Players to Watch on Tuesdays & Fridays

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are a full month into the basketball season and the action has been fast paced. There have been some good games along with some high level performances from high level players during the opening month. There have also been good games by new names as well. In this Prep Hoops exclusive, we will look at some of the names and faces who look to etch their name in our memories as they play on Tuesday and Friday nights in the Boot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1480390' first='Desa'monte' last='Gradney'] (6'3" | Iowa | 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gradney is part of the one-two senior punch at Iowa. He is very good at playing the lead guard and has shown the ability to get others involved when he is on the floor. Gradney is very good at getting to the paint and finding shooters on the perimeter as he did against Madison Prep earlier this season. He can also get down hill and finish at the rim. With his height and driving ability, Gradney should continue to have success with the above formula. His play will be paramount in Iowa's effort to get back to Marsh Madness this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679406' first='Antonio' last='Dixon'] (6'4" | Huntington | 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huntington may have a budding star on their hands with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679406' first='Antonio' last='Dixon']</strong>. He has had to play as a post option for the Raiders and he has had the challenge of facing players like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105536' first='Jeremiah' last='Evans']</strong> this season. While working on his defensive chops in the post, Dixon has shown prowess as an inside and outside threat. Dixon has stepped out to hit the three in several games while displaying the ability to drive from the baseline. He is long and athletic which is a Raider signature. With more time on the floor, I can see Dixon becoming a true offensive threat on Tuesdays and Fridays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1492968' first='Chris' last='Lindo'] (6'5" | Madison Prep | 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindo is a player who has definitely improved his all around game in the early part of the season. Lindo has historically played with his back to the basket. This season, he has displayed the ability to put the ball on the deck and attack the rim. Lindo seems to favor the left elbow to attack from and has shown that he is comfortable driving to his left. He is still a great rebounder and is very good at gathering boards in traffic. Adding a consistent mid-range shot has made him a hard player to guard. Lindo will be a big part of the Charger attack if he continues playing this way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105551' first='Jyrin' last='Sowell'] (6'3" | Captain Shreve | 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sowell may be the most important player for the Captain Shreve Gators. His ability to guard multiple positions and score from multiple positions is unique in today's high school game. Sowell has a strong upper body and strong hands which allow him to switch on to a bang on the block with a post player before switching out to a guard and covering him on the perimeter. On the flip side, Jyrin can post smaller and larger players and score almost at will. He is also very good from the mid-range and in transition. The Gators will go very far with Sowell playing well in his various roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2197029' first='Kheiri' last='Haynes'] (5'10" | Zachary | 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haynes is a speed merchant who has morphed into one of the better transition finishers in the state. He is also one of the better point guards in the 2024 class because he is also adept at running the one. Haynes can take an outlet pass and go coast-to-coast in a heartbeat. He is very good at using the rim and angles off the glass to finish layups. Haynes often penetrates deeply and finds one of the myriad of Bronco shooters showing that he knows where his players are at all times. His play during the early season should translate into experience Zachary needs later in the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday and Friday nights in the Boot should be fun to watch with players like these around. Look for these players to become household names to watch on the hardwood in Louisiana. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->