Seliga’s Under The Radar Team – Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>June is such an important month for high school basketball. For many players and teams it's the only time of year they get the ability to matchup against opposing teams with college coaches in attendance. Prospects relish the opportunity to compete in hopes of gaining college attention or media attention to elevate their status. But for some prospects, their attention could be under the radar due to multiple reasons and that's where this list comes in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are the players I saw in June that are either flying under the radar of college programs, the media, or both.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2332290' first='Amir' last='Kendrick'] - Cactus Canyon </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the underrated guards in Arizona is Kendrick who may lead the state in points per game by the end of the season. A crafty two-way guard who controls the offense for his Cactus Canyon team and picks the right time to swing the rock or attack the rim. He defends his tail off on the defensive end by forcing turnovers or bad shots with great length on contests. His shot has only gotten better and he can play his way onto the court in college with his defensive effort or ability to score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2834414' first='Jackson' last='Moore'] - Cienega</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most prolific scorers in the state doesn't get the attention by most in the valley since he plays in Southern Arizona. He's a knockdown shooter than can make nearly any defender pay if they give him even a little bit of space to get a shot off. He pairs his efficiency with the ability to drive inside and finish with a floater or a soft layup over and around defenders. His offensive game is paired with a physicality on the defensive end that allows him to stay bumping opposing players and forcing them to pass the ball to reset themselves. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2266385' first='Braylen' last='Gray'] - Willow Canyon</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Willow Canyon starts to adjust its identity, the Wildcats needed to find another scorer in its lineup. Gray took the charge and truly became a trusted scorer and arguably the most important piece alongside star guard [player_tooltip player_id='2386978' first='Jaydon' last='Hayes']. Gray showed off his ability to get to his spots in the mid-range and pull up over multiple elite defenders and score with ease. He became more aggressive attacking the basket and finishing through contact. When it comes to playing off-ball, Gray has made the most of his opportunity and is a sneaky breakout senior this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2717233' first='Travon' last='Darby'] - Red Mountain</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top players in the 6A conference may not get the attention since Red Mountain isn't an open division contender, but make no mistake [player_tooltip player_id='2717233' first='Travon' last='Darby'] can ball out. Darby uses his athleticism and speed to get past defenders downhill towards the rim but is under control in the process and finishes with ease through and around contact. The Red Mountain guard pairs that skill with the ability to pull up off the dribble and creates space for open shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2407205' first='Ja'Mir' last='Smith'] - Chandler</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another candidate for breakout player of the year will be Chandler big [player_tooltip player_id='2407205' first='Ja'Mir' last='Smith'] who is a dynamic prospect in the post. His athleticism for the position is one of the best in the AIA as he can rise up and throw it down with force. He also shows upside as a ball-handler for the position as he can move the ball around and attack off the dribble. The defensive end is where his standout ability shines as a stellar shot blocker and disrupter for opposing offenses who often are forced to kick out with his presence inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2435389' first='Justin' last='Johnson'] - Millennium</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A newcomer to national powerhouse Millennium, Johnson has already made his mark on the Tigers lineup and looks ready to breakout this season. Every team needs a glue guy or someone to do all the little stuff that leads to winning and that's exactly what Johnson has shown the ability to do. He crashes the offensive board better than most wings due to his gifted athletic ability and finishes with strong put back dunks over defenders. On the defensive end he guards inside-out and disrupts opposing guards and pulls down defensive rebounds and quickly gets the ball moving on the fastbreak. He may not flash at first glance, but his fingerprints are all over the game and he will be key to the Tigers chances of winning a championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->