Playmaking Forwards at Districts
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Here are a handful of the most impactful forwards who have the versatility and skill to affect the game in many ways. Stretching the floor, creating shots off the bounce, distributing the ball, or making high IQ plays, these guys…
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Continue ReadingHere are a handful of the most impactful forwards who have the versatility and skill to affect the game in many ways. Stretching the floor, creating shots off the bounce, distributing the ball, or making high IQ plays, these guys bring a wide range of skills to the floor.
Jackman-Thomas stood out last week against West Seattle for his ability to score from the perimeter and put the ball on the floor to get to good spots for shots. He’s a bouncy forward who usually plays tough inside and can step out to nail the 3-ball but took his outside scoring up another notch against the Wildcats. He started the game out hitting a defender with a good pump from 3, then took a dribble in and knocked down the baseline pullup. It’s not something that’s been a big part of his game, but he’s continued to get better at scoring while working from the perimeter. Later in the game he made a great drive to split defenders and aggressively get to the hoop, and then later again he caught the pass from an OOB play and immediately got downhill with two strong dribbles then rose up for the big two-hand slam. He’s always been an exciting athlete but the improved consistency with the outside shot, and the growth creating off the dribble have really elevated his status as a prospect over his senior year.
Highlights
Boston demands attention the moment the game starts with how physical he plays, and with his ability to step out and bury jumpers. He’s got great command around the paint and is one of the better playmakers from inside the arc, passing, shooting, and keeping plays alive with his work on the glass. Against Stadium last week, he showed all of that off, catching just about every ball thrown into him in the low or high post, scoring from inside and out, and combining IQ and effort to be a force on the glass. He’s really got a polished game that allows him to succeed inside even though he’s not the tallest player, and work from the perimeter even though he’s not the quickest guy out there.
Valcin is the type of player who can make a crucial play in just about any situation at any time. This was fully evident last week against Todd Beamer as Valcin made plays passing, defending, scoring, and rebounding. He had a couple of near full court passes that went for assists, then another touch pass off of an OOB play that led to a 3 at the halftime buzzer. Aside from his passing, he was trailing plays to make big blocks on defense, came up with some nice follows and put-backs on the offensive end, and was working hard tipping rebounds out to himself and teammates all night. This is what you get when you mix one of the best athletes in the state with one of the hardest workers and add in the fact that he’s a high IQ player.
Gonzaga Prep has gone on a run to end the regular season and start the playoffs, ripping off 10 wins in a row since a Jan. 12 loss to Mt. Spokane. They have a lot of guys that play a big role in their success, but the 6-foot-7 Christy poses a unique threat to opposing teams as a big guy who can do a little bit of it all. He’s not typically the kind of player that comes to mind when you say “playmaker,” but he’s a guy who can make all the passes from the arc or the high post into the interior. He has a good presence of mind to make the right read and has been knocking down 3s at a higher rate to really add to his perimeter game. On top of all that, he’s a highly active player around the rim on both ends and allows Gonzaga Prep to pose a lot of different looks for defenses.
Tellis is a lanky forward who has the capability to hit some truly difficult shots, leaning this way and that. And although he got off to a rough start from the field against Auburn last week, he ended up finding his rhythm in the second quarter and seemed to feed off of some defensive plays he was making. He was getting his hands on a lot of passes, timing swipes on drives to strip ballhandlers, and even got out on a 3-point shooter to block a jumper. Offensively, he found bottom from each level, splitting defenders to the rim, drilling open 3s, and dropping in tightly contested middy’s off the bounce. He has the potential to be a dynamic player and will be a tough matchup for whoever picks him up in their next game Saturday against Mount Vernon.
Ford’s easily one of the top athletes in the state but against Glacier Peak in their district championship game he was feeling his jump shot, drilling shots off the dribble and showing how enticing his potential is. He started the game by splashing in a 3 without hesitation, then followed that with an offensive board and put-back, and followed that play up with a smooth contested pullup for a long two. It’s a tantalizing combination of skills that really separates him among most in his class. He continued to score inside and out en route to the victory and if he can shoot like this when their state matchups come around, he’ll be an even bigger problem for any team they face.