Four standouts in Whatcom County so far this summer

Here are four players I have watched over the summer here in Whatcom County. In the month of June, I watched over 50 games through 3 or 4 tournaments. These four guys have caught my eye with their excellent play on the court. [player_tooltip player_id="1479234" first="Bennett" last="Howe"] Burlington-Edison HS, 2023—F Bennett is very athletic and can out-rebound a lot of the NWC. From watching him last year in districts to watching him this summer, I can tell he has put a lot of work in the gym perfecting what he does. He is very effective in the pick and roll game, being able to use his body well against defenders. From the high post is where Bennett looks most comfortable. He can either drive to the hoop, or rise above his defenders and shoot the easy shot. He’s throwing down dunks in game, either in transition or off a missed shot, proving he’s one of the most athletic players in the conference. One thing I’ve seen him improve most in his game is his long range shot, as he continues to get confidence from beyond the arc, he will be very tough to stop. Kyle Heaton Squalicum HS, 2023—F While Kyle plays the stretch 4/down low, he’s more of a slashing guard. He has nice length &amp; attacks the rim no matter who’s in front of the basket. While the Storm lack size, Heaton actually plays very aggressively for having to go up against bigger players. The passion Kyle plays for shows on the court, which is always infectious to teammates. The senior to-be can step outside and hit the deep shot too. He’s also very efficient on the pick and roll, hitting the mid-range jumper frequently. He will have a bigger role on this Squalicum team that contains quite a few 2023 graduates [caption id="attachment_1517465" align="alignnone" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/IMG_3773.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1517465" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/IMG_3773-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> Photo: Stacee Sledge[/caption] Evan Ruiz Burlington-Edison HS, 2023—G Evan’s game has taken a big jump since I watched him last year in the district playoffs. Over the summer I’ve seen Evan take on a bigger role, and that hasn’t fazed him one bit. With a new coach coming in for Burlington-Edison, Ruiz is starting to play the PG position &amp; set up the offense for the Tigers. He’s done a great job adjusting to his new role, displaying he can facilitate the offense well. He works really well in the pick and roll with fellow 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1479234" first="Bennett" last="Howe"]. Evan plays with a ton of confidence on the court as well, as he’s not afraid to attack the bucket, no matter who’s in the way. He’s a phenomenal team player too, always putting his teammates before himself on and off the court. He’s set for a very good senior year. [player_tooltip player_id="1416318" first="Maddox" last="Preder"] Lake Stevens HS, 2023—G Watching Maddox play live is electric. He plays the game 2/3 steps ahead of everyone else. His basketball IQ stands out but his stroke while shooting the ball is very impressive. Preder can shoot off the dribble or off a catch and shoot very, very effectively. His release is fast and he’s not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere. Defensively he has quick feet and active hands. He’s a great on ball defender and his game is only improving as the summer goes on. I’m excited to see how Maddox’s senior year goes with Lake Stevens.