PHI Freshman Showcase: Top Wings
This past Sunday the 5th annual PrepHoops Freshman Showcase took place at Fishers High School. At that event, 120 of the top freshman in the state of Indiana were able to showoff their skills and what their potential is. The…
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Continue ReadingThis past Sunday the 5th annual PrepHoops Freshman Showcase took place at Fishers High School. At that event, 120 of the top freshman in the state of Indiana were able to showoff their skills and what their potential is. The families, coaches, and other spectators saw just how special the class of 2023 is going to be. Over the next coming days and weeks, we at PrepHoops Indiana are going to help recap that event and talk about the players that stood out among the rest. Here is a look at the top wings from the Freshman Showcase.
Jalen Hooks – 6’6 W Franklin Central: Hooks was arguably the top wing that participated this past Sunday as he dominated most of the competition. He did most of his damage in the post as he was able to take it to the basket with ease. For as big as he is, he is a very smooth athlete. He has the agility, speed, and strength to keep up with any position. Hooks is undoubtedly one of the top freshman entering the high school season. Look for him to improve his jump shot and be one Indiana’s top high school prospects.
Caleb Linton – 6’4 W Lebanon: Although Linton was not the best athlete on the court, he still was one of the top wings that stood out from this past Sunday. What is great about Linton is that he plays extremely hard for his size as he is not the biggest player on the court. He rebounded the ball well against the taller players because of his strength and ability to want the ball. Anybody that watched him this past Sunday should have noticed that Linton is the type of player that is going to give a 110% every time he steps on the court.
Joshua Mickens – 6’3 W Lawrence Central: Mickens is the type of player that has great scoring ability on offense. He knows where he needs to be and what his role is. When given the opportunity to score, Mickens can either take it to the basket or stroke it from behind the arc as he showed this past Sunday. The only issue regarding Mickens is his lack of defense as sometimes it seems he can get lazy on the defensive side. Mickens has all the potential to be one of the top freshman in the state if he can complete his game on both sides of the ball.
Spencer White – 6’4 W Carmel: White was arguably the best shooter at the wing postilion this past Sunday. Granted he mostly took all his shots from the perimeter, but he was nearly automatic every time. He plays with this smooth composure that one would often see at the wing position. He looks to have confidence in his shot and that is what a true wing needs to have in order to contribute on the offense. White has all the potential to be one of the best pure shooting wings in his freshman class. As long as his shots are falling, he is a tremendous prospect.
Langston Leavell – 6’1 W Snider: Leavell really showed that he is a great defensive player this past Sunday. He was one of the few players that could steal the ball at a moment’s notice because of his quickness. Although it looks like he takes more pride on the defensive side of the ball, his offense was great as well. He could take it to the basket no problem but his jump shot still looked a bit off. Look for Leavell to improve his jump shot and thus completing his game in the coming years.
Ashton Williamson – 6’2 W Calumet: Williamson was one of the best passing wings on Sunday. A typical wing usually has a “shoot first” mentality, but Williamson looked like he would have much rather preferred his team get the best shot they could. His great passing skills led to those good shots. If he needed to, he could also create shots for himself as he was able to drop 39 points on the day as well. He was also a great defender as he had a couple of steals to add to his stats for the day. Overall, Williamson plays hard and is a really good player. Look for him to get even better the next few years.
Caleb Washington – 6’4 W Floyd Central: Washington was one of the best defensive wings of the day. It was a tough day for players that would matchup with him as it was extremely hard to score on him. The reason being is because Washington has great length and agility for his size. He runs the floor very well and does a good job stopping the ball in transition. His offense overall needs a little more work as he does not excel in one thing particularly, but as far as his defense goes he is one of the top freshman prospects in the state.
Thomas Ruffin – 6’2 W Park Tudor: This past Sunday, Ruffin made a bunch of excellent hustle plays throughout the day. Even with Jalen Hooks on his team, he found ways to standout and be noticed. He was a great rebounder and finisher when he had the ball. He was explosive and did not let up until the final buzzer. From watching him play, one would say he is the type of player a coach would want on his team. He hustles every second and is going to contribute on both ends. Look for Ruffin to have a great freshman year.