Fresh Faces in the 2023 Rankings
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With each update to the rankings there are no doubt names we’ve overlooked and players who have forced themselves onto our radar, rising the ranks through hard work. In this most recent update, we’ve added seven players to the Top…
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Continue ReadingWith each update to the rankings there are no doubt names we’ve overlooked and players who have forced themselves onto our radar, rising the ranks through hard work. In this most recent update, we’ve added seven players to the Top 125 that rank as high as 40 on our list. It’s time to meet the newest additions to the 2023 Class Rankings.
Young has really come on strong this season helping Chiawana into the discussion for the 4A playoffs. He’s brought a toughness to the paint, rejecting shots and finishing plays high above the rim. But the 6’7 forward is also a multi-faceted threat from the perimeter. He has the quickness and handles to take guys off the bounce and cause problems inside, and he also has shown an ability to knock down the open three ball. He’s a threat to hurt you from all over the court and provides a unique skillset from the forward position.
The other top guy at Chiawana is Cade Smith. Smith is an athletic guard who can knock down the three and plays high-energy defense. He’s had a couple of electric games scoring the ball and is a big reason why Chiawana is on the cusp of playoff ball. They are currently 4-4 but three of those losses were tight contests against likely postseason teams. Part of winning close games is leaving it all on the floor and Smith does just that, showing no hesitation to dive on the floor and play a scrappy game.
Walker has the fluidity you look for with a wing his size. He’s got some finesse to his game and with a little more work could be a nice secondary playmaker from the wings. With that size comes a high release point and Walker has the range to hit shots from behind the arc. He hasn’t had a huge role yet for Eastside Catholic but could be a player to find his footing later in the year and get things going.
In one of the best games of the year so far, Shields played a huge role knocking down jumper after jumper against Garfield at The Hardwood Invite over the holidays. He’s got some juice to his game too, not just acting as a reliable shooter, but crashing the boards and finding ways to get involved making little plays in big moments. Sheilds seems to have a steady head on the court and doesn’t get too high or too low.
Smith is one of the more intriguing additions to the rankings this go around. He is a true 6’10 and the value of that size showed up tremendously when Battle Ground took on WF West earlier in the year. Smith was able to keep the ball away from Soren Dalan Soren Dalan 6’10” | C W.F West | 2023 State WA enough to force WF West into a different style of ball than normal. Smith runs the floor hard end to end, works for position inside, and already has good strength with his big frame. He’s pretty raw offensively but with some more work he could be a valuable defensive big man at the next level.
Harvey is one of the first guys off the bench for Garfield and has really excelled at getting to the rim. He doesn’t get as many looks with the Bulldogs as he did at Cleveland last season, but he still brings the energy and effort on the defensive end and makes the hustle plays in transition. Harvey is probably a little under the radar on a deep Garfield team, but he is a key part of that depth and one of the many guards they cycle through on a nightly basis.
Byers doesn’t do anything particularly flashy; he is just a solid big man who knows how to use his shoulders to spin off of defenders and make space around the rim. He understands angles, can attack from either block, and has clearly put an emphasis on becoming a good free throw shooter to capitalize on all the fouls he draws. Moses Lake started the year off fast but has fallen to 4-5 in the early season. They are a contender for postseason ball, but they’ll have to get right soon, and Byers should be a big part of that.