Aliyu Idris Blocks Kirkwood’s Promising Path to State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PHOTO: [player_tooltip player_id='2886050' first='Aliyu' last='Idris']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitehaven escaped Clarksville, Tennessee (64-54 OT) with a State Tournament ticket. Barely. Kirkwood's left-handed '27 stars <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2309002' first='Armani' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2278560' first='Bryce' last='Garnett'] </strong>nearly tripped up the towering Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the loss, Kirkwood falls to 25-6 for the season. Their 14-game winning streak was snapped in the process.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scan and digest comprehensive evaluations from the night that was.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2309002"],"_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-69af630b2bdcd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> From the tip it was clear Armani was the only Kirkwood Cobra with matching size/skill combination to Whitehaven's Team of Giants. He drew fouls, which Haven committed at the last second before Smith made a shot(s). Armani's hands are quick enough and his arms are strong enough for him to be a better than average on-ball defender. It comes down to "want to". He was not the defender [player_tooltip player_id='2139247' first='Ja'Michael' last='Mitchell'] was Monday night and there is no reason for it. Both are very athletic lefties with virtually the same body type. Armani is even taller, so his reach is more foreboding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2139247"],"_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-69af630b2be52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Elite on-ball defense. Mitchell was key for Whitehaven. He defended tremendous, small lefty [player_tooltip player_id='2278560' first='Bryce' last='Garnett'] and held his position every time. Garnett found open looks rarely, but credit the screen action for those occassions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560097"],"_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-69af630b2be9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Kayin's first-step was NASTY at Kirkwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2398586"],"_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-69af630b2bee1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2886050"],"_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-69af630b2bf20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Idris is a Top 3 Uncommitted player in Tennessee for a reason. What a tremendous night he had. Idris commanded the paint defensively, but that is merely his baseline contribution. Aliyu runs the floor quite well already at 6-foot-9 and will enter college a dominating force as a passer, at the minimum. His court vision from both the elbow and the low block sparkled. He made a block-to-block pass to teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2205018' first='Gavin' last='Fitzpatrick'] that was special. He can put one to two dribbles on the floor comfortably in the halfcourt. Do not ask him to break a press with his dribble, but he can certainly catch an outlet and hand off to a surging guard without mistake. Naturally strong as well as "weight-room strong." Idris' third quarter was poor. He was wrongfully whistled for a '3-second lane violation'. Ref blew it. Don't blame Idris, but it was a turnover. Earlier he passed out of a double softly and it was intercepted. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2205018"],"_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-69af630b2bf5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Gavin still looks like something between a power forward and a small forward. Gavin took the biggest charge of his life as time expired in regulation. He stepped in front of a charging [player_tooltip player_id='2309002' first='Armani' last='Smith'] and absorbed the entire charge. If not for that foul call, Kirkwood likely wins it on an uncontested [player_tooltip player_id='2278560' first='Bryce' last='Garnett'] layup at the horn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2278560"],"_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-69af630b2bf99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Elite shooter coming around screens. Bryce gets a ton of "ink" around here, so to keep this brief...[player_tooltip player_id='2278560' first='Bryce' last='Garnett'] can play basketball. Garnett helped Kirkwood to a 10-6 start with his big first quarter 3-pointer on the back of Aree's. Bryce missed an unheard of two free throws in the first half. Garnett earned a tech for taunting late in the third quarter. He might have said something, but few could hear it in the boisterous building. He certainly had aggressive body language in that moment. Whitehaven made one of the two ensuing free throws.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3511266"],"_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-69af630b2bfd4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Ok start. He worked to get baseline on Haven's elite defenders. He gained a half-step and earned a foul late in the first quarter. Kirkwood Head Coach John Stigall used Travis to defend tremendous lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2139247' first='Ja'Michael' last='Mitchell'] for spells and he did ok. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2510498"],"_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-69af630b2c010"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Hit-and-miss against Whitehaven's quick guards. Kirkwood pressed well in the first four minutes, but it drained Clardy most than usual working that hard non-stop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3258055"],"_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-69b04af8297e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Crafty in the lane. He showed that he understood his size around 6-foot-4ish defenders in deep and still carved out enough space to get it up and in. Really sound defensively. High defensive IQ. He takes his duties on that end seriously and actually derives a lot of joy from defending in trapping situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2172600"],"_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-69b04af829872"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2677277"],"_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-69b04af8298fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3348957"],"_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-69b04cd9595e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/9/26:</strong> Aree gave Kirkwood their first three-pointer in the steamy Kirkwood gym Monday night. [player_tooltip player_id='2205018' first='Gavin' last='Fitzpatrick'] lost him a bit and Aree capitalized from the wing. Clever. Confident. Aree used Whitehaven's guard aggression against them a couple of times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->