Double Take: Winter Stock-Riser Candidates

Ryan Morgan August 7, 2023 @ 12:42 PM

A lot of these guys should be at least somewhat familiar names but still feel like players flying under the radar. They put together strong summer seasons and are a few names that deserve another look heading into the high school season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1450958' first='Beckett' last='Turner'] Ilwaco '24   Turner was a secondary scorer and ballhandler last season at Ilwaco but should return to be the number-one option this winter. This summer he's shown complete confidence spending more time with the ball in his hands, playmaking, and looking to score. He's quicker, has a better arsenal of dribble moves, and looks completely comfortable getting to his spots and using the entire court. The most promising development was his progress as a playmaker. His ability to attack with the ball, draw defenders and the focus of the defense, and get downhill has really opened up more passing lanes and made him a more diverse offensive player. His summer play helped him pick up a recent offer from the University of Puget Sound.   [player_tooltip player_id='1587996' first='Michael' last='Johnson II'] Mt Vernon '25   Johnson is a super-talented guard that probably flies under the radar because he's been prone to some ups and downs, but the Mt Vernon guard has a dynamic scorer's skill set. Tight handle, excellent body control, and an ability to score from all levels, when Johnson is on he is one of the tougher players to stop in the NWC. He can hit contested shots near the rim at tough angles, moves with quick bursts around defenders, and can bust out for big games. A year older, I expect Johnson to find more consistency this season and help take Mt Vernon to the next step this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1956182' first='Gavin' last='Perdue'] Skyview '24   Perdue is a big wing player who has a great blend of slashing and shooting to his game. He's a tall, upright shooter who can step into shots from deep or work off a dribble or two to create a little space. Skyview returns a lot of talent this season and Perdue could be a big improver who helps make them one of the more competitive teams down south. As a guy who can slash and shoot, he puts a lot of pressure on defenses coming off of screens, reading the trail defender to either curl it in tight to the hoop, or pop out to drain the three.   [player_tooltip player_id='1485584' first='Colton' last='Wells'] Freeman '25   When I first saw Wells, he was a 6-foot-5 post probably forced down low because of his size. Since then, he's made a big transition to a wing/guard and has become a pretty efficient and potent 3-point shooter. He's about 6-foot-6 now and has developed more moves to create space off the dribble, hitting more jumpers off the bounce and showing some promise getting to the hoop. It will be interesting to see how he chooses to attack this winter, and how he's going to balance scoring inside and out. There's more defensive potential there too but he's shown a lot of promise this summer and could make some major growth in the winter season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1450959' first='Quinn' last='Swanson'] Mt Vernon '24   Swanson was a first-team all-league selection in the NWC last season who really stood out with his ability to shoot under a lot of different situations and spots. He's continued to display that shooting touch this summer but has looked a lot tougher taking the ball to the rim, and more proactive in searching out driving lanes to utilize more of the court. He's an exceptionally smart player who's play over the summer helped him pick up offers from Northwest University, the University of Providence in Montana, and George Fox University in Oregon.

A lot of these guys should be at least somewhat familiar names but still feel like players flying under the radar. They put together strong summer seasons and are a few names that deserve another look heading into the high school season.