Versatile Fowards to Know
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This is a good mix of higher-ranked kids, kids with potential who continue to show promise, and probably a couple of kids flying under the radar. Check out some versatile forwards performing well so far this spring. Kody Holcomb WA…
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Continue ReadingThis is a good mix of higher-ranked kids, kids with potential who continue to show promise, and probably a couple of kids flying under the radar. Check out some versatile forwards performing well so far this spring.
Holcomb’s a kid who can shoot the 3, knock down blanketed midrange shots, and come down on the other end and send shots packing. He has great length (now 6-foot-9) and showed a good glimpse of his defensive ability last weekend with WC Renegades, stuffing shots in by the rim, using that long reach to get tips on passes and strip the ball loose on drives, and just eat up a ton of space around the painted area to make entry difficult for the opposing team.
Heigert was butter to start their game last weekend versus Central WA Select and at his height (6-foot-6) he’s a real threat to pullup whenever he feels comfortable out there. He splashed in a few 3s off the catch to get things going then mixed in a nice drive and spin back middle to finish with the jump hook. He has some real inside out ability with the touch he showed and his high release outside.
Usui keeps taking steps forward and his junior year was a big one on both ends of the floor for the 6-foot-7 forward. He continues to expand his offensive repertoire, improving both off the dribble, with his jumper, and adding to his bag on the block. The backbone of his game is rebounding and defense, and he was a big factor on that end in Seattle Select’s latest tournament. He wasn’t necessarily getting a ton of counting stats but played big fighting for tip outs and keeping rebounds alive, contesting almost everything that came in the paint, and did a great job working the glass on the offensive end to extend possessions.
The unsigned senior has been running with WA Supreme this spring and he brings a valuable skill set and mind set to the court. He’s a physical wing who’s shown he’s willing to do the unglamorous work, but still skilled enough to hit timely buckets and spur action offensively. He’s a worker, pure and simple, and can bang with bigger forwards inside with his strength while also being able to make guards work on the perimeter. He hit a few nice midrange shots last weekend to go along with some good work on the boards.
Huff continues to be an eye-opener this spring. He’s a kid who shows a ton of potential across the board and keeps giving a little more each weekend in his progression. He’s shown some ability to split defenders to the hoop and use that length to finish. He shows a promising ability to stretch his game out beyond the arc, and he seems to be finding his stride with his new teammates at NW Drip. This weekend has been especially promising as he’s picked it up with his aggression around the hoop and has been blocking shots at the rim at a much higher rate. There are a lot of pieces of his game that are coming out and he’s a big sleeper at forward who needs to be on your radar.