Polly Wilhelmsen Day 1: Standout Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week, in Visalia, CA, Redwood High School and Mt. Whitney High School co-host the annual Polly Wilhelmsen Tournament, which started on Monday, December 22nd and will wrap up on Saturday, December 27th. I was in attendance for Day 1 of the Polly with the focus of this article on games played at Redwood's Gym only. In particular, this article looks at 8 players that had standout performances at the guard position, which will be followed by an article that looks standout forwards/wings from Day 1. I will be back at the Polly for semifinal Friday. In this article you will find the following information: player's information, my own personal recorded statistics, and a brief description of each player's skill sets and how they performed at the Polly. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with sophomore Jayden Bergman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3267280,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jayden Bergman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Central Valley Christian Cavaliers-Visalia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc07269e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot lead guard controls the pace of play, is able to make plays to get others involved, as well as create his own shots. Bergman had a solid showing in the opening round of the annual Polly tournament in Visalia, as he would go for 9 points in a tough loss to Porterville. Bergman has a solid handle on the ball, keeps it on a string to survey the floor, uses the crossover, between-cross, toss-cross, and the hesitation to create space from his defender, has a nice burst off speed off the bounce to get into the paint, and is a crafty scorer around height, with the Euro-step, reverse, and floater to score at the basket. Bergman is accurate with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the dribble or the catch, has the court vision to make quality reads to open teammates off the drive and kick pass, as well as to the diver out of the pick and roll action. Bergman is a good positional rebounder, looks to push the pace up the court, and is a solid perimeter defender that has quick hands to poke the ball out and create opportunities to get out in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alex Hanzak ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Kingsburg Vikings ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc072752"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-2 wing/guard impacts the game in various ways, can play on or off the ball, and can score in volume from 3-levels. Hanzak played good defense and moved the ball well against Lemoore, but struggled to get his shots to fall until the 4th quarter, where he would score 10 of his 13 points connecting on a pair of threes and pulling down 5 rebounds to help his team dig out of an 18-point deficit to start the 4th quarter and get the win to advance to the winners side of the Polly bracket. Hanzak has solid handles, the moves to create off the dribble, with the use of the crossover, between-cross, and the spin-move to create space from his defender, gets good lift on the mid-range jumper with length to shoot over most perimeter defenders, and is a creative scorer around the basket with the toughness to finish through contact at the basket. Hanzak moves well off the ball to get to his shot spots, is effective with the 3-ball off the catch, is active on the boards with the handle to push the pace of play, and the court vision to either find teammates off the drive and kick pass in the half court setting, as well as up the court off the glass to players ahead of the defense in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3267314,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Landon Haynes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Porterville Panthers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc0727eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-2 point guard has elite handles, can score the ball from 3-levels, and makes pin-point passes in the halfcourt setting, as well as up the court. Haynes was on a minutes restriction due to an injury he sustained at the Lloyd Williams a couple weeks ago, as well as in foul trouble, but he made the most of his time on the court finishing with 14 points and a pair of steals to help lift the Panthers over Central Valley Christian of Visalia to advance to the winners bracket of the Polly. Haynes had a strong showing in a loss to Liberty of Bakersfield at the Lloyd Williams tournament with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks before he was sidelined with the injury for the remainder of that tournament. Haynes keeps the ball on a string, weaves through the defense to find openings to expose, has the court vision and timing to make difficult passes in tight windows off the drive and kick pass, timely reads to players coming off the pick and roll action, and, as a great positional rebounder, is able to find players up the court in stride for easy transition buckets. Haynes plays with good change of pace and direction with the ball in hand, uses the crossover, behind-cross, between-cross, hesitation, and hard-pound dribble to get his defender off balance, is accurate with the jumper off the bounce from the mid-range to the 3-point line with minimal space needed to get his shot off, which leads to him drawing fouls and trips to the line, as well as a variety of ways to score around the basket, with the reverse, the Euro-step, the floater, and the up-and-under lay-ups to evade rim protectors. Haynes is a tough on-ball defender with active hands and good instincts to poke the ball out, deflect passes, or jump passing lanes to generate steals, and alter shots on the perimeter with timely closeouts and good length. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Leonardo Lemus ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tulare Western Mustangs ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc07287e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot lead guard has solid handles, shifty moves to get his shots off, and showed he can score it from 3-levels. This was my first time seeing Lemus live and he did not disappoint, as he would put up 19 points and did all he could to knock off Polly co-host Redwood of Visalia, but came up short on a buzzer beater by junior Jacob Wheeler. Lemus has a strong handle on the ball, the moves to create off the bounce with the crossover, hesitation, and between-cross to get by his initial defender, a good burst of speed off the bounce to get paint touches, the strength to score through contact around the basket, as well as the skill to score with the reverse or Euro-step lay-ups to evade shot blockers, and is accurate with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line with the body control to absorb contact in the air and still get his shot off, which results in routine trips to the free throw line. Lemus is a good positional rebounder, has the court vision to make plays to open teammates off the drive and kick pass, and moves well off the ball to get open for shots off the catch. Tough on-ball defender that has the footwork to stay in front of his opponent and get into his dribbling space, and looks to turn defense to offense. Impressive sophomore guard that I will be adding to my 2028 player rankings when I update. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kendrick Leung ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Redwood Rangers-Visalia ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc07290f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-3 wing/guard has shifty moves, hunts the mid-range jumper, is active on the glass to push the ball, and plays with good pace and control with the ball in his hands. Leung had a good second half showing at the Clovis North Valley Children's Invitational with 9 points after the break, but I was not aware he was only a sophomore and that he had the moves to score the ball he had on display in the opening round of the Polly for co-host Redwood of Visalia. Leung heated up in the second half against Tulare Western and ended up with 18 points and 6 rebounds, 13 of those coming after intermission to help lead the Rangers to a win over the Mustangs. Leung has impressive handles, the moves to create space from his defender or get them off balance, with the crossover, the spin-move, between-cross, and the hesitation, he initiates contact when attacking the basket, and has the body control to score the ball effectively from the mid-range jump shot to lay-ups and floaters when at the basket. Leung is effective with the jumper off the dribble, as well as fluid off ball movement to get open looks off the catch, and is solid on the boards with the handle to push the ball up the court. Leung had a tough bucket in the fourth quarter as he attacked from the right side of the court, got into the paint, spun off his defender in motion, and finished with the finger roll lay-up that showed his ability to make tough shots. He is another sophomore that will be added to the 2028 player rankings for the Section and with his height and length, he is a player to keep an eye on with continued development to his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3267330,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ethan Saenz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Bakersfield Stars","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc07299f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-11 lead guard impacts the game in countless ways, as is evident by his stat line from the Stars first round win over El Diamante of Visalia, as he would go for 26 points connecting on 4 threes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and a pair of steals. Saenz, the reigning Polly MVP, got after it early with 12 points and a pair of threes in the opening frame to give North a big lead going into the 2nd quarter. After a scoreless 3rd quarter and the Miners closing the gap, Saenz got back to it in the final quarter, as he would score 8 more points to finish with a game-high 26 and ready to defend the Stars title. At the time of writing this article, I was made aware that the Stars won their quarterfinal game and will be back in the semifinals on Friday. For more information on Saenz overall skill set and strengths as a player, see my recent article title, “Lloyd Williams MVP and 1st Team All-Tournament” where I provide a detailed breakdown of his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3267336,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Samuel Santillan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Porterville Panthers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc072a2d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot combo guard has been on a heater of late and that continued in the opening round of the Polly against Central Valley Christian of Visalia. Similar to Saenz, mentioned above, Santillan was in my recent article titled, “Lloyd Williams MVP and 1st Team All-Tournament”, and you can access that article to get a more comprehensive breakdown of his overall game and skill set. However, Santillan was on fire from tip-off of the opening game at the Polly at Redwood High, connecting on 3 threes and 12 points in the first quarter to give the Panthers the lead going into the 2nd quarter. After a tough bucket around the basket and a smooth pull-up middy, Santillan connected on two more threes to put up 22 points in the half and give his team a double-digit lead it would only grow in the second half. Santillan would finish with 24 points and 5 threes to go with his 5 rebounds, and is making a statement as one of the hottest 3-point shooters in the Section, as he knocked down 8 threes in the two games I watched him at the Lloyd Williams a few weeks back. The golfer, his first sport, may have a future in hoops if he decided to give that a go after high school, but at a minimum, he is showing he is not a player you want to leave alone and he is a true 3-level scoring threat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3267346,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Peyton Swiney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Kingsburg Vikings ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694b6bc072abd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-2 shooting guard can score in volume, is lights out from beyond the arc, does multiple things to impact winning, and can make plays when the defense over commits on him. Swiney's shot wasn't falling for most of the game against Lemoore, as was the case for the entire Kingsburg team outside of senior Jensen Hirschkorn, and the Vikings entered the 4th quarter down 18 points, 50 to 32. But then the flood gates opened, and, as anyone knows that covers basketball, all it takes for a shooter to get hot is one ball to go through the net. Swiney went unconscious from the field in the final quarter, scoring 15 of his team-high 20 points and connected on 3 threes in that quarter to help lift his team to what seemed an improbable win with 8 minutes left in the game. Swiney has solid handles, uses the crossover and hesitation to get his defender off balance, gets good lift on the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the dribble, and uses his length and creativity to score around height at the basket. Swiney is at his best when he is moving off the ball, with fluid movement and understands floor spacing to get to his shot spots, where he is lights out from the 3-point line off the catch, uses the pump fake to get his defender off the ground, attacks those lanes when they open up, and has touch on the floater. Swiney has good court vision, uses the give and go to find open teammates, and is a good positional rebounder. He will be relied upon to provide a consistent scoring punch from the perimeter, as the Vikings have good interior scoring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->