Opening Week: Grinders to Watch

The season is officially upon us and student athletes are now getting the opportunity to showcase what they've been working on all spring and summer. The group of players below have come out of the gate impressively and put their opponents on notice - this is their year, their time.    Henry is a quick, skilled combo guard that can light it up from beyond the arc in a hurry. His rapid release allows him to sink buckets with ease over tough defenders and he moves impressively well without the ball to get to his favorite spots. He's an intelligent player, consistently making heads up plays throughout the game and often the first to any sort of loose ball. He has a well-rounded game and isn't just a shooter. He can put the ball on the hardwood and get to the rim and easily creates his own shots off the dribble. His form on his jumper is beautiful and he's confident - no hesitation at all when he has an open opportunity. He also puts in the work on defense, racking up blocks and steals, cleaning the glass, and making numerous hustle plays for his squad when they need it most. DeFoore is the kind of player that can ignite his team and shift the momentum of a game. A true winner on the court.     Evan is a talented combo guard with a bulky frame that allows him to wear his opponents down and get to his spots consistently. Whether he's sinking a three or hustling to clean the glass on both ends, you'll never have to worry about him not putting in as much effort as possible. His work ethic shows on the court and you can tell he spends plenty of time on his game when the bright lights are off. His ballhandling skills are solid and he doesn't shy away from the moment. He knows he's put in the work and you can tell that gives him the confidence he needs to perform on the court. I expect Davis to continue to get consistently better from here and more and more people will take notice.     Matthew is a scary talented forward that strikes fear in his opponents every single game. His versatility in the air is a huge asset and he simply punishes those brave enough to take him on in the lane. He has an uncanny ability to finish through contact and impressively adjust his position while airborne to allow himself the best look at the basket. He's an absolute beast on the glass on both ends and he regularly gets his team second and third-chance opportunities. When he's not in position for a rim-rattling dunk, he's got a nice touch on his shot that he uses to rack up points in the paint. His footwork in the lane is elite and he's an incredibly skilled passer as well, constantly making smart plays for his squad. I have no doubt Bingham will be heavily sought after this season and he's one to catch live every time you get the opportunity.     Blake is a skilled, two-way point guard with a beautiful jumper and a lockdown mentality on defense. He has a quick release on his shot that enables him to sink buckets consistently regardless of his defender's position on the floor. He has an excellent ballhandling ability and can create his own shots at will. He's fantastic on the fast break and makes smart decisions to give his team the best opportunities available. He's also a gifted passer with great court vision, consistently setting his teammates up for buckets and elevating their games along with his own. He's a true floor general that will only get more and more comfortable in that role with repetition. He uses his hands incredibly well on defense and knows how to snag the ball from his opponent without contact and interrupt opposing passing lanes regularly. McGee's going to be a cornerstone for his squad this year and I can't wait to see it.     I've been watching Ja'Corian for some time now and I've remained incredibly impressed with his game from the start. He has some of the best footwork I've seen at the high school level and he's unbelievably patient when working his way into his shots. He's a nightmare to defend because there are so many different ways he can score on you and his defender often helplessly knows he'll find the best one. He's an impressively confident forward and won't hesitate to capitalize on an open opportunity when he sees it. He can pull up and drain buckets from mid-range and beyond the arc or he can work his way past opponents with his elite ballhandling ability. He has a solid frame and a fantastic ability to make heads-up plays, which makes him a menace on defense and frustrates his opponents regularly. Oes is going to turn even more heads this season and I can't wait to see him get all the attention he deserves.

The season is officially upon us and student athletes are now getting the opportunity to showcase what they've been working on all spring and summer. The group of players below have come out of the gate impressively and put their opponents on notice - this is their year, their time.