Electric Forwards to Know: AAU Edition
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Forwards in this day and age are getting more and more versatile – and these guys are no exception to that. Their games are so complete and well-rounded and will only continue to develop. Expect these forwards to make a…
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Continue ReadingForwards in this day and age are getting more and more versatile – and these guys are no exception to that. Their games are so complete and well-rounded and will only continue to develop. Expect these forwards to make a heck of a lot of noise this summer and I absolutely recommend catching them live if you get the chance.
Isaiah Kalala Isaiah Kalala 6'8" | PF W.T. White | 2025 TX
Isaiah Kalala Isaiah Kalala 6'8" | PF W.T. White | 2025 TX
Kalala could make a significant impact on a college team TODAY. With his length and solid frame, he terrifies opponents in the paint by regularly sending their shot attempts to the rafters. His size doesn’t hinder his impressive versatility – if you find him at the top of the key, he’s skilled at finding his way to the bucket with elite footwork and excellent ballhandling. He can absolutely rattle the rim and put his defenders on a poster as well. If you catch him live, expect to get up out of your seat multiple times with the rest of the crowd to cheer on his ferocious dunks. He’s a beast on the glass on both ends and he’s able to stretch the floor with his solid three-point shooting ability. His game reminds me of watching AD – a skilled, defensive, dominant big that can move, dribble, and shoot like a guard. I expect Isaiah to make a ton of noise this summer and if you have the ability to catch him live – do it. You’ll leave the gym smiling.
Tyler Hinton
Tyler Hinton
Hinton is a marksman from outside the three-point line and he has a fantastic release on his shot that allows him to shift from laser-like accuracy on his jump shot to a light floater in the lane depending on what his defender is doing. One of the things I love most about Tyler’s game is his persistence. If he misses a shot, he gets on the glass and is not afraid to take a second or even third attempt. He’s a multi-sport athlete and you can see that in his confidence on the court. He never hangs his head and he makes up rare mistakes with buckets and heads-up plays. He’s always a threat in the paint and he has a keen ability to find his teammates with his excellent passing ability as well. Tyler is the kind of forward that can add a ton of versatility to your team and leave defenders shrugging and shaking their heads. He’s got plenty of time to continue to grow and develop and the way he approaches the game shows his potential is HUGE.
Ben was named offensive player of the year at Cornerstone for a reason – he’s an automatic bucket and he does it efficiently as well – shooting an impressive 56.2% from the field last season. He uses his length impressively on both ends – elevating over defenders offensively and eating boards and providing a significant shot-blocking presence in the paint defensively. Wagner is an incredibly unselfish player, he’ll often set his teammates up on the break for an easy layup or rim-rattling dunk and still manages to be a double-double machine. He’s skilled at drawing contact and getting to the line offensively which is crucial for his team. His court vision is elite and he’s an incredible passer – often heaving full-court passes perfectly in the hands of his streaking teammates on the break for easy buckets. The scary thing is – Wagner is going to continue to develop and get even better. His potential is SKY HIGH. I highly recommend catching him live this spring/summer.
Highlights
Dorian Johnson Dorian Johnson 6'6" | SF Eastern Hills | 2025 TX
Dorian Johnson Dorian Johnson 6'6" | SF Eastern Hills | 2025 TX
Johnson is what makes up the nightmares of his opponents trying to get their shots up. It doesn’t matter how skilled they are, this guy EATS their attempts for breakfast and sends them sailing in the opposite direction. I love defense and Dorian is so much fun to watch for me. Not only that – but you can tell he takes pride in his defensive game and consistently works at it. The way he blocks shots reminds me of a hybrid Wemby/AD/LeBron. He’s got extremely quick hands for a big and will swipe the ball from his opponents in a split-second if it’s not protected properly. And that’s just one end of the floor! He’s incredibly talented offensively as well and uses his length and solid build efficiently to consistently get high-percentage shots for himself. He’s a rebounding machine on both ends and his game is insanely well-rounded. Johnson has superstar potential and is a team-first guy, which is one of the best combos you can find in a player.
Jaishua Brown
Jaishua Brown
Brown’s spot-up shooting is deadly and he has an impressive habit of making his defenders absolutely miserable. His skill set is extremely difficult to keep up with – if you try to stop his shot, he’ll use his superior footwork and speed to get to the paint for an easy dunk or layup. He’s a huge shot-blocking threat defensively and he’s not afraid of anyone on the court. He seems to almost crave pressure situations because he knows he can deliver. He’s incredibly effective rebounding the ball on both ends and getting his team second and third shot attempts. He reminds me a bit of Giannis with more three-point shooting. His length overwhelms his opponents and he knows how to use it on both ends in a way that maximizes his impact on the game. Brown has potential through the roof and is going to make a heck of a lot of noise this summer and beyond.