Shane’s Sophomore Stock Risers
With the State Final Fours and Championships being this week it’s a good time to reflect on this great season we have had this year. This week I’ll be putting out season recap articles. I went to 45 games this…
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Continue ReadingWith the State Final Fours and Championships being this week it’s a good time to reflect on this great season we have had this year. This week I’ll be putting out season recap articles. I went to 45 games this past season and covered basketball in the Columbus and Toledo areas. This article will be talking about the Sophomores I saw this year that caught my eye and should be on everyone’s radar.
I saw Shoultz play for the first time this year and he made quite a first impression on me. The first play I ever saw him do was a baseline drive and a poster on a defender. This lets you know how athletic this guard is. He jumps off a trampoline. He is quick and a wiry athlete who has great explosive ability. He is not just a freak athlete he has good skills along with this. He can shoot the ball extremely well. He is more efficient when he gets the ball on a kickout but can absolutely shoot it off the dribble. His favorite is off the step back. He uses his length well to create misdirection for the defense. I think he will catch a lot of people’s eyes this summer.
Highlights
Jason Singleton
Jason Singleton
Singleton put on a show in the last game I watched him play in his sophomore season. He has great tools. He has long, wide shoulders, seems to be able to get a couple more inches of height, and is a good athlete. He has a very smooth shot but he does not rely on it. He instead puts pressure on the rim consistently. He gets to the rim and can make some tough finishes. He is really good in transition at finding the lanes to attack. He has a knack for making extremely difficult shots routinely. He needs no space to get his shot off. He makes them fade away and off balance. Good player to be on the lookout for.
Bates was a stock riser for me because he was a different player this year than last. As a freshman, he would come off the bench like an energizer for Pick North. He would hit a couple threes and make hustle plays on defense. This year he was a starter that would run the offense when Lawson was not. He showed good maturity and understanding of the game in this role. He got the motion of the offense started. He was a pest on defense and changed the momentum of games with his three-point shooting ability. I like to see how he develops the rest of the way.
Highlights
Anthony Redding
Anthony Redding
Redding has an immense amount of potential. He looks like a player who is getting used to his body and learning to match his skillset with this length. He is one of the longer players I saw this year. He is listed at 6’5 but has the chance to get taller. At 6’5 for the Sandusky Blue Streaks, he plays the post position which he shows a ton of toughness because he does not look the strongest. He gets rebounds, and putbacks, and just does his job as a forward. One thing that excites me about this kid is his shooting ability. He has a really pretty jumper. He can get a pick-n-pop or trail and knock the shot down consistently. He will get better when he gets more comfortable and confident.