Playoff Watchlist: Senior Forwards
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As playoffs continue to get underway around the state it’s time to look at some seniors who will have big impacts on the outcomes of these games. Check out some senior forwards who should be on your playoff watch list.…
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Continue ReadingAs playoffs continue to get underway around the state it’s time to look at some seniors who will have big impacts on the outcomes of these games. Check out some senior forwards who should be on your playoff watch list.
Valcin has played numerous positions and roles in his high school career, fitting in with different units and doing what is needed to win. He’s known for his elite athleticism but the guard/forward has played a bigger role in the frontcourt this season both with his play on the glass, around the rim, and defending. He’s a load for anyone to guard and stay in front of, but the thing that stood out last time I saw him was his passing. He was finding passes across the blocks when doubles came, making smart skips to 3PT shooters, and showed he can make the right read on the break to capitalize in transition. He’s a very unselfish player that will no doubt have a big impact this postseason and can affect the game on every level.
The senior post is a name to watch for Todd Beamer. They’ve put together a great season up to this point, going 15-3 and finishing second in the NPSL 3A. He’s got decent size at 6-foot-4 but has a stout frame and can put in some big minutes as a real presence down low. He works hard under the rim, actively runs the floor to both ends, and has a good touch at the line. He could be a guy that steps up big in their frontcourt and capitalizes on good matchups down low.
Gig Harbor is a team lurking slightly under the radar in the 3A. They finished the season 17-4 with two late losses in the year, but they have the balance and size to make some real noise. Allison has been one of their impactful bigs who can take on multiple defenders in the post and has shown the toughness to battle for four quarters, taking shots, finishing through contact, and earning his way at the line. His work rate and effort around the paint gives the Tides a real post they can consistently feed, something not every team has.
The long North Thurston forward has taken off this season and helped the Rams to a first-place finish in the SSC. Adams has dealt with a lot of different looks thrown at him, working through a swarm of smaller, quicker players, banging with some of the taller and more physical bigs in the state, and each time showing he’s a dangerous player. He’s averaging 18.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and doing it on the defensive end with 3.1 blocks and 2.7 steals per game.
Highlights
Pratt’s a lesser-known name but plays a big role for a North Central team looking to make a run this season out of the Greater Spokane League. The senior wing doesn’t light up the scoreboard but he’s been a guy they like to throw on the opposing team’s best players to shut them down. He plays physical without fouling, gets up in guys on the perimeter and challenges ballhandlers, and does a great job staying on his feet and not biting on shot fakes. He’s a hustler on the offensive end, setting solid screens, making good cuts, and finding rebounding lanes.