Senior Sensations: Top 2023 Forwards from Winter Pt. 2
Dig in on this second batch of forwards who impact winning at a high level! No quit in any of these guys. Get familiar! Isaac Davis, 6’8 F – Spaulding High School An absolute wall inside, Isaac has the chops…
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Continue ReadingDig in on this second batch of forwards who impact winning at a high level! No quit in any of these guys. Get familiar!
Isaac Davis, 6’8 F – Spaulding High School
An absolute wall inside, Isaac has the chops to go toe-to-toe defensively with anyone in the state. With his stout frame, Davis is physical yet fairly mobile. He contains post players with ease, using his power to hold his ground and challenge guys to finish through him. And he’s also able to stick with bigs who like to step into the mid-range or to 3. On offense, he’s physical with his post-game, using strong drop steps and baby hooks to finish on both sides of the rim. Or he’ll tango in ball screens and open scoring opportunities that way. Plus, he has the awareness to feed fellow bigs and cutters, or kick it when teams send second defenders. Oh, and he rebounds at a high rate on both ends. Isaac is efficient with good feel.
Tyler Rivard, 6’6 F – Hazen Union High School
Rivard comes with an old-school flavor; he’s a bruiser inside the paint with his strong frame and relentless work on either side of the floor. Offensively, his post-game is decisive and powerful, and if anything comes off the rim, he’s tracking it down. Then with his court awareness + passing ability, Tyler makes a lot of plays for cutters and relocating shooters. And defensively, there’s no let up. He’s physical with opponents in the post and is a savvy rim protector on drives. Moreover, he closes those possessions with an appetite for boards and he creates quick offense with pinpoint outlets. Rivard has no quit.
Seth Richards, 6’7 F – BFA St. Albans
With a great motor and a knack for getting good position, Seth anchored BFA on both ends of the floor. Richards is a great dunker spot guy, able to slide in for easy twos off of drives. And when he’s aggressive around the post with his drop steps and baby hooks, he’s a tough cover. Plus, he got himself tons of jams and lays with his hustle in the open court. Defensively, Richards is a strong rim protector with his verticality and second jump. Moreover, he has the mobility to defend outside the paint and the athleticism + work ethic to clean glass. Seth gets it done with high-effort activity.
Aidan Johnston, 6’5 F – Mount Mansfield Union High School
Aidan consistently puts in the dirty work. Johnston is a double-double threat each game without a play being called for him. He runs the floor hard and finds easy buckets in transition. Yet he can also catch the rock in the post or short corner, face-up, and finish strongly with a 1-2 dribble take to the cup. Moreover, he reels in offensive boards and loose balls for extra possessions. Then defensively, Johnston is highly versatile. He defends multiple positions with his athleticism, length and strength. Personally, I think Aidan’s swiss-army knife skillset has flown under the radar, including mine at times. He’s a gamechanger.
Daniel Surma, 6’7 F – Winooski High School
Surma’s defensive chops are irrefutable. With his timing and athleticism, Daniel is a premier shot blocker, and he likely averaged around 4-5 a game this winter. Plus, his second jump rises above everyone else, so he’s able to clean the glass or defend a second shot well. Moreover, Surma has nice footwork and mobility. He can slide out to the perimeter and hang with wings or jump passes out of WHS high pressure defense. Offensively, he’s still a little raw. But nonetheless, he’s another strong finisher out of the dunker spot or pnr, and he can finish his baby hook fairly consistently. I like Surma’s high-level work ethic and passion on the defensive end.