Spotlight Invitational – Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spotlight Invitational took place on Saturday evening, and many of Oregon's top high school players were at Clackamas High School for some high-level competition. Many of the state's top ranked players were in the gym but a handful of lesser known players also got the chance to make themselves known. We had the opportunity to watch the action and from our notes, here are some of the top under-the-radar guys that shone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978342' first='Maddox' last='Young'] (2026 Barlow) </strong>- Using his sharp shooting and physique, Young was an extremely difficult matchup for defenders. The 6-foot-4 swingman was money with his perimeter shot, but capably used his body to muscle past defenders and get scores near the hoop as well. He's improved defensively and will undoubtedly be one of the top offensive options this upcoming season for the defending 6A champs Barlow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2351856' first='Miles' last='Novy-Hildesley'] (2026 Lincoln)</strong> - With his combination of toughness and underrated athleticism, Novy-Hildesley turned some heads at the Spotlight Invitational. The 6-foot-7 forward played hard-nosed basketball, crashing the offensive boards, and earning some points in the paint through all sorts of contact. He served as an effective rim-runner and was a factor as a shot-blocker on defense. After totally missing last season due to injury, the Lincoln senior looked completely healthy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2021519' first='Dayton' last='Jenkins'] (2026 Westview)</strong> - In one game, Jenkins almost willed his team to a comeback victory by catching fire from deep in the second half. The Westview senior has the type of offensive game where when he's gotten hot he's almost impossible to stop, and in addition to his perimeter prowess he effectively used his speed, athleticism, and length to get to the hoop and score over and through defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132803' first='Richad' last='Hudson'] (2027 Benson) </strong>- There may have been no motor higher than Hudson on the day as the Benson guard was the proverbial "dog". On offense, he relentlessly attacked off the dribble with the intention of creating for himself and others, and on defense he was in his assignments face starting from the in-bounds pass. Hudson's rugged body helped him finish through contact and his jumper was credible enough to keep the defense honest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2388950' first='Blake' last='Karman'] (2027 Wells) </strong>- One of the top shooters we saw on the day was Karman, who arguably was the top lefty. The Wells guard excelled off the catch and shoot, burying a number of kickouts with his quick release, but was also effective getting himself open with a couple of dribbles and then draining the pull-up. Far from a shoot-first guy, Karman looked out for open teammates and also delivered some pinpoint passes for scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2539888' first='Blake' last='Unruh'] (2027 Beaverton) </strong>- Also known best for his shooting, Unruh certainly knocked down open jumpers but the fact he was available to receive the pass was due to his great ability to move without the ball and get open for clean looks. The Beaverton junior didn't just spot up though as he also showed some ability to create off the bounce and outside of offense, he rebounded well for his position and did a great job passing too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132831' first='Malcolm' last='Weatherspoon'] (2027 Central Catholic)</strong> - Weatherspoon is currently unranked due to coming to Oregon from across the river in Vancouver, but you can bet he's a candidate for the top ten if his play at the Spotlight Invitational was any indication. The 6-foot-2 guard showed off his hyper athleticism both getting up and down the floor and finishing around and above the rim, and was also solid with his shooting stroke from the wing. He's an immediate impact player at Central Catholic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->