High ceiling guards who are already having big success
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I have said it once and I will say it again. I wish I could get kids to know how much better they will get between their last two or three years of high school and beyond. Some don’t need…
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Continue ReadingI have said it once and I will say it again. I wish I could get kids to know how much better they will get between their last two or three years of high school and beyond. Some don’t need to be informed. Some develop later than others. Some are relentless workers. Some are yet to catch up with their body. Regardless, high ceiling players are fun to follow. Here are five players with high ceiling, big time talent.
He dropped 40 in a game last week against Quincy. He was a good player last season as a sophomore who could score it in bunches. He is a great player this season whose off-season work is paying off. He is noticeably better at what he was already good at. He can rise and fire off the dribble from anywhere on the floor. He gets it up quickly and doesn’t need much space if any. He opened his 40-point night with a nice floater in the lane, followed by a quick trigger three coming off a screen. He then hit a deep three way beyond the line. He had 11 points in the 1st couple of minutes of the game. I was impressed with how much better he is at the things that he already excelled t. That’s why his ceiling is so high, combined with his athletic ability and size at 6’4 and long. He is still growing into his game. He is already an elite high school scorer. That ability to quickly get into his shot off the dribble or the screen was impressive. He has added more mid-range which keeps the defense honest, or on their heels. I’ll go back to that ability to rise and fire from anywhere off the dribble, stationary, or off the screen as what makes him a legit college prospect. Combine that with the ability to defend at a high level. His ball handling is noticeably better. High ceiling.
He is having a great senior season as part of a good Blaine team with only one loss midway through the season. He is an athlete who can break down the defense at a high level. He has also shown a soft touch with his floaters or short jumpers in the lane which plays to his best skill set. He is a smooth-looking player who has improved enough in his last couple of seasons to see the ceiling is high for him. He can knock down threes, although not his strength. His shot has a high ceiling. He has explosive athletic ability, and a good feel for the game, especially when he is doing his thing getting to the rim. He can be a great defender on the perimeter. Blaine is a dangerous team with the trio of he, Carson Lehnert Carson Lehnert 6’3″ | SG Blaine | 2023 State WA , and Lucas Smith Lucas Smith 6’4″ Blaine | 2023 WA . They have others who can play too making them look like a serious Class 1A contender.
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Just in case nobody has heard, he is a top guard in the class of 2025. He is a relentless worker who spends more time on his game than most. It shows, he already has had a game with 44 points and 12 threes. He is a better shooter than last year. I don’t think that’s even relevant in his case, he had a high-ceiling shot and was already a great shooter. No need to worry about him being an elite shooter. He will be. He has gotten stronger and that makes his game all the more impressive. He will continue to get stronger. His ball skills and IQ are excellent. He can get to the bucket. High ceiling.
I have been on this train since I first saw him play. It is his athletic ability, size, and relentless style that makes him a high ceiling player. His defense makes him somewhat of a can’t miss prospect. He can defend. He likes to defend. He is best at getting to the basket and scoring in the mid game. He makes threes but he is not a knock down shooter yet. That would absolutely make him a can’t miss prospect. He works hard to make himself better. High ceiling player.
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He and teammate Matt Lindblom Matt Lindblom 6’1″ | PG Olympia | 2025 State WA have been playing well for Olympia. Carlson is a good athlete who is not required to be the man with Parker Gerrits Parker Gerrits 6’1″ | PG Olympia | 2023 State WA and Mason Jeurgens running the show. He does contribute in big ways. He is a skilled player who combines his natural athleticism with good shooting and defense. He will make open shots and has a high-ceiling shot. He finishes well on the break or within the offense. He shows flashes and could take off next season as one of the primary scoring options. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and has been a solid player for a good Olympia team with big postseason hopes. He can get it done this year but might thrive next season.