September Look Back: 2024s Figuring It Out

Chad Graham September 29, 2023 @ 07:36 PM

With the grassroots season fully in the rear view and high school teams getting to practice on the regular, many of the current (no longer "rising") seniors are finding their groove. Here are five who are doing just that:   [player_tooltip player_id='1589404' first='Connor' last='Fleet'] | 6'1 West Chester Henderson    Henderson wanted all the smoke this month and they held their own when they got it. Fleet's progress is a big reason why. The combo guard is getting to the basket in the clutch, using his body on drives to bump defenders off their spots and play through contact at the rim. More importantly for his long-term projection, Fleet is accenting his scoring with playmaking. His prowess as a scorer opens up passing windows and he utilizes them to dish it to [player_tooltip player_id='1589269' first='Nyle' last='Ralph-Beyer'] on the perimeter and bigs inside.    [player_tooltip player_id='2347420' first='Justin' last='Hinds'] | 6'6 Salesianum (DE)   The under-discussed member of the Sallies' big 3 seniors, Hinds has been at the heart of what they do defensively since last season. Now he's giving them another dimension in the half court, offensively, with his jump shot. Also a 4.0 student, the two-way wing is creating shots for himself in the mid-range. Once Hinds gets to his spots, his length allows him to pull up over defenders for lightly contested looks. His touch from there extends to the three-point line as well. The best part is he's doing that and more against a tough fall schedule.    [player_tooltip player_id='1173986' first='Fazl' last='Oshodi'] | 6'3 Friends Central    The transition from sixth man and situational starter to primary option isn't easy, but Oshodi is blossoming in his new role. He's in-rhythm and shot-ready as soon as the game starts. His jumper is good off-the-catch or pulling up. And because of the team's synergy, Oshodi doesn't have to force it. His teammates willingly swing him the ball when he's open, and when he doesn't have a clean look, he gets off it. What the increased usage hasn't done is takeaway from his defense. He's still locked in on that end while leading his team in scoring on the other.    [player_tooltip player_id='2347418' first='Aiden' last='Tobiason'] | 6'5 St. Elizabeth's (DE)   Tobiason has been the biggest breakout player from the summer up until now. His fluidity, bounce, and shooting were there as a junior. But his rapid development as an advantage creator is due to him going from the fourth or 5th option to the primary. Every game he's facing new tests and he's solving them via his openness to not just win one way and his determination to assert himself on the game. Whether he has to create points off of turnovers or find the duck then post up/pull up, Tobiason is putting all of his tools on the table. As a result, Sacred Heart just offered and other schools are kicking the tires on him.   [player_tooltip player_id='1156892' first='Devyn' last='Wright-Myles'] | 6'3 Hamilton West (NJ)   Although an undersized wing, Wright-Myles understands who and what he is on the basketball court; and he does it at 110%. He used his muscular frame to help at the nail or wall up at the him. He's perfect at the point of attack in some matchups too. His build and high motor also make him a good rebounder. Wright-Myles is able to box out and grab boards over taller players. That's also how he gets many of his half court buckets. If it's not in transition or a dump off on a cut, he's comfortable making a living on putbacks

With the grassroots season fully in the rear view and high school teams getting to practice on the regular, many of the current (no longer "rising") seniors are finding their groove. Here are five who are doing just that: