Eric’s Weekly Evaluations: Week 6
The season is in full mode after finishing up the winter events. Now, we are getting into county tournaments and that is giving us some really competitive matchups. Here are my evaluations from the past week. Hamilton Heights vs. Bishop…
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Continue ReadingThe season is in full mode after finishing up the winter events. Now, we are getting into county tournaments and that is giving us some really competitive matchups. Here are my evaluations from the past week.
Hamilton Heights vs. Bishop Luers
Gus Etchison – 6’0 PG 2021 – Hamilton Heights (IN)
***41 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists against Bishop Luers (IN)***
Gus had a really solid game scoring the ball although his shot really wasn’t falling like normal. He was just 1/7 from three and had to make up a lot of that at the free throw line as he went 14/19. His finishing ability in the lane was really good and only had a couple misses. In the second half, there were a lot of turnovers and runnouts for Luers and Gus did have 8 turnovers. Limiting his downside is key. Has that tremendous upside but eliminating those little things is the biggest room for growth for him.
Lucas Letsinger – 6’1 SG 2021 – Hamilton Heights (IN)
***12 points against Bishop Luers (IN)***
Lucas is a solid shooting guard who can play well as a perimeter creator. He’s not a guy that relies much on any one thing as he scored of a layup, floater, transition bucket, and a three off the catch. It was about as diverse of scoring as you could have. He was really efficient but do want to see him find other ways to contribute. He has some length and was solid on defense which could turn into something long term.
Demarcus Hudson – 6’4 SG 2020 – Bishop Luers (IN)
***20 points against Hamilton Heights (IN)***
Demarcus is a big wing with some scoring ability from everywhere on the floor. Does well when he can play on the wing or in space. Likes the freedom to use his athleticism and frame to make a play. Was 0/3 from deep in this game so would like to see if that can be an area that improves but he was 6/7 in the lane. Loved his size and how he put it to use defensively. Can get into defenders and make plays, had a couple steals and had 5 points off of turnovers.
Nick Thompson – 6’2 SG 2023 – Bishop Luers (IN)
***15 points against Hamilton Heights (IN)***
Nick is a big, strong wing that has some legit strength and toughness already. He’s a guy that has done well finding easy points and making the most of his chances. He was 5/6 from the field for 15 points scoring on a rebound putback, a tough slash through the defense, and a post-up as well as transition points. He’s the type of guy that is going to utilize that frame first and then hopefully develop more down the road. His ball handling is pretty good for his size and looks like he is going to get much bigger in the coming years like his older brother (6’5).
Naylon Thompson – 6’5 PG 2021 – Bishop Luers (IN)
***17 points against Hamilton Heights (IN)***
Naylon is a tall guard who may be able to play multiple positions. He’s on the ball right now because his handles seem to be steady enough for the position. He was able to pass at a pretty solid level and limited his turnovers. His size gives him some scoring ability over the top of defenders when he wants to drive. He was 2/5 from three and has shown pretty steadily that he can shoot at a decent clip. He missed some shots early in the game that he can clean up pretty well. Did get into fouls trouble and will need that to not be an issue but also had 7 boards, 3 of which came from the offensive end.
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North Central-Farmersburg vs. Bloomfield
Turner Royal – 6’1 PG 2020 – Bloomfield (IN)
***18 points against North Central-Farmersburg (IN)***
Turner is a slightly built guard who can really score the ball. He was good in this one off the bounce, looking to finish with some finesse at the rim. He has a knack for finishing long even though he ins’t a really long guard. Extends his body well and creates that some separation. He had his jumper really looked good, locked in and mixed it up well with everything else.
Baylin Graf – 6’2 SG 2022 – Bloomfield (IN)
***17 points against North Central-Farmersburg (IN)***
Baylin is a big wing that already has a bit of strength on the frame and plays like a bull. He likes to attack the boards and the rim and has a lot of toughness to take on most he will get matched up with. He can shoot it a bit and hit an early three but he’s going to get a lot of scoring on the interior as he looks to drive. Takes hits well and can finish at the FT line. He doesn’t quite have the size to go over the top to get boards but he is going to be the guy that beats you up to get it. He’s actually so big this early that he might end up as a true wing down the road.
Bryton Suggs – 6’2 SG 2020 – North Central-Farmersburg (IN)
***17 points against Bloomfield (IN)***
Suggs is a tall off-guard who can shoot it a bit. Has a good frame that would fill out well in college. He’s a guy that works to get his shot off on the perimeter but can be all over with his release point. Air-balled a couple but would drain others. He’s a guy that could really turn into a big shooter quickly. He’s got some handles and can create off the bounce to shoot from the wing. He did score in transition a bit and had a nice little floater in the lane too.
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Shakamak vs. Linton-Stockton
Drew Cook – 5’11 PG 2023 – Linton-Stockton (IN)
***11 points against Shakamak (IN)***
Drew is a solid guard who seems to be in the right place at the right time. He’s not actively looking to score the ball right now as he’s still very young for this team but even still, he seems to find himself in spots where he can rip off jumpers pretty easily. He’s a good shooter who can take and rip off a shot quick and has a pretty good percentage already. Big guard with strength on the frame already that is only going to grow.
Lincoln Hale – 6’4 SG 2021 – Linton-Stockton (IN)
***25 points against Shakamak (IN)***
One of the better games we have seen for Lincoln who was very efficient and attack oriented. It started from the jump and he didn’t let off the pedal. He had that jumper working for him early and he leaned on it a bit which is where you want to see him do more often. He’s developed into a guy that can really drive as well but he’s best it seems like if he gets that jumper going early. He didn’t have to do a lot in his driving attempts but did mix in a little hook on a drive that I haven’t seen yet which was interesting.
Josh Pyne – 6’1 SG 2021 – Linton-Stockton (IN)
***13 points against Shakamak (IN)***
Pyne is a big guard with a great frame and some toughness. He did a mix of things in this one, most coming at the rim with a couple drives and rebound putbacks. He did show a nice mid-range pull-up and looked to attack as often as possible. He’s a guy that will play off the ball as a slasher, guy that will get in the lane and make a play.
Coy Gilbert – 6’1 PG 2022 – Shakamak (IN)
***6 points against Linton-Stockton (IN)***
Coy is a tall guard who might be able to stay on the point long term. He’s got a really lean frame but has good height and might still grow. He’s pretty solid in the half court as he looks to create space to drive. Adds a lot of spin moves into his arsenal but executes it well and it gives him a way to use his length. Got busted in the nose early so missed some time but was pretty aggressive when he got in the game.
Tyler Vivian – 6’4 SF 2022 – Shakamak (IN)
***9 points against Linton-Stockton (IN)***
Tyler is a tall wing that has some handles and is pretty aggressive. He’s got a good frame on him and is pretty filled out already. He’s best on the wing where he can drive a bit to look and score. Did a lot of his work going to his right hand but also had a nice up-and-under showing some athleticism. He’s the type of guy that can play the 3/4 right now but do want to see if he’s going to be able to stretch the floor and shoot it some.
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Alexandria vs. Anderson
Eric Troutman – 5’11 PG 2023 – Anderson (IN)
***4 points against Alexandria (IN)***
Troutman is a solid lead guard who has some good handles. He’s really good in the lane at times because he does have a little shake to him. He can get in the lane and dish it off really well. He wasn’t actively looking to score but found some opportunities to go at. His frame looks a little stronger than we saw this Fall which is helpful. Could see more scoring in his future mostly coming off the bounce on drives to the rim.
Davyeon Turner – 6’0 PG 2022 – Anderson (IN)
***19 points against Alexandria (IN)***
Turner is along, rangy guard who can shoot a little bit and has some really good handles at times. He’s going to need to work on the jumper as he can hit it at a solid clip but his release is all over the place and not repeatable right now. He is good on the ball but has done well in this offense playing off the ball as a shooter/slasher. Still has some upside to tap into and some of that might come as he adds some strength.
Marcus Armstrong – 5’11 SG 2021 – Anderson (IN)
***35 points against Alexandria (NI)***
Marcus is a really good shooter from the wing. He showed that in this one as he lit up Alexandria in the first half for 6 thees. He has a really solid release and it is quick but he barely gets off the floor. Not sure how that will effect him yet but my guess is that will need to be addressed little. However, he can really light it up without much space.
Latrell White – 6’4 PF 2023 – Anderson (IN)
***4 points against Alexandria (IN)***
Latrell is a big, strong post player who will really develop as he gets taller which should still be in the cards. He has some pretty good footwork and can be effective with that touch around the rim. Not a guy that is going to be able to go get his points on his own right now, needs those post-entry passes but can do something with it when he does. He did show he has some touch on his jumper. Had a nice lilted mid-range pull-up from about 8’ out over 6’7 Williams.
Brennan Morehead – 6’0 PG 2020 – Alexandria (IN)
***17 points against Anderson (IN)***
Brennan is a solid, well built guard who can kind of do everything at a decent level. He was great in transition, taking some easy points and playing tough against them defensively. He can rebound at a pretty good level, post up against guards, and has good full court speed. He showed off a nice little floater as well as a spin-move for a layup in the lane. He’s creative and effective, at least in this game that ended up being pretty wide-open.
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Lapel vs. Pendleton Heights
Bryce Carpenter – 6’5 PF 2020 – Lapel (IN)
***5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists against Pendleton Heights (IN)***
Bryce is a long, rangy forward who can do a little bit of everything but still has room to grow. Lacking a ton of strength on the frame, he can still make a ton of plays away from the rim and in the post. Had a nice layup in traffic as well as a three off the catch. He’s the type of guy that will need to finish filling out the frame in college but when he does, the entirety of his game should go up a ton. Had a nice weak side block and does add value defensively on guys that look to drive.
Carson Huber – 5’9 PG 2020 – Lapel (IN)
***15 points on 5/11 shooting, 3 assists against Pendleton Heights (IN)***
Carson is a solid lead guard who can score the ball quite a bit. He’s best moving quick where he can get into a pull-up jumper from deep but is plenty good enough as a passer and leader on the floor to give you few different looks. He’s not the biggest guard but he does have a floater in his bag that he landed early in the game. Drives the ball efficiently, not often but enough to keep things fair. Good effort guy who is going to go after the ball when he can.
Kolby Bullard – 5’11 PG 2020 – Lapel (IN)
***15 points on 5/10 shooting, 4/7 from three against Pendleton Heights (IN)***
Kolby is a solid off guard scorer who likes to rip it from anywhere. When he is set, he’s a pretty good shooter but will take some off-balance shots that need to be reeled in. He can put the ball on the floor a bit but tends to look for that jumper when available. A pretty standard off guard but for his size, would be interested to see what he would look like on the ball and looking to pass and setup while balancing out his shooting.
Jamison Dunham – 5’9 PG 2022 – Pendleton Heights (IN)
***21 points on 8/13 shooting, 4/7 from three, 3 rebounds against Lapel (IN)***
Dunham is a small guard who can really shoot the ball. He has a nice, quick release and does elevate well for his size. Not going to get much bigger but has enough shake to him on the wing that he is going to find a way to get his shot off. He’s got some strength on him and seem to make some plays in the passing lanes to cause some issues.
Tristan Ross – 6’6 PF 2020 – Pendleton Heights (IN)
***11 points on 5/8 shooting, 6 rebounds against Lapel (IN)***
Ross is a true forward that is going to produce based on his effort level. He looked locked in early and seemed to make plays all over the floor. He’s pretty agile and mobile so him tracking a long rebound or driving from the wing in a good matchup is right up his wheel house. He was good in the post in the second half getting a ton of dump-off passes. His strength is a huge asset for him because he does seem to use it more often and it is something that even bigger forwards or posts won’t be able to deal with well. Did get a couple charges called on him but when he plays guys his size, he isn’t going to get called for those as much.
Davrick Black – 5’9 PG 2021 – Pendleton Heights (IN)
***15 points on 2/4 shooting, 11/12 from the line, 5 rebounds, 7 assists against Lapel (IN)***
Davrick is a small lead guard that has a ton of quickness o the ball. He’s a slightly built guard with a little bit of length for his size but will need it as he struggled to finish well at the rim. Attacks predicting that he gets hit so doesn’t always go at the rim clean. Did make some solid defensive plays, creating turnovers as well as hitting some key free throws late in the game.
Corbin Renihan – 6’2 SF 2022 – Lapel (IN)
***4 points on 1/4 shooting, 8 rebounds against Pendleton Heights (IN)***
Corbin is a long, rangy wing forward that can move really well but looks like he could grow pretty well. He was great when Lapel looked to get out in transition. He’s got some toughness and strength right now but he’s not remotely done growing yet. Bottom half looks strong right now and if he wanted to he could probably post up guards and wings pretty well.
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Fishers vs. Lafayette Jeff
Charlie Smith – 6’1 PG 2022 – Fishers (IN)
***8 points on 4/8 shooting, 8 assists against Lafayette Jeff (IN)***
Charlie has seemed to really grow up this year. For Fishers, missing Szilagyi really hurt but Smith has stepped up in his role as best as could have been expected. Smith can attack the rim pretty well and has a big enough frame to take a hit and finish. He’s not going to really stretch the floor yet but he does have the ball handling ability to make plays. His role now, with Szilagyi out, is to setup guys and he does a pretty good job of that.
Isaac Farah – 6’9 PF 2020 – Fishers (IN)
***10 points on 4/9 shooting, 3 rebounds against Lafayette Jeff (IN)***
Farah is a big, bruising post who can stretch the floor and play along the perimeter. He’s a three-point shooter who can post up really well and has enough of a massive frame to make it so difficult to defend. He’s got some moves in the post if he can get a little dribble in to use a spin inside. Did have a rebound putback in this game but will need to be able to beat out wings for some of those boards.
Brooks Barnhizer – 6’5 SF 2021 – Lafayette Jeff (IN)***
***29 points on 9/15 shooting, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks, 4 steals against Fishers (IN)***
Brooks is an athletic wing with some really good scoring ability and he’s starting to develop his mental drive to take over games. A skill that is so difficult to take over, Brooks has shown that he can really command the game this year. He’s more assertive while still being efficient from the field. He has a wide array of skills, can drive, shoot, and play in transition. He’s best when he is attacking the rim because whatever the defense gives him, he seems to know how to work around it and make a play. This dominance has seemed to shine through more than the previous year and is raising his level as we speak.
Jeff Simmons – 6’5 PF 2022 – Fishers (IN)
***21 points on 8/10 shooting, 8 rebounds against Lafayette Jeff (IN)***
Simmons is a big forward who is still growing but a monster in the low post. He’s great playing faced up and driving at a defender and finishing through contact. He had a pair of and-ones in this game. He does have the ability to stretch the floor and hit a three or mid-range pull-up doing more work in that 12-15’ range. He has shown that he can finish with either hand which is key for his age level. He’s so physically overpowering for his size and continues to get a ton of rebounds because of his work ethic rather than his size. Has really good skills now and will develop long term as well.
Avery Beaver – 6’1 SG 2020 – Lafayette Jeff (IN)
***21 points on 8/17 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists against Fishers (IN)***
Avery is a good off guard who can really shoot the ball and has continued to develop well as a driving threat. He has good size and is using that a bit more when he puts the ball on the floor and drives. Tends to come off the left hand side and finish with his right hand. Did show a mid-range pull-up a couple times as well to mix it up. Has been involved in the transition game more this year and has found some success there. He’s done well developing from more of a catch-and-shoot guy to one that can score in a number of ways.
Braxton Barnhizer – 6’2 SG 2020 – Lafayette Jeff (IN)
***12 points on 3/7 shooting, 10 rebounds, 6 assists against Fishers (IN)***
Braxton is a big guard who can really rip off shots from anywhere on the floor. He’s a good shooter from deep either off the catch or off the pull-up. He wasn’t as overly aggressive in this game as we have seen in the past. He wasn’t as much earlier in the season either which has made him a little more attractive with the likely increase in efficiency. He’s a great rebounder for his position and was active on the boards on either end. Plays with a lot of energy and motor and used that in this one to really balance out that production.
Justin Long – 6’3 SG 2020 – Fishers (IN)
***12 points on 2/8 shooting, 4 rebounds, 5 steals against Lafayette Jeff (IN)***
Justin is a big guard who did well attacking the rim. A good balanced scorer who can shoot it a bit but in this one it was all coming at the rim and drew a ton of free throws. He did show a little more of his athleticism and creativity in his drives than the last time we saw him. He’s so quick in the lane and with his size, it makes him tough to defend and he can be pretty efficient in that area. Still want to see him look to shoot a little better and keep that balance but overall pretty good game for him.