Mike’s Regional Finals Standouts
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On Regional Final Saturday I caught two games, a Division I battle between Garfield Heights and Toledo Whitmer, then a Division II contest that featured Kettering Alter and Cincinnati Wyoming. In this article, I’ll break down four standout performers from…
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Continue ReadingOn Regional Final Saturday I caught two games, a Division I battle between Garfield Heights and Toledo Whitmer, then a Division II contest that featured Kettering Alter and Cincinnati Wyoming. In this article, I’ll break down four standout performers from the pair of games.
A lot gets talked about with Whitmer’s back-court that features a pair of Juniors with Division I offers. While they were key in the win over Garfield Heights, I was also impressed with what Young III showed on Saturday. Defensively, I thought Young did a great job as the Panthers took turns switching and taking on the tough assignments of staying in front of the quick and talented Bulldog guards. I was also impressed offensively with how Young picked his spots to attack offensively. He’s still deferring to some of the more experienced guys on his team, but Young shows a lot of potential on the offensive end. I’ll be curious to see his progression during the grassroots season. Whitmer is moving on because of the depth of talent that they have, getting production from their role guys in key moments. The final play of the game defined the effort Whitmer gave all game.
Alter looked unstoppable on Saturday night as they were firing on all cylinders all game. Greer shot it efficiently from 3-point range (not the only Knight who got hot from the outside) with 3-pointers in quick succession early in the game. Greer has a quick release and sets his feet on the catch to release the ball before hard closeouts can affect his shot. I’d say the play I was most encouraged by Greer was where he ripped a Wyoming ball handler and fought the ball away from him, leading to a transition layup. Making toughness and gritty plays more often would be a nice development for Greer who has an obvious niche as a shooter at the college level. If he can become more than just a specialist, he’ll find it easier to stay on the court at the next level.
The shooting of Uhl was the difference early in the game. With four 3-pointers in the first quarter, including one right before the buzzer, Uhl helped his team separate themselves early and keep their foot on the gas the rest of the way. Getting open on pick and pop sets because the defense is worried about the dribble-drive game of his teammates, Uhl’s floor spacing was a big reason why the Knights got great looks consistently in the half-court. Combine this with Uhl’s ability to rebound as the middleman in the zone defense and a couple blocked shots, you get the most complete game I’ve seen Uhl play in over 10 scouts over the past 2 years.
In both games I’ve watched this year, the senior duo of Leen and Joe Brand Joe Brand 5’11” | CG Kettering Alter | 2024 State OH have been key reasons why Alter’s offense has ran smoothly. The pair averages 10.7 and 10.1 PPG apiece. Both guards also shoot the 3 at a similar clip, 37 and 38% respectively. I was impressed with Leen’s ability to execute off the ball, running off screens and getting open. Also showing good hustle on loose balls, Leen ended up with a couple rebounds he had no business grabbing. Also knocking down a floater after a pump fake got him open, Leen used the threat of his shot to his advantage. When Alter gets production from their depth pieces, they are really tough to stop offensively.