Top Slashers and Finishers – player notes
With the season right around the corner, We’ll have new evaluation pieces throughout the week. First up, a look at the players who most impressed with their abilities to slash and explode with the ball in their hands this past summer and fall league.
Johnny Love, Gonzaga Prep has a wingspan that exceeds his athletic, 6-foot-4 frame, he was a tough cover when he decided to get to the rim, and even a helping defender wasn’t enough to keep him from getting off a good shot. He also displayed the ability to defend and step out and shoot from behind the 3-point arc. Love has a high ceiling.
Tre’shaun Harrison is a 6’1 point guard hailing from Garfield, but this kid has the physical maturity and muscular frame you would expect from a collegiate athlete who can play both offense and defense effectively against other powerful guards. Probably the most explosive and aggressive kid in the league, he can get to the rim at will and is unstoppable in the open floor.
Michael Ervin, Ferris High School The 6-3 point guard was one of the top standouts of the day. He brought consistent energy from the beginning of the summer. Ervin doesn’t have the most conventional jump shot, but he hits with consistency from outside. His most effective trait is a willingness to mix it up around the ball. He cuts and moves, hits the glass and generally demonstrates good knowledge of the game. Good be a good candidate as a late signee for a D-III or NAIA program.
Wesley Erickson, Everett High School is already 6-foot-4 approaching his senior year, he has great body control for a player of that physical makeup at that age. With his height and length, and the ability to put the ball on the floor, his long arms allowed him to finish regularly around the hoop.
Willie Thomas, Washington High School is a 6-foot-6 player who can play all over the floor with a motor that impressed the Prep Hoops coaches, he’s the type of player every coach wishes for. Though he has the ability to take over games, he played within the rhythm of his teammates and picked his moments to flash his next-level athleticism when necessary on Sunday.
Jase Edwards, Evergreen High School. Jase looks longer than his 5-11 frame would suggest, and he’s crafty scorer who has shown the ability to put the ball in the basket from all three levels. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he changes pace well and knows how to find seams in defensive coverage. Skilled offensive player who can score with array of floaters, runners and ambidextrous finishes.
John Broom, Blanchett High School is a smooth 6-1 attacking guard, he can pull up in mid-range and launch from deep. He’s the kind of player who can be impactful in the open floor because he can make plays in various ways and has the athleticism to get all the way to the rim. He has the tools to be a strong perimeter defender as well, and he put some of that on display Sunday.
5’10 point guard Omari Grey hailing from Seattle Academy Long, coordinated and explosive, he demonstrated his ability to affect the game in a number of different ways at the Showcase. He was a tough draw on defense and there really wasn’t anyone keeping him from getting to the basket.
Corey Quinn, Central Valley High School. He can be an elite defender and he might not even know it yet. The footwork and ability to guard multiple positions that the coaches saw this past season might be Quinn’s ticket to the next level and his all-around athleticism..
Jeremiah Williams, Spanaway Lake High School is a exceptionally strong kid at 6-foot-2, he is able to bully his way into the paint.
Declan Kelly, Seattle Prep High School. The 5-11 Declan has a strong, compact frame and has some nice quickness, both as a ball-handler getting downhill and as a defender laterally. He’s not afraid to get to the cup and draw contact.
Jonathan Kibby, Newport High School. The 6-0 guard can get downhill in a hurry and does a nice job using his body to absorb contact, finishing through it at the rim. Has nice vision when he’s on the move. Kibby is a guy who makes good things happen when he’s in attack mode.