performs many things that help the team win. He's one of the state's most explosive young athletes, possessing every talent as a ball handler and shot maker, and he's playing an efficient style this season, particularly when presented with a difficult shooting situation. Based on his early performances, Grice has the potential to be a highly exceptional player. Grice uses his fast feet to fight over screens, his muscular build to contain dribble penetration, his length to contest shots, and he frequently finishes the play by wiping the boards. Grice's jumper and general scoring skills has been intriguing to watch for the Minor High School Tigers this season, as he is already on a solid path. Given his current rate of improvement, he appears to be well on his way to establishing himself as one of the greatest prospects in his class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6381c1f8e74cc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/minorhighBB/status/1592849810016854021?s=20u0026t=f_NZbxH9f5njeVk-_BeZAA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/minorhighBB/status/1592849810016854021?s=20&amp;t=f_NZbxH9f5njeVk-_BeZAA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->