Battle in Seattle: Standout Forwards

Ryan Morgan July 3, 2023 @ 01:08 PM

I was able to pop in at the Auburn Fieldhouse and catch some action at the Battle in Seattle this last weekend. Here are a few of the top forwards I saw over the course of the event.   [player_tooltip player_id='1439540' first='Hudson' last='Yarbrough'] Elite Prep (Elite Sports 17u Prep Devin)   He's a skilled big who takes his time to assess the floor, can shoot well out to 3-point as well as make some passes from the top to find cutters. He can run the break too and really excels as a playmaking combo-forward. He's not too explosive but makes his mark with smart play and great ball skills.   [player_tooltip player_id='1612217' first='Kane' last='Wood'] Cleveland (Big Drip Hoops 17u)   He had an excellent game against More than Hoops, providing a key presence on the glass and at the rim against a bigger team. He was feeling it from behind the arc, draining countless corner threes including a big shot with time running down to give his team the lead and help them secure the win.   Gunnar Harroun Tumwater (Oly Basketball Varsity)   He had a strong spring and got right back to it this weekend. He's a big kid who looks to assert himself in the paint on both ends with a tireless motor and some extra physical play. He mainly brings toughness in the paint but has the ability to break down and guard some quicker players on the perimeter as well, and closes out extremely well on shooters.   [player_tooltip player_id='1587998' first='Noah' last='Schow'] Tenino (World Class Renegades 16u Black)   He's a kid who's used to playing big for his smaller high school squad but has the shooting touch and playmaking to be a true wing. He still has some room to fill out physically to match up with more athletic wings but can shoot from all areas of the floor and fills the stat sheet with good awareness and work rate.   [player_tooltip player_id='1850312' first='Layne' last='Weir'] Bonney Lake (Big Drip Hoops 16u)   Weir has the tools to be a playmaking big and was really looking to do damage when he got the ball this weekend. He's a skilled passer from the perimeter, and shot the three fairly well, though there's a lot of potential to get more consistent there. He also has the size to bang inside and counters that with some good quickness to spin off defenders and get to the cup.   [player_tooltip player_id='2173102' first='Julian' last='Gray'] Edmonds Woodway (Hoop Land 15u - Team Chinn)   A strong kid with some size that finishes with spring and power at the rim. He's also able to put the ball on the floor and make things happen from the perimeter. His physical makeup is really intriguing for a kid his age.   [player_tooltip player_id='1863252' first='Peter' last='Pilcher'] Rogers (Team Smooth Blue)   Pilcher showed some significant upside this weekend, building on a strong June with his high school team. He's a wing that can defend the rim with some excellent shot-blocking instincts and has shown some ability to shoot from the mid-range and 3-point, though at this point he's a much stronger finisher in the paint.   [player_tooltip player_id='2021596' first='Carter' last='Cohen'] North Creek (Seattle Select 9th UA)   He's a 6-foot-8 big that looks to have more finesse than power at this stage but shows some promise as a kid who can develop that interior part of his game with more physicality. He has a real good stroke from the outside and nice touch around the rim with jump hooks. He can dribble well enough to take an open lane and go all the way to the rim.

I was able to pop in at the Auburn Fieldhouse and catch some action at the Battle in Seattle this last weekend. Here are a few of the top forwards I saw over the course of the event.