Elijah shot the ball really well all camp, particularly in the 1v1 drill, where his tough shotmaking ability really blossomed. Even though he isn’t very tall, he still wasn’t afraid to elevate and get to the rim. During 5v5 play he had multiple fast breaks lay ups where he had to finish quickly or around bigger players. The other thing that really stood out was Schmidt’s passing ability. He had a tendency to keep finding the big man in the dunker spot as well as find guys cutting the 45 or curling. Schmidt looks like he will be a great addition to the strong West Salem squad.

Arguably the top player from the Salem area, Schmidt is a dynamic guard with a well-rounded offensive game and strong basketball IQ. He is a knockdown shooter from the perimeter who defenses can’t afford to leave open. Schmidt is also a skilled ball handler who creates off the dribble and attacks the basket as a slasher. His combination of shooting, ball-handling, and feel for the game makes him a dangerous offensive guard.

Since the Cascade Kings were off this past weekend, Schmidt joined up with Albany Elite and did exactly what you’d expect him to do – put up some points. Coming off the bench, he was instant offense with his deep threes and quick glides to the basket with the left-handed finishes, and his ability to score in a hurry helped propel Albany Elite to a win in the consolation bracket.

With Sprague’s graduation losses, Schmidt will be counted upon heavily for his scoring and that was on display at the game we watched at team camp. While the 5-foot-9 guard’s three-point shot wasn’t totally clicking, he adjusted by getting to the hoop for scores, using his ability to scoop shots over taller opponents once he was in the paint. (JT)

While we were familiar with most of the names at the Sophomore ID Camp, Schmidt was a new one for us – he just moved to Oregon from Arizona. He was more than a pleasant surprise though as he unofficially led the event in scoring, using a fast release and deep range to light it up from three-point range as well as quick moves to the hoop to score past defenders with either hand, often drawing contact. His 40-point explosion in the final game of the day was a joy to witness for everyone who witnessed it. (JT)