Week Three Review: Top 2024s Tony Saw
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Football Preston Ries IA #31 SF #8 HEIGHT 6'1" POS SF CLASS 2024 View Profile Preston Ries Twitter State: Iowa School: Monticello Club: Iowa Barnstormers Cascade actually did a really good job defensively on Ries in the first half of…
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Continue ReadingCascade actually did a really good job defensively on Ries in the first half of their game last week, holding him to just 4 points on 2-6 shooting, but you can only hold someone as athletically and physically gifted as Ries down for so long, and he erupted in the second half en route to 20 points on 9-14 shooting and 10 rebounds. An explosive athlete with great footwork, soft touch, and the ability to power through contact at the bucket for finishes. He’s a good playmaker because of the gravity he has, pulling defenders towards him and finding open shooters.
A 6-4 scoring wing who can fill it up from all three levels, Putman has a good feel for the game and a big frame that he uses to bounce off of defenders and get to the rim. He didn’t make any 3-pointers in the Beavers win over Iowa Valley, but the form on his jumper is good, with a high, repeatable release and plenty of range. He does a good job getting to his spots off the dribble in the halfcourt and is excellent in the mid-range area. He uses his size and athleticism to compete on the glass on both ends of the floor as well. He finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Benzing has always been one of the better shooters in the state, armed with a quick, high release and excellent off-ball movement that he uses to get to his shots. The scary thing for opposing WaMaC schools this year is that the 6-4 wing has added some more ball-handling and confidence in that area to his game, attacking the rim off the dribble and getting to the bucket frequently in the Spartans’ win over West Branch. As he has continued to expand his all-around offensive game, he’s become even more dangerous as a weapon, turning himself from an elite catch-and-shoot weapon into a dynamic all-around scorer. He had 28 points on 11-20 shooting (2-5 3P, 4-4 FT) to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
At first glance, Trepanier looks more like a football player than a basketball standout, but the 6-0 forward has been extremely productive for West Branch over the last few years, and that continued with great play against Solon on Saturday afternoon, scoring 22 points on 9-14 shooting (2-4 3P) to go with 11 rebounds and 2 steals. He’s listed at just 6-0, but he plays several inches bigger than that with his physicality and effort levels, relentlessly pursuing the ball when rebounding, rotating well on the defensive end, and positioning himself on that end of the floor. He also showcased a lightning-quick release off the catch from deep and a lot of confidence in his jumper.
Solon did a good job against Arnaman on the defensive end, limiting the 6-3 point guard to just 6-17 shooting, but he still finished with 19 points and 5 assists in the Bears’ loss. He has a tremendous feel for the game and doesn’t force anything, finding good looks for himself and his teammates. He’s one of the best ball-handlers in the state, keeping his dribble alive against constant pressure and finding open teammates, and he has the type of range that the defender needs to pick him up at halfcourt. He takes advantage of that by getting to the rim, using his handles and quick first step to get by defenders and into the teeth of the defense.
Highlights
A lead guard with good size, Reid sees the floor well and loves to get his teammates involved. He didn’t have a good night shooting it against Iowa Valley, going just 1-9 from the floor, but he found other ways to impact the game, dishing out 11 assists to go with 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.