Impact Paint Players from Districts
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These are guys you can throw down low and expect to compete on both sides of the floor with everything they have. They are not just double-double threats but can also bring that lunch pail to the defensive end. Here…
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Continue ReadingThese are guys you can throw down low and expect to compete on both sides of the floor with everything they have. They are not just double-double threats but can also bring that lunch pail to the defensive end. Here are a few impact post players from district play.
Hunt is a big guy at 6-foot-11 and against Rogers for their district championship he was well aware of what he needed to do to succeed. As often as he could, he caught the ball, turned and went up with the shot. More often than not he was able to establish position close to the hoop, making the catch and turn a feasible option. He did a great job keeping the ball high and strong, and acting quickly to feel the defense out and know which way to turn right on the catch. Hunt also was a big force on the glass and moved pretty well to react to balls off the rim, showing some strong hands too. Pullman looked to feed him a lot of touches and even when he didn’t get the rock, he forced multiple defenders to worry about him. He should be a big part of their gameplan against Enumclaw in a loser-out game this Friday.
Zillah and Navarre took down Royal last Thursday to claim their district championship and Navarre did pretty much what he’s done all year, bullying and hustling his way to 16 points and six rebounds. He’s a guy that’s going to fight for every inch of position, whether it’s down on the blocks or leaning into you to fight for boards. He runs the floor, hustles for loose balls, and is a constant presence around the rim on both ends. While he didn’t have a huge game against Royal it’s still a clear example of how far his potential has risen in the last two seasons. He’ll have a big job in their first-round matchup with Tenino to contain Noah Schow Noah Schow 6’5″ | SF Tenino | 2025 State WA and make sure Zillah maintains their edge inside.
Adams often has the advantage inside thanks to his long reach and it was definitely a big factor in their game against Kelso last Thursday. He was fielding a lot of attention down low but it didn’t seem to faze him. He appeared to be comfortable with the swarm of defenders around him and did a great job shifting the ball around as he rose up for shots at the rim. And when he did draw contact and the foul, he made the most of it at the line, especially in the second quarter when he swished 4-of-4 attempts from the stripe. Adams continues to look like a gamechanger each night and one sequence from late in the game really showcased his two-way potential as he caught the rebound off a missed 3 and flushed it back down with two hands, then ran back to the other end and swatted a shot away with his left hand. North Thurston takes on Eastside Catholic in the opening round of the 3A tournament and Adams will have plenty of size to contend with there.
Highlights
Simpson brought major energy against Auburn last week as his squad tried to finally take down the Trojans after suffering two defeats to them earlier in the season. The 6-foot-4 forward made an instant impact off the bench in the second quarter with two quick steals, one in the post and one out near mid-court. His work rate was undeniable, and it translated to every area on the floor. He worked hard inside, evidence by a strong seal on a defender fronting him pretty far out, holding it long enough to let the lob pass travel and then putting in the bucket to get their first lead of the game. He rebounded well and made some nice reads in close to the hoop including a good mid-air adjustment to go from shot to pass and find an open teammate. Although they came away with another loss to Auburn, Beamer and Simpson will be a tough out at the state tournament.
Jaiden Alexander Jaiden Alexander 6'7" | PF Selah | 2025 WA
Jaiden Alexander Jaiden Alexander 6'7" | PF Selah | 2025 WA
Alexander played a solid game against Grandview back on February 10th, often working in congested areas while giving Selah a reliable option down low. He’s 6-foot-7 and started off with a big one hand slam under the hoop. From there he did a lot of work on the blocks, making tough catches and staying on balance, regaining his footing after catching some off target passes. His impact really came with his work rate, both on the glass and fighting through contact inside. He came up big at the foul line, was able to finish over defenders, and even showed some potential to hit the short to midrange jumper.
Robinson had a monster game against O’Dea in the second round of their district playoffs, dominating the paint on both ends on their way to a big win solidifying their spot in the 3A state tournament. He’s been one of the premier post players all season, but it hits a little different in a game of this magnitude and while matching up against one of the other premier forwards in the 2024 class in Malcolm Clark Malcolm Clark 6’7″ | SF O’Dea | 2024 State WA . Robinson was scoring with power, solid footwork, made his trips to the line count, and was all over the glass, but most impressive for the big man was his passing out of the post. There were several instances of guards doubling down or the middle collapsing onto Robinson down low and he reacted with on target skips for open 3s on the opposite wing or corner. It shows another element to the big man’s game as he continues to emerge in his senior year.