WIAA 4A State Tourney

There were some great games in this tournament, though there weren't any huge upsets. I will just go through and write about players on the teams I saw rather than going game by game. Here is how they finished:

1. Federal Way
2. Garfield
3. Kentridge
4. Gonzaga Prep
5. Redmond
6. Foss
7. Ingelmoor
8. Lake Stevens

No place:
Eisenhower, Mariner, Todd Beamer, Roosevelt, Curtis, Walla Walla, Decatur, Mountake Terrace

Player Comments:

Garfield
#3 - Glenn Brooks 6-0 SO - Solid big pg, good ball handling and can hit open shots. Very athletic, plays like a SR. Doesn't play out of control and can run with anyone. Very bright future. Mid-High DI

#4 - Tony Wroten 6-5 SO - Big strong wing, super athlete, solid jump shot, can shoot on the move. Big time player, will get to play wherever he wants assuming he keeps up in the classroom. Can handle the ball, gets to the hoop or shoots outside, can shoot long 3's. Has to keep refining his skills but should go a long way. High DI

#23 - Christian Blanks 6-4 SR - Long active wing/forward, athletic and really competes, love his work ethic and resilience. Needs to work on ball handling and shooting but can really play D and rebound. DII

#33 - Salim Gloyd - 6-6 SO - Strong, athletic, forward. Very mobile could maybe even play wing with some skill improvement. Runs hard, makes FT's and rbs. Really works on D. Low to Mid DI

#1 - De'Andre Taylor 6-2 SR - Thin wing, ok jump shot, ok handle. Good athlete with long arms. Lead the team when Wroten was hurt. High DII, Low DI

Foss
#33 - LuQuam Thomson 5-10 SR - Very quick little pg, great change of direction. Great ball handler, makes good decisions, needs more work on his jump shot but can really play D and create for others. Very strong and see's the floor well. Not very big but plays very hard on both ends and can really run. Does a good job of running the team and getting them into their offense. Low to Mid DI

#10 - Julian Cruell 5-10 JR - Will run the show next year. Solid strong little pg that is very athletic and can handle the ball pretty well. Can make open shots though isn't a shoot on the move type. DII

#31 - Damari Lewis 5-10 SR - This team obviously has a lot of 5-10 athletic guards. Damari is quick and strong, not as skilled as LuQuam but can play good D and handle the ball ok. Can get to the basket and make open jump shots. DII

#32 - Jeremy McClain 6-6 SR - Strong undersized post, fairly mobile and works on both ends. Posts hard has pretty good hands and finishes. Ok athlete that can get up and down the floor. DII

Federal Way
Have already made posts on federal way and will just make additional comments here.
#25 - Cole Dickerson 6-7 JR - Played really well in the post and looks like his skills have improved. Really athletic mobile big with good strength and great quickness. Very good at finishing around the hoop. Has an OK jump shot and handles it well for a big man. Needs to keep working on his ball skills and mid range jumper. Mid to High DI

#11 - Michael Hale 5-10 SR - Absolutely makes this team go, runs the team and makes big plays. Although he is very small he can definitely play college ball at a high level. Great handle, good passer and can run. Nice jump shot and can pull up quick off the dribble. Uses shot fakes well and makes good decisions. Low DI

Kentridge
#20 - Laron Daniels 6-1 SR - Thin long guard that really works, pretty good handle, can slash and make plays. Quick first step, good athlete. Slow release but makes open 3's. DII

#24 - Shaquille McKissic - 6-3 SR Very strong wing, works really hard on both ends, big long strong arms. Makes open 3's and can get to the hoop. Size and strength are great, needs to work more on his ball handling though he is capable. Very athletic. Low DI

#2 - Gary Bell 6-1 SO - Great pg, very under control with the ball and makes great decisions. Very mature for his age. Very athletic, great change of pace and great quickness. Gets to the basket easily and makes good passes. Needs to work on finishing. Solid outside shooter. Great physical player that is hard to match up with. High DI

Curtis
Have posted on Curtis before. Will make additional comments here.
#0 - Very quick very good ball handler, very talented but his decision making is not the best. Needs to learn how to handle adversity better and make the correct plays. Low DI

#5 - Julian Vaughn 6-3 SO - Good athlete that was under control, hustled and showed good fundamentals. Ok handle, long and defends. Should keep an eye on for his next two years.

#2 - Stan Longlow 6-5 SR - Tough forward that really hustles. Finished at the basket well and really kept his team alive. Really worked on the defensive end, set lots of screens. DIII

Gonzaga Prep
#32 - Ryan Nicholas 6-7 JR Really hardworking tough player, has a motor. Undersized post or forward, has a nice jump shot and handles the ball well for a big man. Really physical and great away from the ball player, sets screens and flashes hard. Smart player, rebounds. Mid DI

#14 - David Stockton 5-11 JR Son of Jon Stockton, David looks just like his dad. He is skinny but quick and really under control, has trouble with bigger athletic defenders but can really play. Great ball handler and nice shoot, knows how to use screens and set his teammates up, does a great job of getting guys the ball and running the offense. Excellent defender. Low DI

#10 - Sean Fischer 6-1 SR Tough guard that has nice touch and can score. Works hard away from the ball and on defense. Ok athlete but not really quick. DIII

Walla Walla
#10 - Gary Winston 6-0 SR Very solid pg, really quick change of direction and excellent in the pic and roll. Can pull up quick off the dribble and has a good mid-range and 3 pt shot. Very savvy and very athletic. Plays with his head up and runs the offense well. Mid DI

#24 - Michael Weisner 6-7 JR Very skilled thin forward. Big long arms and very scrappy player. Very good ball handler for his size, can create for himself. Has a deadly 10-15ft bank shot and can shoot 3's as well. Runs the floor and works really hard on both ends. Low DI

Inglemoor
#11 - Benji Bryant 6-1 SR Long thin guard, ok ball handler, good shooter. Plays hard, leader of the team. High DII

#33 - Paul Jorg 6-9 JR Thin fundamental big man. Makes FT's and can finish inside. Works on both ends, still has growing to do. DII, Low DI

#10 - Todd Campbell 6-7 SR Quick skilled forward. Good moves with the ball, can get to the basket and make plays. Nice footwork and soft touch, needs to work on his outside jumper. Low DI

Lake Stevens
#44 - Shane Kaska 6-3 SR - Hard working physical scorer. Just makes plays, has an ok jumper and finishes inside. Not sure how well he'd handle quick guards on the wing as he plays mostly forward. DIII

#4 - Ryan Legg - Really plays hard, very quick good ball handler. High energy guy that made his team work and kept them going. Finished well and ok pull up. DIII, DII

Eisenhower
#21 - Taylor Elmo 6-5 SR- Big strong forward, nice skills for his size. Handles the ball well and has nice form on his jumper. Good passer and works on both ends. Ok rebounder but needs to work on boxing out. Low DI

#32 - Robert Bonzer 6-5 JR Long, athletic forward. Good physical player, rebounds and hustles on both ends. Sets screens and plays physical on offense. Does not really create for himself but can score around the basket. DII

#12 James Lopez 6-0 JR Tough player, great pull-up off of a fast dribble. Handles the ball well but is sometimes unfocused. Quick and athletic with long arms. DII

#2 - Jordan Gaut 6-1 SR Strong physical guard, plays under control and has an ok jumper. Hustles and rebounds. DII, DIII

Redmond
#30 - Abdul Tufa 6-5 SR Long athletic player. Good body control but struggles finishing the ball. Plays D and rbs. DII, DIII

Mariner
#20 - Michael Minor 5-11 SR Solid pg, very smooth player that makes good decisions. Pretty good athlete and handles the ball and creates for teammates. Good defender and capable scorer. DII

#23 - Tevin Dillon 6-3 SR Good athletic body, plays under control and has a nice jump shot. Good outside shooter and capable defender. DII

#50 - Damascus Purnell 6-4 SR Undersized post that works and finished around the basket. Good hustle. DIII