2023s Making the Jump from WL to Ranked
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Many of these players have been on our watch for a while now, while some have come onto our radar more recently. Either way, these are a handful of guys proving with their play they belong in the top 150.…
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Continue ReadingMany of these players have been on our watch for a while now, while some have come onto our radar more recently. Either way, these are a handful of guys proving with their play they belong in the top 150. Now that they have made the leap from watchlist to ranked, let’s get you acquainted with some guys raising their stock in 2023.
Kastberg took a big role in a new-look Sumner squad who graduated a lot of talent from a year ago. He’s a sharpshooting lefty with good size and deep range who has provided some big games for the Spartans as they made a strong push at the state tournament. They overcame adversity to make to the regional round of the 4A tournament before ending the year with a loss to Union.
Highlights
This kid is a gritty defensive player who gets up under ballhandlers and harasses offenses all game long. He has great energy and quickness and stands out for his ability to energize his team with his defensive effort. Linton is also a solid secondary ballhandler and has a little bit of shot-making ability to his game.
The 3A GSHL MVP, Vargas is a solid athlete at the guard spot and can play either position in a pinch. He’s strong going to the hoop, rebounds the ball well, and brings a lot to the defensive side of the ball too. He’s stronger than most guards, has the quickness to keep up with them, and has the burst to rack up stocks at a high rate.
Highlights
The sharpshooter from Kennewick has a launcher from distance and does a great job getting his feet set quickly so his shot gets that same foundation on every lift. He shared ballhandling duties on the year and has a little wiggle to him that lets him get past defenders who get up too tight.
Tipke-Henry is a surprising athlete who can really soar up at the rim and finish with good strength. He also handled ballhandling duties for Kennewick and did a lot of playmaking for the Lions with his ability to get into the heart of the defense and attract multiple defenders. His athleticism was evident on the defensive end as well, where he can body up guards with his strength and quickness.
Juergens is just a solid player all-around. He makes the clutch plays, smart plays, can shoot the ball with high-efficiency, and is a strong defender in the team’s scheme. He’s got the athleticism too, as a standout wide-receiver and Washington State bound footballer.
Floyd embodies toughness on the hardwood and I’m pretty sure he was or is missing a tooth to prove it. Either way, the Gonzaga Prep point guard has a nonstop motor and flies all over the court. He has some skill too, and can get hot from outside, cross his man over and get to the rim, and do a little distributing to his teammates as well.
West has been a big-time player for Federal Way this season with his defensive acumen and consistency from 3-point. He is cool as ice and just continues to play at the same level all year long. He’s able to shoot over tight defense, but can also put it on the floor and exhibit nice touch in the paint with runners and floaters.
Highlights
The Kent-Meridian man is another high-energy player who sells out for shots at the rim and has great footwork and quickness to beat players off of the dribble and get into the paint. He can shoot it too and is a heady offensive player who can hurt you in a number of ways.