Apollo at Higley Standouts

On Wednesday, Nov 20th I attended the 6A match-up of Apollo traveling to the East Valley to take on Higley. Both teams just joined 6A from last year as they were both in 5A. Both will be in the playoffs at the end of the day and it was a good early test. I checked out all three levels with Freshman, JV and varsity.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the standouts on the night </h2>   Freshman Game (66-62 OT Apollo won)   [player_tooltip player_id='2628286' first='Brayden' last='Thomas'] Apollo    A two-way guard/wing collects steals in bunches. He is long in the passing lanes and very scrappy. He will score on put backs, euro down the lane, hit the mid-range pull-up, score it in transition and hit the three off the catch. He is a long strider who is just scratching the surface. He had a game high 24 points.    [player_tooltip player_id='2640071' first='Kalup' last='Motten'] Apollo   A quick on quick point guard is a play-maker on the break. He is an advanced passer to slip a rope in heavy traffic. He changes speed to get the defender off of him and bursts past. He uses the euro step that is very under control. He has a high arcing three point shot and iced the game with FT's at the end.    [player_tooltip player_id='2640072' first='Ethan' last='Schepis'] Higley   A highly skilled point guard who will defend. He uses the pick and roll action and is a live dribble passer. He has a good feel to make a play and finds teammates in stride more often then not. He had 5+ steals impressively with quick hands and anticipation skills. He talks to his teammates on both ends and will hit the three off the catch or pull.       [player_tooltip player_id='2640074' first='Asher' last='Gloor'] Higley   The younger brother of [player_tooltip player_id='1482211' first='Noah' last='Gloor'] has a pure three point stroke off the catch. It is a super clean rotation and the ball spins like it should from the arc with real range. He knows how to play and shows toughness like Noah with an inner fight on defense.     [player_tooltip player_id='2640075' first='Ryker' last='Hatch'] Higley   A long and lean wing forward. He just moved in from Virginia and plays the game with a high IQ. he will score with put backs and he is a capable three point shooter. He plays well off of the pick and roll game and shows upside.    Junior Varsity Game (76-72 OT Higley won)   [player_tooltip player_id='2640070' first='Chris' last='Harris'] Higley   A pure point guard with a nice shooting stroke and a big IQ. He has next level court vision with real awareness. He will make live dribble passes and made a perfect pass leading a running teammate as about as well as you can in transition. He will score with mid-range jumpers and cuts off the ball. He has deep range beyond the arc and uses the floater game. He dives on the floor for loose balls and he is very tough on the ball defensively with quick hands and grit. He had 22 points.    [player_tooltip player_id='2640081' first='Tyler' last='Alberta'] Higley   A combo guard who can easily play on or off the ball since he shoots it so well. He is a good passer off the pick and roll game and up the court passes. He is a a natural scorer who looks to make plays. He shoots it well off the catch from the arc and can pull-up off the dribble. He is fast on the break and will collect steals. He scored 23 points unofficially with multiple steals and assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='2640076' first='Shawn' last='Thompson'] Apollo   A pure point guard with a confident handle is almost a throw back. He is always trying to find a teammate. He made a nice euro step move from very fast to slow on the break. His handle allows him to get to his spots he wants on the floor and moves without the ball and will cut to the basket.     Varsity Game (82-65 Higley won)   [player_tooltip player_id='1369218' first='Gavin' last='Dabney'] Higley   The top overall performer from last night flirted with a triple double. Unofficially had 22 points with 7+ assists and 7+ rebounds to go along with 2+ steals and blocks. He has deep three point range with a confident mid-range jumper. He loves the floater game and at any given play he can take the ball off the glass and go coast to coast or find a teammate.    [player_tooltip player_id='1482211' first='Noah' last='Gloor'] Higley    The top scorer on the night with 24 points unofficially. He is a true three level scorer with quick drives to the basket with way more bounce then you realize. (He can dunk the ball easily). He can post up, hit the deep three, he has a nasty pull-up and stays balanced down the lane to take the bump using his stronger upper body to handle it. He plays off of two feet and finds teammates. Most nights look for him to score 20+.   [player_tooltip player_id='1369217' first='Donovan' last='Dabney'] Higley   Another 20 point scorer unofficially was Donovan with 21. He is a mismatch problem with pull-ups from mid-range off the dribble, which is probably his pet move, layups in traffic using his strength, catch threes, reverse layups and will post up smaller defenders. He has a tighter handle then you realize in close spaces and sees the court well.    [player_tooltip player_id='1369215' first='Brock' last='Seiber'] Higley   The true glue guy is a hustle player for the Knights. He moves really well in space and has sneaky bounce to rebound and defend plus block shots. He has quick hands to collect steals and will score on offensive rebounds and cuts to the hoop.   [player_tooltip player_id='1369216' first='Brayden' last='Hatcher'] Higley    A decent sized wing forward is another starter for them who does a lot of the little things that add up to wins. He can score with quick moves to the basket, get to the free throw line and smartly cuts to the basket. But he will defend smaller or bigger players, rebound and move the ball like you should.    [player_tooltip player_id='1595012' first='Cristian' last='Acevedo'] Apollo   A thicker power forward can score in the paint with counter move into layups and score thru the contact with some and-1's in traffic. He gets to the FT line with his physicality and has a nice floater game.     [player_tooltip player_id='2298901' first='Elijah' last='White'] Apollo   A bigger point guard is a true PG trying to make the right play. He is a next level passer and made multiple needle threaders thru the defense to teammates. He can score with threes off the catch and layups in transition using his size and bounce.    [player_tooltip player_id='2470115' first='Jaden' last='Fitzhugh'] Apollo   A long, bigger sized forward is just scratching the surface. He made a couple wow plays with downhill rip thrus into a dunk and another dunk in traffic that surprised everyone. He will grab loose balls and has the ability to go coast to coast with his longer strides. He is very long, tall and athletic to defend and grab out of area rebounds or block shots.    [player_tooltip player_id='2640084' first='Isaiah' last='White'] Apollo   A football player is pretty good at hoops too. He is very athletic and strong with decent size for a wing. He will score with corner threes, pick and roll buckets in traffic, post ups and rebounds everything with his physical tools. He is also a sneaky good passer and will drive and kick it.     [player_tooltip player_id='2640082' first='Jamo' last='Turner'] Apollo    A stocky undersized PG is a quick ball handler who can score. Turner and [player_tooltip player_id='2640084' first='Isaiah' last='White'] led the Hawks with 14 points each unofficially. He is strong and comes with some skill. He has a polished mid-range pull-up and can hit the three off the catch with some range. He can score layups in traffic and has a nice floater game.    [player_tooltip player_id='2552769' first='Izaiah' last='Rawlings'] Apollo   The future PG of the program is Rawlings. He is a gifted ball handler and can facilitate plus score. He has a nice stroke from the three off the catch and he can blow by his initial defenders with either hand. His passing and game IQ stood out.

On Wednesday, Nov 20th I attended the 6A match-up of Apollo traveling to the East Valley to take on Higley. Both teams just joined 6A from last year as they were both in 5A. Both will be in the playoffs at the end of the day and it was a good early test. I checked out all three levels with Freshman, JV and varsity.