2018 Tournament of Champions: 5 Glue Guys

<p style="text-align: left;">“Glue guys” are players who take up the sometimes unattractive responsibilities necessary for overall team success. Rebounding, careful shot selection, adherent defense are some of those responsibilities. These players can be thought of as the foremost team players who may not always make headlines for their final stat-line, but add a much-needed touch that their team couldn’t thrive without. Most glue guys are exceptionally talented and have all of the tools to be a superstar-caliber player, but choose to direct their efforts to the less fabulous parts of the game that give their team the best chance to win games. Many, if not most, great players start their career as a glue guy. At the Tournament of Champion these were the players we were able to see who stood out for being great glue guys.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Eric Hilbert 2019 Hugo PG </span></p> <p>Eric Hilbert notched 11 points off 63 percent shooting from the field in the second round against Fort Cobb-Broxton. The 5-foot-10 point guard is shifty, efficient, and hustles for what he gets. He makes smart passes to his fellow scorers and doesn’t get ahead of himself trying to force his way into the defense.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Shelby Sampleton 2019 Putnam City West G</span></p> <p>6-foot-2 Shelby Sampleton came off the bench in the first round of the TOC and displayed that he can catch fire. With 32 points, he not only led the Patriots in scoring Thursday, but outscored any other player in the tournament that day while playing efficient basketball. He shot 6-of-10 from the 3-point line on 21 minutes of play. Sampleton has height and is an athletic, skilled guard/wing who is also an aggressive scorer. He also plays good defense and can grab steals to create offense. Simpleton is an all-around glue guy who adds to his team whatever is required.<b> </b></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Michael McHenry 2019 Booker T. Washington G </span></p> <p>McHenry starts for the Hornets and adds stout defense and high-percentage shooting. He often leads vocally for the Hornets on the defensive end of the floor, letting teammates know when they’re isolated or are about to be screened. He played an important role for BTW at the TOC, cleaning up rebounds, setting screens, and being an all-around team guy. A 6-foot-even senior, McHenry is a shifty guard with speed and court vision who loves to aid the Hornets by crashing the boards, refraining from being caught still on offense, and brining energy to the scoring game without tossing unnecessary passes or taking high-risk, low-reward shots.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">James Alexandre 2019 Tulsa Memorial PG</span></p> <p>Against Hugo in the first round of the TOC, James Alexandre finished with 9 points on 4 shots. That is the epitome of being a glue guy. Efficient. Effective. And willing to give up big numbers that he has every capability of acquiring. Alexandre is an extremely talented ball-handler with a golf bag full of finishing moves. The crafty junior has some of the best touch you’ll see at the high school level, but focuses more on playing with energy, confidence, and dishing off to his teammates. Because he plays alongside a pair of true forwards in Keylan and Kalib Boone, his assist numbers are usually misleading as many would-be assists result in the beneficiary of Alexandre’s passing get fouled in the process.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tyson Eastwood 2021 Fort Cobb-Broxton G </span></p> <p>Tyson Eastwood put up an 8-point, 9-rebound performance against Hugo in the second round of the TOC. What the stats won’t tell you is the tenacity and headiness he plays with. Eastwood is a talented ball-handler who adds a great touch to the FCB offense with high-iQ play and leadership. He greatly compliments the play of his fellow scorers by reversing the ball about the perimeter before defenders can recover.</p>