Bruce’s Best: Regular Season Superlatives

Bruce&#8217;s Best: Regular Season Superlatives

Bruce Williams

February 14, 2022 @ 11:10 AM

Hard to believe the season has come and gone, it was a blast! I was fortunate to have a front-row seat. Going from gym to gym every night provided me with an up-close and personal look at some of the best talents from around the state. As we turn our attention to the playoffs, let’s look back at some of the players with the top skills. Here’s a look at our superlatives from the 2021-222 Regular season. Best Shooter: [player_tooltip player_id="986798" first="Alijah" last="Adem"] 6’1 PG Spring Valley 2024 (#8PHN 2024) - Shot nearly 70% from behind the 3 point line. Best stat of the year, Adem made a total of 79 threes on 117 attempts. His 79 makes were one less than stat leader [player_tooltip player_id="859655" first="Parsa" last="Hadjighasemi"] who took 229 total attempts. Best R&J Athlete: [player_tooltip player_id="859649" first="Aaron" last="Price"] 6’7 PF Liberty 2022 (#8PHN 2022) - Gets the nod over Gorman’s [player_tooltip player_id="1236157" first="James" last="Freeman"] because of his ability to use his bounce to block shots as well as get dunks. Best On Ball Defender: [player_tooltip player_id="1253136" first="Tayshaun" last="Jackson"] 5’5 PG Las Vegas 2025 (#27PHN 2025) - Has graded out at 100%, have yet to see anyone beat him off the dribble in his high school career. Best Passing Lanes Defender: [player_tooltip player_id="989243" first="Angelo" last="Kambala"] 5’11 CG Liberty 2023 (#5PHN 2023) - Good lateral quickness, combined with quick hands allowed him to rack up nearly two steals per game. Best Interior Defender: [player_tooltip player_id="859649" first="Aaron" last="Price"] Best Rebounder: [player_tooltip player_id="1220975" first="Tavionte" last="Jackson"] 6’2 PG Las Vegas 2022 (#5PHN 2022) - Tough, competitive, R&J athlete with a freakish wingspan. Jackson led the state in rebounding. Most Versatile: – [player_tooltip player_id="1041560" first="Darrion" last="Williams"] 6’5 SF Bishop Gorman 2022 (#3PHN 2022) - Handles, post, shoots threes, defends multiple positions for the 9-time defending state champs. Best Passer: [player_tooltip player_id="986955" first="DJ" last="Thomas"] 6’1 PG Liberty 2024 (#1PHN 2024) - Doesn’t get enough credit for making the easy pass. Good post entry passer, good vision, and anticipation skills. Best Rim Protector: [player_tooltip player_id="1129386" first="Pharaoh" last="Compton"] 6’5 PF Spring Valley 2024 (#9PHN 2024) - Quick 1st jumper with good timing on his shot blocks. Best Scorer: Richard Isaacs 6’2 PG Coronado 2022 (#1PHN 2022) - Long-range shooter with wiggle, that can create for himself. Best Upside Senior: – [player_tooltip player_id="1123633" first="David" last="Estes"] 6’7 PF Basic 2022 (#68PHN 2022) - Fast rising prospect nearly put up a double-double in his first Varsity season. Best Upside Underclassman - [player_tooltip player_id="1253127" first="Chris" last="Nwuli"] 6’6 SF Bishop Gorman 2025 (#2PHN 2025) Best Handle: [player_tooltip player_id="1220975" first="Tavionte" last="Jackson"] Best Slasher: [player_tooltip player_id="859644" first="Dontrell" last="Johnson"] 6’5 SG Trinity 2022 (#10PHN 2022) - High motor athletic downhill guy. Best Low Post Scorer: [player_tooltip player_id="787643" first="Joshua" last="Jefferson"] 6’8 SF Liberty 2022 (#2PHN 2022) - Spends a lot of time on the perimeter, but if he’s ever played 1 on 1 on the block, assume the bucket. Best Rim Runner: [player_tooltip player_id="985624" first="Ephram" last="Ezidiegwu"] 6’5 C Bonanza 2023 (#45PHN 2023) Best Physical Specimen: [player_tooltip player_id="1236157" first="James" last="Freeman"] 6’5 PF Bishop Gorman 2022 (#9PHN 2025) Best Undervalued Prospect: [player_tooltip player_id="985630" first="Nakalya" last="Fabello"] 6’0 PG Valley 2023 (#13PHN 2023) Best Sleeper: [player_tooltip player_id="1265401" first="Bryant" last="Largarady"] 6’8 SF Canyon Springs 2022 (#49PHN 2022) - Could combination of size and skill in a raw frame. Best P&R Guard: [player_tooltip player_id="985623" first="Karson" last="Roberts"] 6’0 PG Bonanza 2023 (#19PHN 2023) - Reads screens patiently and comes of shoulder to shoulder. Best Pull Up Jumper: [player_tooltip player_id="1286525" first="Kenyon" last="Giles"] 5’10 PG Silverado 2022 (#6PHN 2022) Best Corner Shooter: [player_tooltip player_id="859643" first="Shane" last="Thomas"] 6’3 SG Durango 2022 (#4PHN 2022) Most Underrated Shooter: [player_tooltip player_id="1321364" first="Tommy" last="Williams"] 6’0 PG Incline 2025 - Freshman shooter made over 70 threes for one of the top 2A teams. Best 3 And D Guy: [player_tooltip player_id="859643" first="Shane" last="Thomas"] Best Under 6’0: [player_tooltip player_id="1110114" first="John" last="Mobley Jr"]. 5’11 PG Bishop Gorman 2024 (#2PHN 2024) - Dynamic scorer, who shoots it with ITG range. Best High Motor Guy: [player_tooltip player_id="1326910" first="Martin" last="Thompson"] 5’11 SG Boulder City 2022 Best Teammate: [player_tooltip player_id="1275253" first="Carson" last="Dooley"] 6’5 PF Spring Valley 2022 (#91PHN 2022) Best Charge Taker: [player_tooltip player_id="1326865" first="Jake" last="Penny"] 6’0 SG Spanish Springs 2022 - Wasn’t even close, not sure who was second in the state in charges taken. Highest IQ: [player_tooltip player_id="986955" first="DJ" last="Thomas"] Best JV Player: [player_tooltip player_id="986960" first="Nick" last="Jefferson"] 6’0 PG Bishop Gorman 2025 Best High Academic Player: [player_tooltip player_id="1123632" first="Robert" last="Gibson"] 6’4 PF Durango 2022 (#39PHN 2022) - Selfless team guy with high motor and a 4.7 GPA.