5 Western Pennsylvania Hoopers Who Utilize Their Physicality

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Physical players don't have to be bigs — they come in all sizes. But these players all have one thing in common: a desire to use their physicality to impose their will on the game. In this article, I highlight five Western Pennsylvania hoopers who utilize their physicality to make themselves better players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1403750"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='1403750' first='Cam' last='Mills'], a rising Senior shooting guard at Peters Township, stands as a prime example of a player who leverages his physicality to elevate his game.u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eMills' physical style of play is immediately noticeable on the offensive end. His excellent first step, aided by his solid build and strength, allows him to burst past defenders and muscle his way to create scoring opportunities. u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eHis willingness to take a charge and put his body on the line illustrates his commitment to the team and his understanding of the game and a testament to his determination and resilience. His continuous hustle, combined with his size and strength, makes him an excellent defender. He is also an excellent rebounder.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"David Dessicino","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Moniteau","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eDavid Dessicino, a 6'5 rising Senior at Moniteau, is an epitome of how physicality can dictate the flow of a basketball game. u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eOn defense, Dessicino is a classic rim protector. He brings an imposing presence in the paint, altering shots and swatting away layup attempts by opposing guards daring to penetrate the lane. His size and strength create a formidable barrier for attackers, deterring drives and forcing opponents to reconsider their approach. His physicality doesn't just apply to his shot-blocking prowess; he also uses his strength to box out opponents, secure rebounds, and prevent second-chance opportunities.u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eOffensively, his physicality also comes into play when positioning for a shot. David can create space for himself and maintain balance even when taking contact. He uses his strength to post up smaller defenders, drive through contact, and battle for rebounds. He also sets strong screens.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Nathan Greer","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Grove City","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eNathan Greer has become synonymous with physical toughness. A rising Senior at Grove City, Greer's athletic build, coupled with his aggressive style of play, makes him a well rounded player.u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eOn offense, Greer's strong ability to penetrate the basket is a clear testament to his advantageous use of physicality. His tenacity to drive hard to the hoop, absorb contact, and finish strong at the rim demonstrates his physical toughness. Though a bit lanky, he exhibits a level of ruggedness that allows him to power through defenders and convert opportunities into points.u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eOn the defensive end, Greer's physicality truly shines. His physical toughness coupled with his quickness allows him to guard players across various positions. Nathan's ability to defend both bigs and guards showcases his versatility and underlines his physical toughness.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2088841' first='Blayze' last='Myers']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='2088841' first='Blayze' last='Myers'] stands as a physical powerhouse in the guard position. He leverages his physicality to be a force at both ends of the court.u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eHis ability to drive strong to the hoop is a hallmark of his game, utilizing his sturdy build to shoulder through opponents and finish at the rim. His strength not only aids in penetrating defenses but also serves him well on the boards. u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eDefensively, Myers' physical prowess shines equally bright. His size and strength enable him to guard a range of opponents, from agile guards to larger forwards. He displays an exceptional ability to keep quicker players in front of him. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1187880"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='1187880' first='Damon' last='Curry'] is a standout player who effectively uses his physicality to his advantage. His combination of strength, size, and scoring ability make him a treat on all ends of the court. He effectively uses his strength when attacking the rim to create angles, making him a challenging player to guard. This ability to manipulate his body in the paint contributes to his high field goal percentage. His physicality and skill set hint at a successful year for the Knights, with Damon potentially emerging as the top player in District 10. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b693a2df877"} /-->