Max’s Weekend Wing/Forward Standouts

Waziri ended up missing a lot of time with foul trouble in the second half, but put together a really strong first half to help set his team up to eventually win against Blake. He was getting to the rim just about any time he wanted to, and using his long frame to elevate, extend, and finish with touch in traffic. Waziri had a couple of short pull-up jumpers when the angle wasn’t there to get all the way to the basket, but he also took a hand-off, got downhill, and elevated for a huge dunk when no help-side defender stepped up. Defensively he has the agility to move his feet with smaller wings, and his length allows him to make plays contesting shots or getting up in passing lanes. Scored 18 points in the win for Breck.

I was very impressed with Omar both in his production and long term potential. He’s an extremely long and lanky post prospect, and is ahead of most bigs his age in terms of his low-post skills. Just about any time Breck didn’t send a double-team when he touched in the post, Omar was able to utilize his footwork to get a clean look and often finish for two points. Has the ability to turn over either shoulder as well, finish with either hand, and did a better job than I would have expected at finishing through contact. He’ll have to continue to add strength as there were times he wasn’t able to hold off his man while the entry pass came, but the tools are there to become a consistently productive player. Omar scored 15 points for Blake.

PJ had 9 points on Saturday night, and in such a low scoring matchup those 9 points were key. Pounds started off the game rolling to the hoop, catching, and exploding off the floor for a one handed dunk over the top of the defender. That was followed up a bit later in the half as he took his man off the dribble on the baseline and exploded off the floor for another dunk over the top of his man. That type of athletic ability is rare to find in a 6’6-6’7 big, and it allows PJ to make big plays around the rim. Utilized it as well to hold CDH’s starting big to just 2 points in the win.

America Fitch America Fitch 6'6″ | PF South St. Paul | 2023 MN just plays so hard whenever he’s on the floor. He has a big and strong frame, and with his motor he plays even bigger than his height suggests. Any time a shot went off America was looking to either pull in the rebound, or if it was on the offensive end he was looking to attack it out of the air and try to put it right back up. Also made an impact on the defensive end as he was standing his ground on the post, and put himself into the right spots to make an impact as a shot blocker. Was competing physically all game long against Tartan’s big, and ended up scoring 9 points in the win for South St. Paul.

Kevin Armstrong came off the bench and made a huge impact for Breck. Had a pair of impressive passes in transition. One was a last second dump off as the lone defender decided to step up on Kevin, and the second was a deep pass up the floor that he lasered through a small window to hit his man perfectly in stride. Armstrong scored 12 points as he threw down a transition dunk, hit a three from the top of the key, and converted on a few touch finishes at the rim. At 6’5 with a 6’10 wing span, Kevin possesses a very long frame that helps him finish at the rim and was also allowing him to get up in passing lanes and get a hand on passes defensively.

Monteff stepped up in the 2nd half for Cretin-Derham Hall and had them right there with DeLaSalle until the end. Even compared to seniors he has an impressive frame with his combination of height, long wingspan, agility, and strength. In the second half he was working for post touches as well as offensive rebounds, and found success powering his way up to the basket for tough finishes. He came off the bench and just made an impact with his physicality and touch in the paint. Has length and quickness off the floor which make him a tough rebounder as well. Finished with 10 points off the bench for CDH.

Even outside of scoring the ball, there’s a lot that Elijah brings to the floor for Tartan. He’s a big time screen setter who creates opportunities for his teammates with his hard screens on the perimeter, before providing a threat himself with his good hands and coordination to roll and catch on the move towards the rim. Against South St. Paul he was competing all game long against another physical big man, and that type of strength he has will help him translate at the next level. Has long arms to provide a rebounding presence and he also does a nice job of finding a body to box out. Finished with 9 points in the low scoring game.