Thanksgiving Hoopfest: Standout Performers (Pt. 2)

The Thanksgiving Hoopfest delivered one of the premier stages for high school basketball in the country, showcasing next level talent, national matchups, and the kind of intensity usually reserved for playoff time. From nationally ranked programs to breakout statewide standouts, the event packed gyms with college coaches, scouts, and fans ready to see who could rise to the moment.    Sutter Welscher was on fire from three-point range nailing multiple crucial bombs. A major kick-out and rotation shooting threat from beyond the arc with no dip as he rose into his release where ever he caught it. He excelled tremendously with spacing and relocation at a high level, sliding into open windows, lifting from the corner, drifting along the arc, or snapping into a catch-ready stance the moment his defender helped off. He burned defenses in scramble situations, reading defensive rotations and firing as soon as help broke down.     [player_tooltip player_id='2556493' first='Landry' last='Ferguson'] put on an absolute masterclass in contact scoring off the dribble, ball protection, and footwork, a guard whose craft was so advanced defenders had no answer for it. This kid attacked the rim with a fearless confidence and calculated finishing. He initiated contact with purpose, leaning his shoulder into defenders, shifting his angle at the last second, or absorbing bumps without losing balance. His ability to decelerate, take hits, re-angle his steps, and still score it with touch was next level. His euro step made him nearly impossible to contain coming downhill as he'd stretch out with a long stride and instinctive pickup before finishing off the opposite foot with either hand.     Tyrone Jamison was completely under full control of the offense and unpredictable as he played at his own speed, constantly shifting between hesitations and change-of-pace bursts. A three-level playmaker and shot creator, he manipulated defenders with pace variance and live-dribble craft. Jamison's stop-on-a-dime footwork was clean, often utilizing stride stops to generate separation by leveraging the defender's momentum against them. Defensively, he wreaked havoc with discipline by sitting, sliding, and back-tapping with precision while staying fundamentally sound as an on-ball defender.     This glue guy proved to be a connector from the high-post facilitating, and screening effectively from the elbows, nail, and top of the key, tying actions together possession after possession. He was comfortable catching at the high post and immediately scanning the floor, using his feel, patience, while anticipating and reading weak-side help, perimeter screen actions, backdoor cutters, or Initiate dribble handoffs with perfect timing.     Nothing about Goldman's game was forced as he moved with purpose and rhythm, cutting, spacing, and flowing into actions that keep the defense shifting. His ability to anticipate openings is what turned a routine possession into a high-quality look.     His motor was nonstop, impacting every facet of the game that he could. A true defensive disruptor, he consistently jumped passing lanes and ripped ball-handlers with intensity. His ability to anticipate actions early and explode into deflections gave him a constant presence as a point-of-attack pest.

The Thanksgiving Hoopfest delivered one of the premier stages for high school basketball in the country, showcasing next level talent, national matchups, and the kind of intensity usually reserved for playoff time. From nationally ranked programs to breakout statewide standouts, the event packed gyms with college coaches, scouts, and fans ready to see who could rise to the moment.