Wade was a force down low all tournament, bringing constant activity and physicality to the paint. He attacked the boards on both ends, securing rebounds and quickly turning them into opportunities with sharp outlet passes that jumpstarted the break. Once the ball was up the floor he ran hard in transition, beating defenders down the court and putting pressure on the rim. Around the basket he finished strong and didn’t hesitate to rise up for powerful dunks that brought energy to his team. Wade’s motor, strength and ability to impact the game inside and in transition made him a major presence all weekend long

Wade is one of the most talented big men in the state as he plays within himself, grabs boards in bunches, and makes life difficult for anybody trying to score in the paint. Nothing comes easy against him down low as he keeps his hands up, alters shots at the rim, and his play was why NoCo Elite went undefeated in the top bracket this weekend. The scary part about Wade is that he’s a project that’s only getting better each time out. He has arguably the highest ceiling in the state, as he uses all of his 6’7 frame, he’s progressing offensively, and is going to be a player that is being talked about nationally soon, if I had to guess. Wade is only a freshman, and has a big game. Solid weekend for him. 

Heritage Christian has a 19-6 record on the season, but went undefeated and won the conference behind the play of freshman big man Guede Wade. The moment Heritage Christian got him, everyone knew they’d have a chance to win it all. He’s 6’7 and full of upside. This season, it started to slow down for him as well, as he put up 12.5 points and 8.8 boards a game. He runs the floor, he finishes over the defense, and they’re working him in the post instead of him settling for 3’s. He’ll certainly have the advantage in size, and there will be plenty of eyes on him. This is an opportunity to prove himself as one of the best freshmen in the state. 

Wade is still full of upside and has that massive ceiling. He’s been leading his team to wins and having a solid season as expected. In January, it was another solid month where his team went 7-1, and he averaged 11.1 points a game. But with him, that is secondary as his real impact is on the glass and protecting the rim. He was getting near double-digit boards in each game and averaged 2 blocks a game in that stretch. He’s not allowing anything easy at the rim. He’s using all of his 6’7 frame, and this was a year of growth and being how he fits. Looks like he’s passing the test. 

When we talk about ceiling, there are not many players in the state that can affect the game in the ways that he can, and the thing about it is, he’s still very raw. So this is a year of learning for him and getting acclimated to varsity speed, but he’s been a consistent force in their first few games. At the break, he’s been the No.4 top scorer in the class at 15.1 pts a game. But that’s not all, the 6’7 paint beast has also owned the glass, as well as he’s averaging a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with it. He’s put up a couple of blocks in every game, he alters shots at the rim, and is proving that he’s one of the class’s top players. Rough start for his team, but they have something they’re building over there with a big man that’s one of the top players in the conference. He remains in the Top 5 in the rankings. 

First things first, Wade passes the eye test. When you see a freshman with that size, be able to get out in transition and go and dunk the ball, you know that you have something there. But then you see it happen again, and again, and know that it’s special. Wade is an explosive, high-motor prospect with one if not the highest ceiling in the class. At 6’7, he finishes above the rim, protects the paint, and controls the boards. His touch around the basket and effectiveness as a roll man in pick-and-roll situations stand out. Wade is a disruptive shot blocker with a growing offensive skillset. We’ve watched highlights of him in Fall leagues, have 15+ rebounds, he’s been at a few showcases, and played up, and we just believed that he was from out of town. Wade’s size and athleticism give him undeniable long-term potential, and he is a player that I am certain contributes from Day 1. He’s jumps into the Top-5 on the rankings.