The Stars Shine Bright | Week 1 Player Spotlights

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The lights are on, the popcorn is popping, and the weather outside has turned cold. It's officially high school basketball season in Indiana. The level of talent in the state is undeniable, and the stars of stars have shown out early in the season. Here were the top performers from the start of the season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2625235"],"_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-692a229282c5a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Akron bound 6'5” guard was outstanding early and often in the first game of the season against #1 Fishers. He's a long and athletic perimeter player that was feeling it from deep and once he got going, there was no stopping him. With his size, length, and athelticism, it's difficult to contest his jump shot with his high release. Knocked down five three-point shots in the game, but continued getting downhill and stayed in attack mode instead of settling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stats (vs Fishers): </strong>28 points | 3 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 block</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2267046"],"_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-692a229282cff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The uber-athletic junior guard is simply the best driver of the basketball in the entire state. His combination of elite speed and athleticism makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He does a really good job of not catching stationary which gives him an advantage over practically any defender when he can use his speed to get downhill. The explosiveness he has around the basket is unmatched and he took advantage of an open lane versus Ben Davis and Arsenal Tech finishing at the rim in a variety of different ways. The jump shot is still a bit of a concern, but he knocked down a perimeter jumper against Ben Davis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Average: </strong>21.5 points | 6.5 rebounds | 4 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140345"],"_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-692a230a132b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Savvy guard that is as pure of a shot maker as there is in the state. Comfortable playing on or off the ball, Cooper is a high IQ guard that knows how to get himself open as well as distribute for others. Impacts the game defensively. Does a good job with his anticipation skills. On the ball he's active with his hands and slides his feet staying out of foul trouble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Stats: </strong>17 points | 1.5 rebounds | 4 assists | 3.5 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1509229"],"_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-692a230a13312"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The versatile 6'9” power forward continues to get better and better every time I see him. He's stretched his jump shot out to the three-point line becoming a lethal offensive threat in pick and roll and now pick and pop situations. Defensively he is mobile enough to switch out on perimeter players while still being a premier rim protector in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Average:</strong> 16.5 points | 4.5 rebounds | 3.5 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3045017"],"_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-692a230a1335c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The junior combo guard just seemed to have an answer for every run that Washington would make. Confident offensive threat, Kierson is able to score it in a variety of different ways. Isn't the quickest or most athletic player, but does a good job understanding angles and gets to his spots. Showed the ability to be able to play through contact and stay on balance and finish plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stats: </strong>16 points | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3148411"],"_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-692a2833d28af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Calm, cool, and collected is the best way to describe [player_tooltip player_id='3148411' first='Jaylon' last='Graber']'s game. The sophomore guard had his entire offensive arsenal going in the win over Washington. Physical framed guard that plays with poise. He doesn't get sped up and doesn't force the issue. Can score it from all over the floor. Really good shooter off the catch and rebounds his position well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stats (vs Washington): </strong>19 points | 5 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3148422"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3148423,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-692a2833d2933"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When it seemed that Barr-Reeve was going to take complete control of the game, the Vikings would leave Washington 6'2” W [player_tooltip player_id='3148422' first='Brody' last='Isza'] open on the perimeter and be made them pay. Washington as a team went 11-19 from the three-point line with Brody hitting five of them. Compact shooter with a quick release. It's almost a set shot since he doesn't elevate much on his shot. It wasn't just his scoring that caught my eye though. He used his strong frame well as a rebounder and also saw the floor well finishing with a handful of assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stats (vs Barr-Reeve): </strong>17 points | 4 rebounds | 5 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3148430"],"_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-692a44f5d5a7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the two most experienced players on the Washington Hatchets roster, [player_tooltip player_id='3148430' first='Cordell' last='Turner'] impacted the game on both ends despite being hampered with foul trouble for most of the game. The senior forward did most of his damage on the offensive end as a distributor. At 6'5”, he was able to see over the defense and make the right reads to creat open looks and find teammates. The jump shot is still a work in progress, but he's become more skill on the perimeter showing the ability to put the ball on the floor and creat for himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stats (vs Barr-Reeve): </strong>11 points | 3 rebounds | 6 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->