Top Dawgs: Star Watch in VT Pt. 2/3
Tyler Rivard, 6’8 F – Hazen High School Class of 2023 Rivard is constantly in high gear. Tyler is a relentless forward who gets himself involved in everything, never taking plays off. His pursuit of the ball is unmatched, whether…
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Continue ReadingTyler Rivard, 6’8 F – Hazen High School Class of 2023
Rivard is constantly in high gear. Tyler is a relentless forward who gets himself involved in everything, never taking plays off. His pursuit of the ball is unmatched, whether on the boards or for loose ball, Tyler is tracking it down with physicality and hustle. His strength makes him an interior powerhouse, muscling through defenders on the offensive end with post ups, using his drop steps, counters, and both hands to finish around the cup at a high clip. He’s a smart passer too, hitting cutters with timely passes. Lastly, he’s an interior defender who commands the entirety of the paint with active hands, a strong body, good anticipation and shot blocking prowess. Tyler is difficult to contain.
Cooper Diego, 6’2 G – Spaulding High School Class of 2023
Cooper is a big point guard and all-around hooper. He gets to the cup nicely on the offensive end, which opens up his pull-up jumper that ranges from 10-20 feet. Moreover, he gets guys involved with timely ball movement, nice assists, and off-ball action, screening and cutting to keep the defense guessing. Defensively, Diego can match up 1-3, for his long wingspan, agility, and strength make him quite versatile. He’s a strong help defender too, sliding into position well from the weak side and rotating out on shooters with quick close outs. Cooper can do a bit of everything while also harboring the ability to get hot quick; he’s one to watch.
Mo Kanneh, 6’7 F – Rice Memorial High School Class of 2023
I don’t know many guys who can match up with the strength, physicality, and athleticism that Mo has. At 6’7 with a strong body, Kanneh holds it down inside. He doesn’t give up much ground, if any, in the post, and his shot-blocking ability makes drivers overthink constantly, causing poor passes and wild shots in the paint. His pick-and-roll game is sound, as he can finish over the top of guys with jams and strong lay-ups, or pull-up in the short range if the lane is clogged. Kanneh and company at Rice look for yet another championship run this winter and Mo is integral to their success.
Logan Vaughan, 6’4 F – Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2023
Logan has a classic forward feel, instinctively occupying various places around the post and short corners. Vaughan garners post position well and holds his post with a strong lower body and a ready hand. Once he has the rock, his savvy footwork of drop steps, up-and-unders, and counters creates consistent scoring opportunities. Moreover, he has nice vision out of the post, hitting cutters, shooters, and fellow forwards with timely and creative passes. His defense is sharp around the rim, and he can switch out to perimeter guys in a pinch. He rebounds well with solid box outs and hits a quick outlet to spark the break. Vaughan’s game is shrewd and intuitive.
Riley Severly, 6’6 F – Spaulding High School Class of 2023
Severly is a forward who can do damage in both the post and from the perimeter. He has nice baby hooks around the rim, and from the perimeter he can flash his handle a little bit, getting shifty with the ball and sliding by guys with strength and wit. He’s another guy with some crafty footwork, as he makes defenders look like they’re playing matador defense with his sharp and well-timed euro-steps, finishing with ease around the cup. He’ll also flaunt his athleticism once in a while, rising up for impressive blocks in the paint or the occasional jam in transition. Riley has a good feel for the game and makes those around him better with his ability to space and hit guys with nice assists.
Eli Pockette, 5’11 G – Rutland High School Class of 2023
A three-level scorer with the ability to find his shot in various spots, the lefty is a fun watch. Eli can break guys down in isolation, maneuver in the pick-and-roll, or work off the ball and find looks coming off of cuts and screens. He finishes well around the rim and his pull-up game is consistent, even around the arc. He’s a savvy passer too, hitting cutters with timely passes or kicking out to relocating shooters off the drive. Defensively, his length and quickness provide him the ability to stick to guys’ hips and disrupt possessions. I’m looking forward to seeing Pockette a few times this winter.