Mike’s Top Performers of the Week
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This week I attended one standalone game, Seneca @ Christian Academy of Louisville and the opening day of the Defiance Holiday tournament. In this article I’ll break down the standout performers I saw from those games. Quel’ron House KY #4…
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Continue ReadingThis week I attended one standalone game, Seneca @ Christian Academy of Louisville and the opening day of the Defiance Holiday tournament. In this article I’ll break down the standout performers I saw from those games.
One of the top unsigned seniors in Kentucky, House continues to put on impressive performances this time leading Seneca to a tough road win at CAL. A small athletic guard, House has excellent burst and explosiveness with the ball in his hands. A capable shooter off the bounce, House got to his spots and made the defense pay when they went under ball screens and left the pull-up available. Making a couple nice passes in this one as well including looking a defender off in transition for an easy layup, if House can show growth in taking care of the basketball, he should receive some Division I interest before it’s all said and done.
Back in Kentucky for his senior season after a stint in Dayton for a year, Washington is back doing what he does best, which is making it rain from 3-point range. Washington has excellent pre-catch habits, which allow him to go from receiving the pass to a shooting motion in a split second. When he gets space, it’s going up within 25 feet and usually going in. A better transition athlete than I think is usually given credit for, Washington can get above the rim in transition. If Washington is going to be putting it on the floor at the next level consistently, he’s going to need to improve his right hand as defenses will force him that direction at the college level.
Highlights
Preston Wheatley
Preston Wheatley
One of the first eighth graders I’ve came across during my short time in Kentucky, Wheatley was aggressive in the paint. Looking for contact and trying to go through players three and four years older than him, I was really impressed with how tough Wheatley played in the paint. With nice touch around the basket, Wheatley could use the reverse layup or go straight through a defender with a power jump stop. Already productive at the high school level, it’ll be interesting to follow how he develops as a ball handler and how much he grows. Interesting long-term prospect to keep an eye on.
After a brutal first half that saw the teams go into the locker room with a score of 12-10, Toledo St Francis came out aggressive with an impressive second half performance to pull away from Toledo Start. Horton was a key factor in this improved effort as he can score or pass out of the post with his skill with his back to the basket. Having a size advantage on whoever guarded him in the paint, I thought the offense worked best when Horton got a touch on the block and then either shot or passed it to a shooter or cutter. The exclamation point of the game was a slam dunk to put his team up 15 with under two minutes to play.
Anthony Wayne went on the road and took down the host Defiance with a well balanced scoring outing. Pike was their most impressive player with a big run in the third quarter being fueled by his offensive game. A strong wing forward prospect, Pike can attack off the bounce and got a handful of free throws off dribble drive attacks. Able to knock down perimeter shots as well with a top of the key 3-pointer and a tough crossover into a mid-range pull-up, Pike is one of the top players in his conference. Anthony Wayne takes on Toledo St Francis in the championship game of this four-team event tonight at Defiance.