3Stripes Gold West: Top Forwards Viewed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday April 13th I attended the&nbsp;<strong>3Stripes Gold West Session 1&nbsp;</strong>at West Point HS in Avondale. I watched many Arizona teams but also viewed teams from Alaska, Oregon, Montana, California.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the Top Forwards Viewed</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3588606' first='Makoi' last='Makoi'] Canyon View ([program_tooltip program_id='2265774' first='UH' last='Elite 3 Stripe'] 17) (Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A newcomer for me is a long and tall center. He is a natural rebounder and blocks shots in and out of his area. He is a fluid mover and scores it consistently around the basket with layups, mini half hook shots and cleans the glass and will score with put backs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3493692' first='Kellen' last='Walz'] San Tan Charter ([program_tooltip program_id='2265774' first='UH' last='Elite 3 Stripe'] 16) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A highly skilled power forward with soft hands.&nbsp;He has plus length with a stronger base to fight inside the paint versus bigger players. He uses his strength and skill to score with his back to the basket effectively and can face up as well. He is heading to San Tan and should break out onto the scene. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2107225' first='Mike' last='McIntyre'] Higley (United Skills Academy 16) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong framed power forward with unusually long arms. He is a top of the food chain rebounder in and out of his area with some vertical pop, effort, impressive frame and broad shoulders. He will carve out space inside and score with reverse layups and offensive rebound put backs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2674718' first='Ashton' last='Ries'] Seton Catholic (AZ Gremlins 16) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An undersized power forward who comes with a super high motor to compete. He also brings natural toughness that not many bring to the court and he plays bigger than his size suggests. He is a quick leaper to score it or get trips to the free throw line. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3135160' first='Gavin' last='Stevenson'] Valley Vista (United Skills Academy 17) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough, two-way scoring wing forward with a strong frame and longer arms. He is another that plays way bigger then his size suggests with his inner toughness and motor. He loves attacking the basket with downhill takes scoring thru the contact on the break or in the half court set.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956213' first='Ben' last='Lambe'] Pusch Ridge (O3 17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A stronger framed power forward is an inside and out threat. He will bang with taller players using his college-like frame and gobble up rebounds. He will score with cuts off the ball and contact takes with his high effort. He will also step out and shoot the three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2297437' first='Dylan' last='Vargas'] San Tan Charter ([program_tooltip program_id='2265774' first='UH' last='Elite 3 Stripe'] 17) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the breakout players of 2A continues to show his worth with his plus motor to rebound in and out of his area, running the court, playing above the rim and scoring it from inside the paint with contact. He can step out or rip thru from the elbow and go to work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->