Five Standouts: Centerpoint vs. Shades Valley

<p>This match-up between these "east-side neighbors" featured loads of talent while also displaying the heart and passion of both teams. The talented Centerpoint High School team were surprised by a less talented and much smaller Shades Valley team. Winless coming into the game, Shades Valley played with a sense of urgency and direction from the start and Centerpoint played as if they were guaranteed a win on their home court against a defeated team. Both of those factors were the recipe for a good game. Centerpoint started to put up a fight too late in the game and the Shades Valley Mounties came away with their first win of the season. These are some standouts from the game, and some players you should follow throughout the rest of the season. This game also featured a "hidden gem' who will be highlighted for his surprising and exceptional play.</p> <p><em><strong>Standouts</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Jordan Chatman, SG/SF (Centerpoint)</strong></p> <p>It took him a while to get going but once he warmed up and got into a rhythm he showed why he is the highest ranked player featured in this game. Standing at 6'5" with a nice strong frame, he showed the ability to play positions 2-5. Has a smooth jumper and is able to shoot the 3 and mid-range with consistency. Needs work on his ball-handling to be able to play with more confidence on the wing. No problems rising over smaller opponents with the one dribble pull-up jumper. Very strong attacking the basket. Also possesses exceptional footwork around the basket which allows him to create good shooting angles to get his shot off in traffic. Needs to work on being aggressive during the game from start to finish. At times he seems to be on cruise control and if he wants to separate himself he needs to have that same killer instinct at the beginning of the game that he showed in the second half of this game.</p> <p><strong>William Nall, F (Centerpoint)</strong></p> <p>Nall is a player that possesses all the intangibles a coach likes to see in his guys. He plays hard, plays defense, sacrifices his body for loose balls, and always takes what the defense gives to him. He was aggressive from the tip, relentlessly attacking the basket and crashing the offensive glass. Has no problem guarding positions 1-5. Most of his damage is done from 15 feet on in. Has a great first step and handles the ball well enough to take his opponents off the dribble. Needs to work on his jump-shot to expand his offensive ability.</p> <p><strong>Samuel Howard, G (Shades Valley)</strong></p> <p>Maybe the MVP of the game, the lefty led the charge for the Mounties from the start. From looking at his frame, i will take a lucky guess and say that he also plays football. He was a bully on the offensive glass to go along with his pinpoint shooting from 3. No one from Centerpoint was able to match his energy and intensity. Very smart player that plays to his strengths on the court.</p> <p><strong>Isaac Sims, PG (Shades Valley)</strong></p> <p>Though he was in foul trouble for part of the game, when he was on the floor he made an impact with his ability to control the clock during offensive possessions. The lefty stands at 6'4" with a wiry frame and long arms. He's very crafty and shifty with the ball in his hands. A slasher in the fast-break and half court setting. Needs significant work on his jump-shot. Also needs to add muscle to his thin frame to be able to absorb and finish through contact when attacking the basket. Very intriguing prospect that could develop into a great player if he works on his weaknesses.</p> <p><em><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">HIDDEN GEM</span></strong></em></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Jonathan Dudley, SG (Centerpoint)</strong></span></p> <p>Even though his team lost the game, the class of 2021 6'4" shooting guard showed off an array of moves on offense and also used his height and length to play defense on the perimeter. Offensively, he is able to shoot the 3 consistently and break down defenders with his handles. Has a nice pull-up jumper. He's very advanced in ISO situations. Attacks the rim with decisive moves and can finish with either hand around the basket. Above average athletic ability and excels in the open court with the ball in his hand or filling the lanes on the wing. Very good at reading passes and getting deflections on defense. Though he has solid lower body strength, he will still need to add more upper body strength to take his game to another level. This is definitely a player worth keeping a close eye on at the moment and in the future.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>