Minutemen Nike Fall Varsity Shootout: Standout Underclassmen

Bakersfield, CA - Last Saturday and Sunday, September 19th - 20th, Liberty High School hosted the 2nd annual Minutemen Nike Fall Varsity Shootout; a two-day showcase that had teams from Fresno, Clovis, Arroyo Grande, Madera, Visalia, and Bakersfield. Some of the top teams and players from the Section were on display in some great Fall Hoops. This article takes a look at 6 standout underclassmen (regardless of position) that had strong showings at the Shootout. In this article you will find the following information: the player's name, height, player position, current school they are attending, and the stats I kept from the event. We begin this article with a look at one of the top freshman in the Section, [player_tooltip player_id='3548202' first='Jacob' last='Butts'].    The 6-foot-2 lead guard has burst on the high school scene and is already recognized as the catalyst that drives the Apaches' offense, as well as a great floor spacer from beyond the arc, impressive positional rebounder, and the poise and awareness to push the ball up the court off the glass to get out in transition. Butts had a great showing on Day 1 of the Nike Fall Shootout, with an outstanding stat line against Arroyo Grande, finishing with a game-high 19 points, connecting on 4 threes, to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, showcasing his all around impact on the offensive end as a play maker and a bucket getter. Butts has dynamic handles, keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, with good height to see over most perimeter on-ball defenders, the court vision and decision making to find open teammates off the drive and kick pass, to his diver out of the pick and roll action, up the court off the defensive glass, and zips it cross court to open shooters. Butts also has the moves to shake his defender, using the crossover combos, hesitation, fadeaway, one-footer, floater down the lane, and step-back to create space from his opponent, is accurate with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and is a crafty scorer around the basket to evade shot blockers, using the euro-step, up-and-under, and reverse lay-ups to score in tight windows around the cup. Advantageous defender with good timing and instinct to deflect passes or jump passing lanes, as well as alter shots on the wing. A special one to keep an eye on.     The 5-foot-7 shooting guard can light it up from beyond the arc, scores in volume, and has made some strides as a primary ball handler when needed. Davis had a strong showing against Bullard of Fresno, as he would finish with 10 points, connecting on 2 threes, and showcased his solid on-ball defense and show making from deep. Davis moves fluidly off the ball, gets to his shot spots, is accurate with the 3-ball off the catch, has the moves to shake his defender, using the pump-fake, crossover, hesitation, step-back, and push-cross to get by his initial defender, is accurate with the mid-range jumper off the bounce, and is a creative scorer around the basket. Davis will be a welcomed addition to the Stars this season, as he will increase the team's overall 3-pointing and a spot-up shooter for senior Ethan Saenz to find when the defense collapses on him.     The 5-foot-10 combo guard is a solid on-ball defender, has added some physical strength and skill to his game, and can space the floor from beyond the arc. Himes had a solid freshman season for the Stars and earned himself a spot in the regular rotation, and he showed he is ready to step up and take on more of a reliable role on perimeter defense, as well as opening up the court with the 3-ball, as he would finish with 9 points in a big win over Bullard of Fresno. Himes has a tight handle on the ball, moves to create off the dribble, using the crossover, hesitation, push-cross, and behind-cross to get by his initial defender, has good court vision to make plays to open teammates off the drive and kick pass or the cross court pass to open shooters, moves freely off the ball to get to his shot spots, and is effective with the 3-ball off the catch. Himes is a tough on-ball defender with active hands and good timing to deflect passes, jump passing lanes, and poke the ball out to get the ball out in the open court.     The 6-foot shooting guard has been a player I have heard that can fire it from deep at a high clip, and Norcross did not disappoint in the second half of the game against BCHS, as he would score 11 of his team's 18 points in the half, connecting on 3 threes to show off the shot from distance. Norcross has solid handles, the moves to break down his defender, uses the hesitation and crossover to get by his initial defender, has the court vision to make good reads to open players when on the attack, and is a crafty scorer around the basket. Where Norcross was at his best was moving off the ball, using screens, sideline to sideline movement, and keeps his defender constantly moving, and gets to his shot spots, where he is highly accurate with the 3-ball off the catch.     The 6-foot lead guard has the court awareness to make plays for others, moves to create his own shots, and can heat up from deep quickly to score in volume. Perez stepped up big time for the Knights at the Nike Shootout and led Bullard in scoring, going for 19 points, connecting on 5 threes, in a loss to Bakersfield, followed by 17 points, with another 3 threes, in a great game against North Bakersfield. Perez has elite handles, keeps the dribble alive to survey the floor, has the court vision and decision making to find open teammates off the drive and kick pass, to the diver out of the pick and roll action, cross court to open shooters, or up the court off the rebound to players ahead in transition. Perez has shifty moves to create space from his defender, using the crossover combos, hesitation, floater, fadeaway, and step-back to get open looks, is accurate with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the bounce, and is a crafty scorer around the basket with the euro-step, up-and-under, and reverse lay-ups to score among height. Perez looks ready to be the next lead guard to run the Knights and the need is there when it comes to shot making and creating.     The 6-foot-6 forward is a physical and skilled player that can create in the post, controls the boards, and is emerging as one of the better rim protectors in the Section, as was evident with his play at the Nike Shootout. Sligh had a strong showing in the game against North Bakersfield, finishing with 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks to highlight his impact on both ends of the floor. Sligh has great footwork and moves to score in the post, using the drop-step, spin-move, up-and-under, or simply muscle through the contact to score at the basket, is effective with the face-up jumper from the mid-post, has the court vision to make plays from the top of the key or from the low-block to players cutting off the ball, and can space the floor from beyond the arc to keep the defense honest. Sligh has great timing, gets off the ground in a timely manner to block/alter shots in the paint, controls the glass on both ends, and can push the ball up the court off the glass to initiate the offense.

Bakersfield, CA - Last Saturday and Sunday, September 19th - 20th, Liberty High School hosted the 2nd annual Minutemen Nike Fall Varsity Shootout; a two-day showcase that had teams from Fresno, Clovis, Arroyo Grande, Madera, Visalia, and Bakersfield. Some of the top teams and players from the Section were on display in some great Fall Hoops. This article takes a look at 6 standout underclassmen (regardless of position) that had strong showings at the Shootout. In this article you will find the following information: the player's name, height, player position, current school they are attending, and the stats I kept from the event. We begin this article with a look at one of the top freshman in the Section, Jacob Butts Jacob Butts 6'2" | CG CA-N .