The Expo: Winning Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five players had big performances in different ways and made a bunch of winning plays at The Expo yesterday in Grand Rapids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1616010"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f8e2743cbcb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I always find it encouraging when someone who is receiving lots of recognition on social media has actually earned it. After seeing him play for the first time yesterday, I too, will join the Tucker Hype-Train. This kid can flat-out play and was the best all-around basketball player in the gym. It makes sense he's a #MakeShots kid, because he can score effectively. Walther didn't shoot great from deep in the game I saw, but didn't miss a FT and looked extremely comfortable shooting off of different actions. Tucker also has no problem taking smaller defenders down into the low post and using impressive footwork to create easy baskets for himself. And I have to acknowledge, he is the only player I saw yesterday that was constantly setting off-ball screens for his teammates! I would be remiss if I didn't mention his overall effort on the defensive end, getting steals in transition and tipping passes in the half-court. I'm excited to watch Walther continue the tear he's been on this season for Schoolcraft.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1437575"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f8e2743cb4f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When you think of Brother Rice Basketball, big names and crazy athletes come to mind first. However, this 5'10 kid [player_tooltip player_id='1437575' first='Logan' last='Hamama'], can do anything that's asked of him on the court. On the offensive end, he possesses key skills to be a successful player, at any level. Hamama can drive to score or create for others in addition to being able to shoot the crap out of the basketball. On defense, he made multiple effort plays to get loose balls and played the passing lanes well to get deflections. My favorite part of Logan's game was him communicating with his teammates on both ends. All great teams need a glue-guy like Hamama, he should play a big part during BR's 2024-2025 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2053470"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f8e2743cc0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The most dynamic guard I saw yesterday was [player_tooltip player_id='2053470' first='Deuce' last='Weston'] from Flint Carman-Ainsworth. Deuce has a quick first step to go along with a unique ability to change directions effortlessly and gets past defenders on a regular basis. He can shoot off the catch, but Carman-Ainsworth guard is at his best driving north to south and attacking the basket. His fast-feet made him a threat playing on-ball defense, consistently keeping his man between himself and the basket as well as generating a few steals. Weston will be in the discussion for All-Saginaw Valley League and is poised to have a huge senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2609125,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2610324' first='Jeremiah' last='Caffey']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brother Rice","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2075717' first='Motor' last='City Grizzlies']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f8e358c81ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another tough Brother Rice kid, the most physically dominant player at The Expo yesterday was [player_tooltip player_id='2610324' first='Jeremiah' last='Caffey']. Despite being nowhere near the tallest guy in the gym at 6'3, Caffey used his strength to bully opposing players of all sizes in the paint. I was also impressed that he showed the ability to hit perimeter jumpers off the catch and dribble as well as find open teammates. Another trait that stood out was his competitiveness, you could tell Jeremiah was very invested in his team's success in both the 3s and 5s sessions yesterday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[2610369],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f9945d0194c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Amongst high school basketball players, things like contested dribble pull-ups and an unnecessary amount of dribble-combos are glorified. Therefore, it's always refreshing to see players that take pride in a skill like passing. The best passers are always on time and on target. It didn't matter if it was a simple drive and kick or something more complex like a left-handed hook pass cross-court, all of Spencer's passes fit both criteria. In addition to the passing, Titus can shoot from deep and can finish at the rim with either hand. He didn't make a dunk in-game that I saw, but the 5'9 guard in warmups showed he can get up there. Holland Christian are in a good position to repeat as district champs with juniors stepping up like [player_tooltip player_id='2423044' first='Titus' last='Spencer'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->