Thanksgiving Break Standouts: Hoover vs. Demopolis

<p><em>This game featured a handful of players from our class of 2021 state rankings. These players were, for the most part, a level above the competition and definitely showed why they deserved to be ranked</em>.</p> <p><strong>Bryan "Blue" Bennett, F (Demopolis)</strong></p> <p>Standing at 6'6" with long arms and a skinny frame, he is surprisingly very active in the paint and do not mind banging with heavier forwards. The first thing that jumps out about him is his athleticism. Has a very quick first step going to the basket. Good one two dribble counter moves to free himself up for his shots. Tries to dunk everything around the rim. Has a quick second jump which makes him very elite at rebounding on the offensive end. Showed slight improvement on his mid-range jumper but still needs tons of work. Developing a jump-shot is crucial for him because he seems to disappear at times during the game when he cant rely solely on his athletic ability. "Blue" is currently ranked #34 in the class of 2021 state rankings but after watching him play I can definitely see him breaking into the top 15 in his class.</p> <p><strong>DJ Fairley, PG (Hoover)</strong></p> <p>A very solid player at the point guard position. Takes great care of the ball and rarely makes senseless turnovers. Always looking to push the ball in transition off the rebound. 80% of the time he is in attack mode but plays at a comfortable pace and is hardly ever out of control. Has very deceptive speed and is crafty with the ball in his hands. Has a smooth jumper and great form but it needs to become more consistent. Needs to develop a floater because most of turnovers comes from body control finishes in the paint. Also, developing more lower body strength could take his game to the next level. Currently ranked #57 in the class of 2021 state rankings, he is a very intriguing prospect at the PG spot and someone to keep your eyes on. Has all the tools to eventually become a great point guard.</p> <p><strong>Josh Mason, CG (Demopolis)</strong></p> <p>A two-sport athlete. You can definitely see his experience in football giving him a slight advantage on the court at the guard position. Relentless on both ends of the court. Needs a good amount of work on his jump-shot and also his left hand. Even though he is right hand dominant, he has nice counter moves to keep the defense on their heels. An elite athlete and is always in the mix during the game. Has loads of potential and could make that turn into a good player if he works on his weaknesses. Currently ranked at #43 in the class of 2021 state rankings.</p> <p><strong>Shun Sheffield, G/F (Hoover)</strong></p> <p>Maybe the biggest surprise from the game. He stepped on the floor and brought eye-popping energy. A scrappy player at the guard position and possesses the ability to change the momentum of a game. Elite athleticism. Definitely had the play of the game when he took the ball coast-to-coast and dunked on three defenders. Almost unstoppable when attacking the basket because of his strong frame. Needs to work on his handles and jump-shot, but possesses all of the intangibles needed to stay on the floor in crunch time and play a key role in helping teams win. He is currently ranked at #85 in the class of 2021 state rankings.</p>