Rising to the Top: FHU SL Standouts Pt. 2/2
Pt. 2 from Fair Haven Summer League action! Ethan Whalen, 6’3 W – Rutland H.S. Class of 2026 Phew, Ethan was nothing but nylon all evening. Whalen’s stroke is incredibly smooth, and he was stepping it out a couple feet…
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Continue ReadingPt. 2 from Fair Haven Summer League action!
Ethan Whalen, 6’3 W – Rutland H.S. Class of 2026
Phew, Ethan was nothing but nylon all evening. Whalen’s stroke is incredibly smooth, and he was stepping it out a couple feet beyond the arc on his way to five or so 3s. Ethan was finding his shot off of simple relocation and spot-up opportunities, rarely ever needing to put the ball on the floor to find space. I’m interested to see what Ethan adds to his game, but his shot is all there.
Zak Chani, 6’0 G – Burr and Burton Academy Class of 2024
Cutting is a work of art, and Zak was putting together a masterclass on how to move off the ball. BBA was running a version of Bo Ryan’s swing offense and Chani was dicing the defense up. He read defensive coverage well, moved swiftly, and finished tons of looks at the rim. Once he solidified his inside game, Zak found space on the perimeter where he knocked down a few 3s. A smart defender as well, Chani put together a highly efficient and impactful night.
Andrew Barker, 6’4 W – Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2026
This young one can shoot it. Barker and Whalen were going back and forth, hitting treys one after another it seemed. Andrew found his looks off of pin downs, drive and kick spot-ups, and simple relocation on the weak side. He must’ve had five threes on 1-2 dribbles. In addition, Andrew moved the ball effectively, hit the glass on the defensive end, and played smart defense against a shooter of similar pedigree. Barker was highly efficient and demonstrated his swiss-army knife ability on the defensive end. I like his upside.
Callum Morell, 6’1 G/W – Burr and Burton Academy Class of 2024
The facilitation I saw from Morell was surgical. Callum was patient in his approach, reading screens, hitting cutters, and diving right into 2nd and 3rd options as BBA ran their stuff. His passing was incredibly timely and precise, hitting guys right in stride and putting it only where his guy could catch it. On the defensive end, Callum was just as measured. He kept his man in front, provided help with his movement and length, and hit the glass too. Morell simplifies the game and is highly impactful in doing so.
Will Ameden, 6’4 W/F – Burr and Burton Academy Class of 2024
Quite naturally, Will is a modern 3/4 forward. Ameden showed the strength and athleticism to muscle down low and finish around the cup with a second jump that no one could challenge. Additionally, Will displayed his passing touch. He moved intuitively through the swing offense, hit one or two 3s, slashed a bit, and made snappy passes into the paint for interior looks. His defense was solid as was his rebounding; I look forward to seeing more of Will’s game.
Jorden Watson, 6’1 G – Rutland H.S. Class of 2025
Jorden’s ability to organize the offense and create looks was crucial to the RHS cause. Watson’s ballhandling, perimeter passing, and work in the pnr created offense for himself and others. He finished some looks in the mid-range, found rollers and cutters, and got to the cup too. Defensively, Jorden held his own against a variety of FHU guards and wings, often containing whoever he matched up with. I’m interested to see more of Watson.