Takeaways: Richwoods vs Manual

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The gym was packed tight at Richwoods on Tuesday night for their matchup vs Peoria Manual in what made for a great early season atmosphere. After a back and forth battle in the first half, Richwoods pulled away quickly in the third quarter. Here are some observations from the game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">High Major Recruits Battle</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rutgers commit [player_tooltip player_id='1978576' first='Lathan' last='Sommerville'] was able to get whatever he wanted on the court vs an undersized Manual roster, finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Having spent the past 2 years at The Skill Factory in Georgia with Lathan myself, it has been awesome to witness his growth and transformation into one of the most skilled bigs in the country. He will have a great career at Rutgers and beyond. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1576114' first='Dietrich' last='Richardson'] was nursing a groin injury but still found his way to 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Richardson, who is the nephew of former Illini great DJ Richardson, recently received an offer from Illinois after an unofficial visit. With his combination of length and handles, look for his recruitment to continue to blossom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Unsigned Seniors Making Their Case</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1978599' first='Tavie' last='Smith'] put on a show for Richwoods, posting 26 points 5 assists and 4 steals. Smith really impressed in this matchup and showcased his knack for scoring at all levels. I'm not sure what more Smith needs to do to prove his worth as a scholarship level player but I will continue to bang that drum. Division 2 programs- buy stock now. Another unsigned guard for Richwoods, [player_tooltip player_id='2104980' first='Jared' last='Jackson'] finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jackson has the ability to guard 1-4 positions with his length. Great athlete who can affect the game in many ways without scoring. For Manual, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1571918' first='Gerrell' last='Trapps'] showed his ability to attack the rim and also hit a corner three. When he is efficient with his dribbles getting downhill he is hard to stop. Trapps is a name that fell under the radar after sitting out last season but he is starting to get his game feel back. He finished with 9 points and 2 assists in a tough matchup vs a tenacious Richwoods backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">More Guards to Monitor</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior guard Nas Jackson had 9 points for Manual, playing with his usual high motor flying around the court. Jackson shows potential but is inconsistent on the offensive end to this point and struggled a bit in the second half with questionable shot selection. Sophomore guard Josh Humbles also pitched in 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists for Manual. While he never quite got going offensively he showed good composure in a tough setting. Fellow sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2323294' first='Tony' last='Bradford'] made his first varsity appearance of the season and finished with 5 points. Bradford still has a long way to go physically but a lot to like about his game offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->