Players That Could Impact The Playoff Landscape; Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I dropped part 1 of players that could impact the playoff landscape, and now here is part 2…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1679200,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-Tristan-Gilmore-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-Tristan-Gilmore-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1679200" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1091944' first='Tristan' last='Gilmore']</strong> (6'4/PF/'24/McAdory HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: _Tristan32_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Tristangilmor20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">McAdory is a team with a huge question mark surrounding them because they are one of the state's most talented and athletic teams, yet hasn't lived up to the expectations. They have good guard play and post play, they have length, can score, and have shown suffocating team defense. One of the most promising players on the team is Tristan, who is a huge part in every facet of the game that I just mentioned. He is extremely tough to deal with on the glass and is an instant source of paint production. He is a workhorse that does all the dirty work and, most of the time, is the difference maker in close games. He will have to be all he has been all season on both ends of the floor to help his team get by Bryant.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/McAdoryHoops/status/1622622607592890372","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/McAdoryHoops/status/1622622607592890372 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1742710,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Lovalle-Nelson-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Lovalle-Nelson-Jr.-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1742710" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Lovalle Nelson, Jr. </strong>(5'10/CG/'24/Baker HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: certified_.valle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @LovalleNelsonJr</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have said this before, and everyone knows Baker will go as LaBaron goes. However, we all know that one man can't do it by himself, and Lovalle will be one of those players that Baker will need to step up in the Sweet 16 match-up against Enterprise. Everyone knows what the scout looks like, and everyone knows that Lovalle is lethal from behind the arc. The question is going to be how Coach Armstrong will get Lovalle touches when he will probably see a heavy dose of face-guarding. Lovalle will have to come off some screens and move more without the ball, but he does have one thing working to his advantage, and that is the playmaking ability of LaBaron. Lovalle will have to be locked and loaded and shooting the ball well for his squad to make an appearance in the Final 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone knows what the scout looks like, and everyone knows that Lovalle is lethal from behind the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1711170' first='Spence' last='Sims']</strong>&nbsp;(6'1/SG/''24/Fairhope)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: spennysim</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Fairhope is a team that hasn't been getting much love and could surprise everyone by punching their ticket to the BJCC. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='1711170' first='Spence' last='Sims'], one of the game's most prolific and potent scorers. He can flat-out score the rock and does it all levels. Spence's output this year has been phenomenal, and he is a walking bucket that knows how to create scoring opportunities. He has the ability to adapt to different defenses when confronted, which makes it very difficult for teams to gameplan against him. He leads his team against another team that hasn't gotten much love, and that is Auburn. This should be an interesting Sweet 16 match-up, but Spence will be the best player on the court during that game, and he will be the difference maker and the reason why Fairhope is expected to advance beyond this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He can flat-out score the rock and does it all levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1798833,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/PH-Sam-Wright-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/PH-Sam-Wright-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1798833" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684481' first='Sam' last='Wright'] </strong>(6'10/F/'23/Spain Park <strong>HS)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: s_wright_41</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @samwright_41</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sam has gotten a lot of attention this year, and he is going to have to be all that people have said that he is and more in order for his team to come out as champions as one of the toughest and most open fields in the state. His size and skill set is garnering the attention of college coaches from across the SE Region. An outstanding and deep run in the postseason will increase his stock even more, and a team that was red hot early on and then had some injuries are back healthy and ready to make a championship run. Sam will have to be a presence on the defensive end, a monster on the glass, and the nightmare match-up that he is on the offensive end of the floor. If he can be the versatile scorer he has shown, look for Spain Park to be a tough out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SPHSBoysBskball/status/1623884313002405896","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/SPHSBoysBskball/status/1623884313002405896 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1715065,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Ian-Johnigan-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Ian-Johnigan-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1715065" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103013' first='Ian' last='Johnigan']</strong>&nbsp;(6'2/SG/'24/Helena HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: ian.johnigan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @IanJohnigan2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Helena has drawn a very interesting field in the round of 32. Many are surprisingly penciling in Helena to get to the Final 4. I must admit I never saw this as a possibility, even with the potent scorer Josh Williams leading them. Even though Josh is the head of the snake, for Helena to punch their ticket, Ian will have to be excellent in what he does, which is shooting the trey ball. He is a sniper who has had phenomenal games this year, scoring from beyond the arc. Teams will not be caught off guard this late in the season, and Chilton County will not just let Ian sit in the corner and let it fly. He is going to have to find different ways to score the rock in order for his team to get to Birmingham.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/IanJohnigan2024/status/1615157261231349760","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/IanJohnigan2024/status/1615157261231349760 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1355584,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/PH-Will-Hawkins.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/PH-Will-Hawkins.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1355584" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385941' first='Will' last='Hawkins'] </strong>(6'3/CG/'23/Sparkman HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: _williamhawkins_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @_williamhawkins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='1385941' first='Will' last='Hawkins'] and his crew have been on a roller coaster ride the entire season. They looked like a team that was going to be home early, but then they were the team that won the Huntsville City Classic. A large part of their success comes from [player_tooltip player_id='1385941' first='Will' last='Hawkins'], and he will have to be every bit of the playmaker he is in order for Sparkman to travel down I-65 and take down Spain Park. Will can get his own shot off the dribble and has a nice mid-range game using his quickness off the bounce to create space for his shot. He can single-handedly carry a team down the stretch, and if Sparkman can keep it close late into the fourth, Will is a player that Sparkman can have the utmost confidence in if the game comes down to a final shot. Which Sparkman team will show up remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, Will has to show up.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SparkmanHoops/status/1621986737466523649","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/SparkmanHoops/status/1621986737466523649 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1653672,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-KJ-Graves-c.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-KJ-Graves-c.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1653672" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1070796' first='Kj' last='Graves']</strong> (5'10/PG/'23/Park Crossing HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Lii Jayy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Kjupnextt3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I saw the Park Crossing team early in the year and was intrigued about the possibilities of this team. They made it to the Final 4 last year, and many believed they could return this year. When you look at the region they are playing in, it is a toss-up, but if PC can get KJ to play like the star he has the potential to be, it will be hard not to believe that the PC team won't come out of this region. KJ is one of the most explosive players in this region, and he will be a tough cover for any defender trying to match up against him. The real question when it comes to KJ is will he go ahead and take the limits off himself and go be the dominant scorer with the ball in his hands that he has shown that he can be. KJ is a player that can significantly impact how far Park Crossing will go in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KJupnextt3/status/1622277714928345089","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/KJupnextt3/status/1622277714928345089 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->