The Classic at Damien (Best Shooters)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Classic at Damien (Best Shooters)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LA VERNE, Ca.--The Classic at Damien continued to show it's the ultimate holiday tournament on the West Coast due to its plethora of quality teams and stellar players, led by Tournament MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1630617' first='Brayden' last='Burries'] of Roosevelt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the following days, there will be numerous breakdowns of prospects ranging from High-Major Division 1 talents to junior college prospects under a bevy of categories. In this category, we selected a group of some of the best shooters in the event. Whether off the catch or delivered on a pull-up, these prospects had the nets burning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1057037' first='Cooper' last='Lewis'] (Lehi, UT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025, CG, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joel's Take:</strong> Although Lewis was one of the better shooters in the event, he also impacted the game in the areas of rebounding and defense. He is a prolific shooter off the catch where he can set his feet quickly and show great lift on his shot. His release is tight and quick as well. Overall, he's a solid athlete and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty on the defensive end (good instincts) and snatch rebounds in traffic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noah Gifft (Ironwood, AZ)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024, WF, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joel's take: </strong>Grift can swing between the 2 and the 3 due to his strong burly frame and deceptive quickness. He's a thick-bodied wing who plays with moxie and confidence. His ultimate forte is his shooting prowess. He doesn't get a great lift on his shot, but he sets his feet up quickly and his release is smooth and tight. He can come off a pin-down screen or deliver the shot in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1264595' first='Jase' last='Butler'] (Branson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024, SG, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joel's take</strong>: In addition to his shooting prowess, Butler was one of the better college-ready players in the event. The smooth shooting lefty is lights out from the free throw line as well as from the 3-point stripe--even his misses are right there. He is equally adept at shooting off the catch as he is off the dribble. His release is smooth and tight and he's always on balance. He should fit in nicely in Brad Underwood's motion offense where they like to strike in transition as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1956524' first='Isaiah' last='Rogers'] (Corona Centennial)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026, CG, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joel's Take: </strong>Rogers has an ideal frame for the next level with long arms and overall good length. He can swing between both guard positions due to his versatility and decision-making, but his strength is his shooting prowess. He has a smooth and easy stroke from 22 feet and his release is tight with no wasted motion. He projects to be one of the better-looking prospects out west in the Class of 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1124083' first='Kevin' last='Haupt'] (Jesuit, CA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024, PG, 5-foot-10, 155 pounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joel's Take:</strong> Haupt is a crafty point guard who plays with moxie and speed. He handles the point guard duties with aplomb and shows a solid burst off the dribble. He can get separation off the dribble and either nail the mid-range pull-up or drop off the nifty assist. However, his shooting prowess off the catch is a thing of beauty. He has a quick release and his shot mechanics are tight. He's a bit undersized but makes up for it with savvy and speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->