Idaho’s Top Floor Generals of 2023

<p>When you think of a true point-guard or "floor general" for your team you think of a player who can do it all for your team. A player who can ignite your team or change the tide of a game by the perfect pass, the quality knock-down shot, the timely defensive stand or leading the moral boosting fast-break. That is what you look for in a general or a leader to take your team to the heights that you and your players are wishing for at the start of every year. It all starts with the player who quarterbacks your team and these guys fit that mold of worthy candidates.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="923086" first="Kolton" last="Mitchell"]: 5’11 PG - Lake City HS (ID) 2023</p> <p>When you talk about players with high motors who play hard every play, Lake City’s [player_tooltip player_id="923086" first="Kolton" last="Mitchell"] is just that. Mitchell is a do-it-all type of point guard. Whether it is taking a defender off the dribble and pulling up from 18 feet, making the crisp pass to a trailing big or snatching a timely defensive rebound leading to a fast break, Mitchell checks all boxes. He is also fearless at taking it to the basket which is admirable of any player especially one with a smaller frame like Mitchell (5’11, 160). He also embodies a very high basketball IQ and looks like a college guard, showing composure no matter the stage of the game. He is the type of point guard that you want leading your program and is just that guy that could own the spot for the state’s top guard when the year concludes. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id="923086" first="Kolton" last="Mitchell"] in 2023. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="923078" first="Jaxon" last="Dines"]: 5’10 PG - Homedale HS (ID) 2023</p> <p>Dines is one of the most fearless guards that you will see. He is a crafty play-maker who welcomes contact and has no problem putting up points from anywhere on the court. He is effective driving into the paint or pulling up for a jumper off a high screen. A guard like Dines is one that any coach would want to quarterback your team. The incoming-senior guard keeps his teammates involved and with being so versatile in just about every phase of his game, he is a true star in the making. Last season Dines led his Trojan team in points and assists and he looked like a true leader on the floor. Look for Dines to make more news in 2023. </p> <p> [player_tooltip player_id="923083" first="Vander" last="Brown"]: 6’1 PG - Lakeside HS (ID) 2023</p> <p>If you want to watch a guy who can score in bunches? You might as well turn on tape of Lakeside High School’s [player_tooltip player_id="923083" first="Vander" last="Brown"]. Brown, is an aggressive guard who loves to make plays. He had outings late in the year that were jaw dropping. He finished two of his last three games of 2022 with a 50 point game against the Wallace Miners of Northern Idaho in their homecourt and a 35 point game a week later in Brown’s backyard of Lakeside. He is exceptional at playing the game at his pace. He can slow an offense down and execute sets well enough to blow open leads for his team. He can also get his team on the break and make an impact. He grew as a passer as time went on and the expectation is that he will grow even further in that department and if that happens? Watch out. You might be on the [player_tooltip player_id="923083" first="Vander" last="Brown"] show. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1108089" first="Hayden" last="Fletcher"]: 5’11 PG - Centennial (ID) 2023</p> <p>Fletcher is the player you see that is always in the middle of play. He is always flying around the court and impacting the game in some way. On offense, his shooting stroke is admirable and when he has space, you can bet on him to knock-down a much-needed basket. He shows great ball-handling skills and it helps them in awkward double-team situations, which he attracts often due to his ability to hurt you in many ways. Fletcher knows how to get his team in position to win games and he does it on both ends of the floor. Defensively he is a pest and he can give opposing guards headaches every-game. Fletcher is loaded with potential and he has the tools to take his Centennial Patriots on another state championship run this season. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="923085" first="Arie" last="VanDenBerg"]: 6’2 PG - Sandpoint (ID) 2023</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="923085" first="Arie" last="VanDenBerg"] is a name that needs to be on everyone’s’ radar at this point. The now 6’2 point guard is one of the more consistent shooters that you will see in the state. He is almost a guarantee to knock-down a pair of triples on a nightly basis, which was the case on a few occasions last season. VanDenberg possess great shooting form and release and only needs a shade of space to hit a shot. As a point guard he excels at getting his teammates involved with his great court vision-leading to fast breaks and his ability to control the pace of the game. Teammates go as Arie does and he is the type of player you want on your team. On defensive he is a great rebounder for a guard and he is consistent enough playing in a man-to-man or zone defense to be one of the more well-rounded players in the state. VanDenBerg is looking for a big year in 2023 and by the way he plays and the show he puts every night, that big year is almost a sure thing.</p>