December All-Sleeper 1st Team

Josh White

December 23, 2021 @ 02:24 PM

December has presented a plethora of talent, and things are heating up at the midway point of the season. Here's an early Christmas present for all the true hoop heads around the state who want to be in the know of who could potentially make some noise come playoff time. [player_tooltip player_id="1070702" first="Joshua" last="Bell"] 6’1 PG Cottage Hill Christian Academy 2023 Bell is a pure shooter who spaces the floor at an elite level and is a top-flight shooter in the state regardless of class.. He possesses a textbook jumper that he can get off when working off the dribble or off-ball. He gets great elevation on the shot, stays on balance, and follows through with no wasted motion. He does a great job of using screens off the ball to create opportunities for himself and consistently squares himself up when shooting off the catch. He’s consistent and does not waiver in his form or approach, which is imperative for shooters. As a junior, Bell could contribute at the next level as a spot-up shooter, so it’ll be interesting to see what he adds to his game and how far up the rankings he can climb with the rest of this year. Rashawn Knox PG/SG Hazel Green 2022 Knox is a solid 3&D combo guard who could be an asset to any team. He does an excellent job of picking his spots and flowing within the offense. He moves very well without the ball and creates opportunities for himself often. He shows to be a knock-down shooter when operating off the catch and can hit shots off the dribble when given space. Defensively Knox is light on his feet and uses his wingspan to be disruptive in passing lanes. His versatility and interchangeable skill as a combo guard will serve him well at the next level and could help the Trojans make a run at state. https://youtu.be/TCp9K7hbv8E Corey Stephenson 6’5 SG Hueytown 2022 Stephenson is an explosive shot creator who’s been cooking every team he’s come across. His ability to create off the dribble and hit difficult shots is top-tier in the state. This, paired with his explosive athleticism, makes him an ideal two-guard for the next level. He’s a knock-down shooter from deep with a textbook jump shot. He has a smooth and quick release with a nice touch on his shot. As a finisher, he is elusive and is creative when avoiding defenders at the rim, but he also has the length and strength to finish through contact if needed. In addition to that, he also possesses D1 athleticism, which enables him to play above the rim. Stephenson is simply an assassin and should be in the conversation amongst the upper echelon players in the state. https://twitter.com/HawksEliteAAU/status/1467889716838252554?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="1044918" first="Landon" last="Jacobs"] 6’7 PF/SF Sparkman 2022 Jacobs continues to use his athleticism and intensity to impact the game. As a pure physical specimen, he has the size, speed, strength, and explosion to be an elite threat when running the lane on the break or cutting to the basket in the half-court. He’s stepping up as a rebounder and has posted multiple double-digit rebound games throughout the month. Defensively, Jacobs has tapped into his potential of being a multi-position defender. His quick feet, length, and strength allow him to shut down 1-4 when he’s locked in. https://twitter.com/IamlandonJ/status/1467335031328849923?s=20 Mitchell Chaffe 6’9 Center Muscle Shoals 2022 Chaffe is a traditional big who plays to his size. He does an excellent job presenting himself as a target, sealing defenders, and fighting for position. He has excellent hands and solid footwork when operating in the half court. He commands the post and navigates well through double teams, mismatches and has a nice right hook he can get to any time he wants. He can hit the occasional 15- footer and runs the court well in transition. He also shows to be a solid rebounder who can dominate the boards if he isn’t accounted for on the glass.