Player Breakdown: Noah Haaland

<p>[player_tooltip player_id="919665" first="Noah" last="Haaland"] is a 6’6" shooting guard/power forward from the class of 2021. Last season, Haaland was a key part of a Lakeland team that played well up north and he was a major contributor of points, rebounds, and leadership. In the upcoming season, Noah will look to lead the Hawks toward a district championship and a shot at the state tournament in March. Continue reading for a breakdown of Noah’s skills and abilities ahead of the 2020-21 season.</p> <p><strong>Defense:</strong> Noah is a solid defender for the Hawks. Primarily, Noah guards a lot of bigs and is usually defending in the post. He has a strong body and long arms that he uses to push posts away from the blocks and he does not get posted up or backed down easily. He holds his ground and contests every shot that happens in the paint. He is a solid shot blocker that times his jumps well and knows when he needs to slide over and jump to protect the rim. Against guards, Haaland does well and can keep them in front. He moves well laterally and has quick hands that allow him to grab steals when on the perimeter. Noah is a really good rebounder on both ends of the floor and he crashes the boards hard on offense and defense.</p> <p><strong>Offense:</strong> Haaland is a really good offensive player for the Hawks. He can score at all levels and is a deceptive scorer. In the paint, Haaland has great patience and excellent footwork that he can use to score around the rim with either hand over the top of post defenders. From the perimeter, Noah is an excellent shooter if left open. He shoots the long ball with confidence and loves to step back or roll to the basket after setting on-ball screens. As a passer, Noah is willing to look for his teammates and he has really great court vision on outlet passes and pushing the ball in transition. Though he most likely will not be the primary guard bringing the ball up the court, Noah can handle the ball and he is not turnover prone.</p> <p><strong>Overall:</strong> Altogether, Noah is an excellent player for the Lakeland Hawks. On defense, Noah plays hard and can defend guards and bigs. On offense, Haaland is skilled at all levels and uses his strength to his advantage. He would make a great 4 at the next level.</p>