Wakefield Scouting

WIAA 4A State Tourney

2009-03-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

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

Mt. Si vs Nathan Hale

2009-02-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

A good back and forth game in the Sea-King 4A regional tournament. Nathan Hale battled but a 1-2-2 zone that Mt. Si used in the second half pretty much shut Hale down. Luckily Mt. Si got out of the zone when Hale hit a 3 after not scoring on it for six possessions and this gave Hale a chance as they ran off a few baskets against Mt. Si's man defense. This made it a game as I believe Hale got as close as 2 within the last couple of minutes. Tanner Riley was too much for them late though as he came on strong at the end. Mt. Si held on for a 3 or 4 pt. victory and moves on to play Seattle Prep on Saturday I believe.

Nathan Hale
#3 - Thomas Pierson 6-4 SR Have written about him before and want to add that his outside shot was better as he drilled a couple of 3's. He's not a great athlete but really hustles and really knows how to play the game. His size and scoring ability makes him Hale's toughest player. High DII

#4 - Ben Scheideman - 6-2 SR Strong tough shooting guard. Made some tough plays late and was aggressive on both ends. Not a great athlete, finishes ok. DIII

Mt. Si
#4 - Tanner Riley - 6-2 JR Tough, strong, combo guard. Maybe good enough to be a pg for somebody but not lightning quick type. Really fundamental, catches the ball on two feet and squares up before making a play. Can slash to the hoop and is fairly athletic, has good moves and a good scoring touch. Can shoot inside and out and excels at getting open off a screen, can really read his defender and make the right decision. Got a lot of baskets curling to the hoop in this one. Makes good decisions and plays with his head up. Low DI

Curtis vs. Lincoln

2009-02-19T21:33:00.001-08:00

Playoffs have begun and the West Central District with the Narrows league and the SPSL North and South has got to be the most competitive regional playoff for 4A basketball. Lincoln and Curtis have both been in the upper half of their conferences so this looked to be a good game to see. Unfortunately Lincoln was not ready for a big game and played scared the whole night. They lacked leadership and as the game got out of hand they could not buckle down and at least compete for the sake of getting ready for the next game which if they lose, they're out. I felt bad for their coach and was waiting for him to just throw up on the court watching how little toughness his team played with. In fact I thought he did a good job of not throwing a fit out there and trying to stay positive while his team got pounded. Curtis on the other hand really played well as a team though its easy to do all the right things when you're up 20.

Lincoln
#4 - Jordan Russel 5-9 SO - Strong stocky little pg. Lefty that tries to do a bit to much but helped lead Lincoln to a first place tie in a very tough conference. Quick first step, can definitely get by his defender but tries to do too much and certainly hasn't learned enough about the game. Has a nice 3pt shot when set with a quick release. Has a ways to go but has a lot of tools already. Low DI

#34 - Could not get my hands on a roster and cannot find anything online. #34 looked about 6-7 and was fairly athletic. Did a good job of running the floor, played hard, was fairly aggressive. Blocked shots and rebounded. My guess is he's a JR or SR but not quite sure. DII

Curtis
#0 - Darnell Williams 5-9 SR - Lightning quick pg that can really go by people. He has great dribble moves and control of the ball. Finishes well at the basket and passes when help comes to stop him. Plays with his head up and does a nice job running the team. Did not see him shoot outside. Low DI

#3 - Chad Rasmussen 6-5 SR - Big strong wing, ok athlete. Can slash to the hole but not a dribbler, doesn't put it on the floor if he doesn't have to. Shoots 3's, shot needs a little work but quick release and lots of confidence. Runs hard and plays D, also a good passer. High DII, Low DI

Lynwood vs Meadowdale

2009-02-11T07:28:00.001-08:00

Went up north to see a couple of big kids. Meadowdale has been winning a lot of games this year and Lynwood has a 6-8 JR who has not gone unnoticed. It was senior night for Lynwood and they only played seniors the entire first quarter. They battled an stayed in the game until the 4th when Meadowdale took over and showed they were definitely the better team. Meadowdale won by 10 or 12.

Meadowdale

#42 - Connor Hamlett -6-7 JR I saw this kid play last year and really liked his contribution as a sophomore. He's taken over the team this year and is just a tough kid that plays hard. He'd a strong forward that rebounds and aggressively attacks the basket. He can put the ball on the floor for one or two dribbles and has some good back to the basket moves. Does not force bad shots and plays hard on both ends. Strong and fairly mobile, not a great athlete. High DII maybe low DI with time

Lynwood
#42 - Aaron Matzen -6-2 SR Wanted to mention this kid because he really wanted this win. He is the team leader and played very hard. He is not an athlete but really knows how to play, plays very tough and uses and sets screens well. Has good court vision and really understands the game. Has an ok jump shot and can score around the basket. DIII

#50 - Simi Fajemisin -6-8 JR This kid was the best on the court. An absolute beast when he gets the ball, he is very big, very strong, and very aggressive. He has pretty good feet and very long arms. He has nice moves and can put the ball on the floor. He sets screens and really seals his man well in the low post. He just keeps working to keep his man sealed, stays really low and big. When he gets the ball he explodes to the basket with a surprising quickness, he will go right through defenders. Needs to lose some baby fat to increase his quickness and speed but should be a pretty good player with his work ethic and understanding of the game. Low to Mid DI

Rogers vs Puyallup

2009-02-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

A Puyallup battle took place last night. Rogers had been on a roll and Puyallup has been winning all year behind the play of their big man. Puyallup led most of the game but the home crowd had a huge effect on the outcome. Rogers played with more passion and intensity and Puyallup got frustrated and started to struggle. The game made it to overtime where Rogers took over and got the win.

Rogers
#15 Ryan McIntosh -6-3 SR Good size guard, long and thin. Plays very hard and is an ok athlete. Runs the floor and plays hard, more of a slasher than a shooter, did a good job of finishing around the basket. Made plays on defense, got deflections and steals, liked his energy. DII, DIII

#23 Garin Peyton -6-3 SR More athletic and a little more strength than McIntosh. A little out of control and needs to work on his ball handling. Can finish around the basket and has an ok jumper. Very slow release but pretty good form other than lack of follow through. Lefty with big hands that can play D. DII

Puyallup
#23 Dom Holub -5-10 SO Tough little pg that got good minutes for a sophomore. Pretty good ball-handler and ok athlete. Did a good job of keeping his head up and getting the big man the ball. Attacked the middle with success and could dump, score, and get fouled. Has a ways to go but just a sophomore. DII

#32 Killian Larson -6-9 SR Probably the best available 09 center in the area. Not an athlete but can run the floor ok. Fundamentally sound player. Good feet, posts hard and is relentless. Can make some nice moves with his back to the basket and keeps the ball high - finishes well, rebounds well (had 26 in a game against Curtis this year). He is not very strong but has a good frame. Very long arms and plays aggressively on defense, plays good help side and really works to get around on the opposing post. Has nice form at the FT line. Should be able to help some college right away, could be pretty good if he really goes to work in the weight room. Averages 19ppg Low DI

Bishop Blanchet vs Bainbridge

2009-02-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

I wanted to see the SR at Blanchet and take another look at Bainbridge JR that I did not notice when they got stomped by Rainier Beach. Not a bad game, Bainbridge had a 6 pt lead at half in a low scoring affair. Starting the 3rd quarter Blanchet did not score until about 2 minutes left then ran off ten in a row to make it a 1pt deficit before the start of the 4th. They then started really pushing Bainbridge and finally took a lead after trading baskets with about 3 minutes left. Bainbridge battled and kept it close until under a minute, Blanchet got the win at home.

Blanchet
#34 - Stephen Reinhart 6-3 SR Pretty good scorer here, led them back when he got hot from outside in the 4th. He's averaging 17ppg but doesn't know a bad shot. Has a great 3pt stroke, can really release it quick and with a guy in front of him. Absolute confidence in his shot. Good quickness off of screens and with one or two dribbles. Not a ball handler though. Would be a good low DI for a team that just needs a role player that can shoot. Needs work on defense and rebounding. Forces things too often. High DII, Low DI

Bainbridge
Ben Eisenhardt - Second time I've seen the Seattle U commit. Has nice touch but really needs to work on his rebounding. Very thin, will need to learn how to work but should be a nice player for Seattle U. Mobile 6-9 and can shoot.

#24 - Ryan Burriss 6-4 JR Did not notice him in the Rainier Beach thrashing of Bainbridge but has been listed high by other scouts and is averaging 12.5ppg. He is a very thin wing. I like his attitude and hustle, he knows how to play. Did not see him shoot outside but he can pass and make plays around the basket. Plays hard on D and follows the ball. Got some nice put backs on offense. Fairly quick. DII/DIII

Vashon vs Cascade Christian

2009-01-28T12:21:00.000-08:00

Pretty good game between the top two Nisqually 1A schools. Vashon started out slow but the big man does not miss many shots. Cascade Christian did not do a good job of denying him the ball. They needed a man in front of him and behind him but mostly ended up with only a man behind him. And when you're 6-3 and trying to play behind a 6-9 scorer you're going to get scored on. Otherwise Cascade Christian played very well, outrunning Vashon and getting some transition buckets to keep it close. Vashon held on to win 49-43 at home.

Vashon
#40 - John Gage -6-9 JR - Very skilled, very long big man. Not an athlete but has a pretty solid body. Will need to work on defense and footwork but certainly plays hard and can score. Has a very nice turn around jumper that will be hard for anyone to defend. Needs to add some more moves and keep working on his quickness. Definitely a center, does not get out and run. Made some excellent assists, really finds his teammates when doubled. Ok rebounder. Mid to High DI

#33 - Charlie Hoffman -6-8 SR - Thin senior forward, great for a 1A school to be able to high low with this kid and Gage. Doesn't see the ball much because of Gage but has ok hands and hit a big 3pter out of the corner in the 4th quarter. Size and length give him potential. DIII/DII

#4 - Thomas Timm-Skove -6-4 SR - Strong quick guard, a good slasher that gets to the basket, ok ball handler. Ok shooter. Great size and pretty good athleticism. Averaging 10ppg DIII/DII

#20 - Alex Wagner -6-7 SO - Didn't stand out to me but is tall and long. Only a sophomore and gets lots of minutes. Keep an eye on him.

Cascade Christian
#3 - Jonnie Washburn -6-3 JR - A thin tall guard. Played hard and is leading his team in scoring. Aggressive and slashes, pretty good shooter.

#11 - TJ Tuttle -5-7 SO - This kid is worth keeping an eye on. He is total hustle and energy, a quick little pg that reminds me a bit of Aaron Bright from Bellevue. Handles the ball well and gets his teammates open. Plays hard on defense and gets everyone going. He's pretty small but only a sophomore. DIII/DII

Garfield vs Franklin

2009-01-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Coach Kerr is one of the best high school coaches in the state and he proved it tonight with a convincing win against a very talented Garfield team. His guys are under control, they move the ball around and really work on defense. They had Garfield frustrated and playing out of control about 5 minutes into the game and kept the mental advantage throughout, in the matchup of #1's (Garfield 4A, Franklin 3A) Franklin showed that they are the team to beat in the state.

Franklin
#1 - Anrio Adams -6-3 FR - Really long athletic guard, keep an eye on this kid, he will be one of the top players in the state when he's a senior. Played great defense, really hustled and tried to get his scorers the ball.

#3 - Peyton Siva - 6-0 SR Signed with Louisville. I really like Siva, he will do well because of his great basketball IQ and great attitude, in a huge rivalry with emotions running high he was calm and collected and just went out and played his game, leading Franklin to the win. Great shooter, great passer and can handle the ball. High-flyer, can get to the rack. 20ppg

#4 - Vionte Reed - 5-10 JR Will be a good college pg for somebody in a couple of years. Very quick little pg, really hustles and plays great D. High DII, Low DI

#10 - Chris Holmes -6-3 SR Long fairly quick wing, can really shoot the ball, especially the 15 footer. Plays under control and plays solid D. Committed to Eastern Washington. 15ppg

#21 - Dominique Wilson -6-3 SR Long athletic guard, really hustles, slashes, rebounds and plays good D. Ok scorer. 10ppg High DII, Low DI

#24 - Freddy Wilson -6-3 SR Strong, physical guard. Good defender. High DII

#22 - Vonchae Richardson -6-0 SR Very quick little pg, solid ball handler that gets his teammates the ball. Gets overshadowed by all the talent on this team. Plays excellent defense, did a great job guarding Garfields most talented player Tony Wroten. High DII, Low DI

Garfield
#1 - De'Andre Taylor -6-2 SR Good size, quick thin guard that has a very fast first step. Better than average ball handler and can shoot and score at the basket. Has been leading the team when Wroten had been unable to play. 16ppg Low DI

#4 - Tony Wroten -6-4 SO Touted as #2 sophomore in the nation. Very talented player, extremely athletic and quick for his size. Solid ball handler with huge hands, has a great 3 pt shot that he gets up over the defender. Lots of talent and potential, needs to focus on defense and rebounding and playing an all around game. Excellent scorer. 17ppg High DI

#3 - Glenn Brooks -6-1 SO Quick big guard, that can really go. Hustles and plays solid defense. Really gets out and runs. Can handle the ball well and could be a big time pg if he keeps working on it because of his size and athleticism. 10ppg Mid DI.

Bellevue vs Bellarmine Prep

2009-01-21T19:27:00.000-08:00

Senior UW committed Abdul Gaddy had his hands full against a loaded Bellevue team. This game was Bellevue all the way as they held a 10pt advantage for most of the game. Bellarmine played hard and ran good offense but just did not have the depth that Bellevue had and could not match them on the boards. Player Comments:

Bellevue
#3 - Colton Christian -6-7 SR Strong, fairly athletic forward, great body. Has a good mid range jumper and can put the ball on the floor. Hustles on both ends, blocks shots, and rebounds. Needs to be a little more aggressive with the ball, tends to be off balance when attacking the hoop when he was clearly stronger than the guy defending him. 15ppg Low to Mid DI

#10 - Cam Warren -5-7 SR I really like this kid, I believe he is also a quarterback and his IQ shows. He is a really scrappy pg that is all about the team. He makes great passes and creates off the dribble. Sets the teams offense and makes his team run the plays. His size limits him. High DII

#22 - Aaron Bright -5-11 JR Also plays point but is more of a combo. Very quick and great dribbler, very good 3pt shooter when he's set, quick release. Needs to work on his passing and defense. 16ppg Low DI

#23 - Matt Olson -6-7 SR Long thin forward, likes to shoot outside but his shot was not on. Good hands and very mobile. DII

#11 - Alex Schrempf - 6-5 SR Small forward, not sure if he's quick enough with the ball to be a wing. Very good fundamentals, his feet are great and he's athletic and aggressive. He is a very smart, under control player and is very competetive. He blocks shots, boxes out, and sets screens. Had 25 and 15 against Bellarmine. 15ppg Low to Mid DI

Bellarmine Prep
#3 - Abdul Gaddy -6-3 SR Very quick, very athletic pg. Uses change of speed to fool defenders and can really handle the ball. Makes incredible passes when you think there's no one open. Has a little bit of problem with leaving his feet and trying to make plays. Needs to work on his shooting and defense. He reminds me a little bit of Gary Payton, but obviously has a long way to go. Signed with Washington.

#11 Donald Gaddy - 5-10 SO Just as quick and athletic as his brother, maybe a better defender, not the dribbler and passer that Abdul is... yet. Obviously he is not as tall as his brother but if he
could be just as good if he continues to work on his game. Keep an eye on him. Mid DI

Rainier Beach vs Dominguez(California)

2009-01-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

This started out as a fantastic game and became a sloppy one on one game in the second half and OT periods. Both teams are loaded with athleticism and talent but not so much on the team skills and basketball IQ. While it looked like Dominguez, without their best player in Jordan Hamilton, was having an easy time, they kept leaving it open for Rainier Beach to win. Unfortunately Rainier Beach didn't want the game either, so it dragged into two overtimes where both teams must have missed at least 15 FT's and finally Dominguez pulled it out. Player Comments:

Rainier Beach

See my previous Rainier Beach vs Bainbridge post for more comments

#3 Najee Alli - 6-4 SR Did not know last time that he is a football player and likely wont be playing college basketball.

#24 DJ Dixon -6-6 SR Not sure if he plays football as well but had some good minutes. Did not see him in the last game. Athletic, strong, forward rebounds and is ok around the basket. Needs to work on his shot and touch. DII

#21 Robert Harris -5-9 JR Did not see him before either, quick little lefty pg, great defender, drives and kicks. Got some good minutes behind Pickett.

Wanted to add that D'Vonne Pickett was the player of the game for Rainier Beach (in my opinion) this is kid is tough and is going to be a great pg in the Big Sky with Eastern Washington.

Dominguez
#20 Dominick Lacoste -6-0 SR Thin quick pg, can create for his teammates, good in transition and very good defender, overshadowed by other talented guards. Low DI

#21 - Keala King -6-4 JR - Very talented player, best on the team (Did not see Jordan Hamilton, he did not play). A thin long lefty that is very athletic and aggressive. More of a 2 guard but plays lots of point. Can attack the basket quickly and shoot the 3. Needs to learn to pass the ball more. Mid DI

#34 - Myron Green -6-4 SR Strong talented guard. Solid outside shooter and tough defender. Very aggressive, also a lefty. Very quick first step, could be a very good rebounder. Mid DI

#24 - Robert Mandingo -6-4 SR Strong, aggressive, long guard, pretty good ball handler. Very physical player. Tough defender and ok rebounder. Not sure he's a shooter but didn't take bad ones. Low DI

#10 - Darrell Espy -6-4 SR Thin athletic backup pg. Will create for teammates, had good minutes behind King and Lacoste. Pretty good 3 pt shot. Low DI

#5 -Somehow missed this kids name and cant find it on the Internet. A 6-9 SO, really thin and long. Good hands, ok feet and mobility. As he grows he could be a really unstoppable player. He had some big two handed dunks. Mid to High DI

Decatur vs Federal Way

2009-01-20T12:55:00.000-08:00

A very good game, Decatur did a great job of executing their offense and setting up good shots but they could not overcome the depth and athleticism of Federal Way. The difference was Micheal Hale who transferred from Decatur to Federal Way for his senior season. If he were still with Decatur they would have certainly won.

Decatur

#3 - Marcus Tibbs -6-1 SR Very athletic guard, can really jump. Strong and quick, good passer that can create for teammates. Needs to work on D and take better shots. Averaging 15ppg Low DI

#12 - Jerron Smith -6-3 SO Good body, will be a good college wing. Lights out shooter, at one point made four 3's in a row, and some were not easy - off balance full speed shots. Needs to get stronger and work on ball handling (dribbling and passing) and defense. Averaging 18ppg Low to Mid DI potential

#5 Terrell Williams -5-10 SO Little quick lefty guard, like the way he hustled and got in the game, worth keeping an eye on.

#34 Jordan McCloud -6-6 JR Good size, strong but mobile. Very aggressive player, goes and gets the ball, good rebounder. Pretty good hands and can finish around the basket and get fouled. DII, low DI potential

Federal Way

#25 - Cole Dickerson -6-7 JR On my previous post for Federal Way I didn't see if he had a jump shot - he has a nice soft 15 footer, made a couple of them. Low to mid DI potential

#24 - Jaleel Williams -6-6 SO Did not notice him at the Kentwood game, a long athletic forward that can put it on the floor and attack the hoop. A bit awkward and out of control but has a lot of potential. Low DI

See my previous post for more Federal Way player comments.

Kentlake vs Kentridge

2009-01-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

This was a game that was close but didn't feel like it. Kentridge seemed to be able to score whenever they wanted and Kentlake played like everything they got was difficult. Kentridge only won by 6 or 8 on the road but seemed like they were clearly the better team.
Player Comments:

Kenlake
#44 Jeff Budinich -6-9 SR Committed to Montana St. Clearly the best player on the team. His strength is his shooting, he has a very nice high arcing shot that is good from 3 and in. His turnaround jumper is deadly, it will be hard to block even at the college level. He needs to work on his footwork, rebounding, and defense. He would be dominant if he were more aggressive. Has a lot of potential. Averaging 16ppg

#24 Mike Salazar -6-3 JR Toughest guy on the team, made some big plays late to keep them in the game. Long and thin, needs to get stronger. Can handle the ball ok and slash, needs to work on his passing. Has a nice shot but a bit slow on the release. Quick and athletic for his size. Good hustle and good rebounder from the wing. Averaging 11ppg DII

Kentridge
#24 Shaquielle McKissic -6-3 SR Athletic long wing. Has a nice jump shot though he needs to work on his follow through. A very good defender and solid rebounder. Ok finisher at the basket and ok ball-handler. He reminds me of Kenny Barker who is an all-conference DII player at Alaska Anchorage who I coached my first year in Fairbanks. Kenny could be an impact player for a low DI and I think Shaquielle could too. Averaging 14ppg High DII, Low DI

#2 - Gary Bell 6-1 SO Big time pg here. Very athletic and completely in control of the ball. Has great balance and see's the floor well, does a great job of backing up and re-attacking, looking for the assist. Can finish at the basket and has a nice jump shot. He even rebounds and place tough defense. He has a lot of potential and will be a high DI pg if he grows a couple more inches, he may go that high anyway. Averaging 21ppg Mid DI

Foss vs Mt. Tahoma

2009-01-14T22:41:00.000-08:00

This was a fantastic game, after a great start to league play Mt. Tahoma had lost the last two games and needed a win on the road against 1st place Foss. Foss jumped out to a 19-6 lead and Mt. Tahoma had no match for their energy level. Foss' big lead turned out to hurt them as they stopped putting on their passing clinic and individuals decided they needed to score some points. Mt. Tahoma quietly cut the lead to four before half. The second half started as the first ended with Mt. Tahoma jumping ahead. They continued to lead and were up eight with two minutes left. Then Foss put on the pressure and made it a game. They battled back with steals and fast layups to tie it at 58 and send it to overtime. In the end the difference was the outstanding second half and overtime performance of Mt. Tahoma sophomore Xavier Bazile and the poor outside shooting from Foss. Mt. Tahoma won by eight. Player comments:

Foss
#33 LuQuam Thompson -5-10 SR Very quick little pt. guard, athletic and strong. Was a solid ball handler that kept his balance and his head up. Rarely turned the ball over and was the go to guy when they needed a bucket. Great defender that constantly hustled, took high percentage shots and got to the foul line, always made the pass when his teammate was open. Needs to work on finishing in the lane. Had 18 pts and 7rbs. Low DI

#2 Nate Walker -6-6 SR Athletic long 4, a bit thin and could get stronger. Can dunk off of two feet and finishes well around the basket. Runs well has good post moves and a nice 10ft and in jumper. Can really get up and grab boards, had a couple nice blocks. Needs to improve his shooting, missed a lot of big FT's. High DII, maybe low DI

#1 Jonathan Payne -6-6 SR Mobile, strong, undersized post. Runs the floor well and posts up hard. Good rebounder and good finishing ability, blocks shots. Did not see him shoot the ball outside of the low post area. DII

#32 - Jeremy McClain -6-6 SR Another strong, mobile, post. Heavier than Payne and likes to shoot the ball, played high and low post but more high post. Did not see him shoot a lot but has ok form. Made some great high low passes for easy buckets to Payne and Walker. Runs ok and aggressively rebounds and posts. Blocks shots. Lefty. DII

#10 - Julian Cruell -5-10 JR Strong athletic little guard, slightly heavier than Thompson, can handle the ball very well and will run the team next year. Gives them great depth as he could easily be a starter. Very tough on D, cat quick. DII, potential to go higher

#31 - Damari Lewis -5-10 SR - I'm getting repetitive but this is another small, quick, athletic guard. Plays under control and made some big defensive plays late in the game. Hustles and is a good slasher. Had some huge buckets late to cut into Mt. Tahoma's 8 pt lead in final minutes. Good finisher. Ball handling is ok but needs work. Scored 16. DII

Mt. Tahoma
#22 - Rashard Byrd -5-9 SR - Tough, quick little pg. Size was lacking and had a tough time going against Thompson. Good ball handler, ok passer. Has the ability to create and had some very nice finishes in traffic. DII

#11 - Ronald Baines -5-10 SR - Strong combo guard. Ok ball handler but very good 3pt shooter. Made some key shots in the second half but for some reason was on the bench for some key moments in the game. Solid D, very athletic and quick. Good leaping ability. Could be DI if he was more skilled with the ball. DII

#21 - Koloneus McClarron -6-4 SR - Very nice body, athletic strong wing that can handle the ball. Pretty good penetrator and great rebounder from the perimeter. Good athletic ability and defensive ability. Would be DI if he could shoot but he didn't force anything. DII/potentially higher

#23 - Xavier Bazile - 6-4 SO - Absolute athlete and only a sophomore. Had at least 3 dunks, one of which he caught the ball on the low wing, made a shot fake and drove right by his man, the help was late and he went up and threw it down on them. Two dribble drive and dunk. He seemed to be getting all sorts of rebounds and put backs and was basically a 3, 4, and 5 for Mt. Tahoma who does not have anyone taller than him on the team. He needs to work on his defense but if he continues to grow he will be a great college player. Did not see him take many outside shots but he did make his FT's. Had 19pts and 9rbs, Mt. Tahoma does not win without this kid. Mt. Tahoma Mid DI

Seattle Prep vs. Chief Sealth

2009-01-13T21:25:00.001-08:00

This was a very sloppy game for both teams, lots of turnovers and missed layups. It was a low scoring battle that came down to the last minute. It ended much like the game was played with Chief Sealth down one and Seattle Prep with the ball, Jon Humphrie tried to force a play and had the ball stolen by Jordan Kidd. Kidd then raced down the court and came to a jump stop with a good look at the basket just to have Humphrie come from behind him and strip the ball loose and give it back to Prep. There were a lot of fouls and a lot of free throws. Prep won by 4.

Seattle Prep
Because I already wrote about Prep I will just add a couple of things.

#25 - Patrick Nyeko -6-6 SR Played very well, has very good hands and caused a lot of those aforementioned turnovers. Got some key put back buckets to get them the victory.

#24 - Sam Howell -6-2 SR Did not play much at all, not sure why he's suddenly in the dog house but it seems that JR #20 Julian Mason took his role and played some solid minutes.

#21 - Mitch Brewe -6-5 FR Played a ton of minutes and scored a lot of points. He is very skilled and plays hard. He is only a freshmen and if he keeps growing he's going to be a big time player.

#3 - John Humphrie - 6-1 SR Big stocky pg, keeps his balance well but still trys to do to much. Plays hard and is very strong, has potential. DII

Chief Sealth
#24 Jordan Kidd - 6-1 SR Combo guard that is leading the Metro league in scoring at 24ppg, the reason I went to this one. He's cat quick and has a ton of potential but has a lot of learning to do. He just doesn't see the floor very well. He's very aggressive and will always attack the basket. He's athletic and deceptive and can make defenders miss and earn foul shots. He's not a great shooter though and takes a ton of shots. He forced a lot when he didn't need to some times taking on 2 or 3 defenders at once. He did draw defenders and make a couple of good passes but that was not his focus. I think he would be a better pg then a shooter but he doesn't seem to want to do that. DII/Low DI potential

#43 Tomas Ogbaslassie -6-5 JR Big long wing - definitely skilled enough to be on the perimeter. Slashed and made plays on both ends of the floor, very aggressive and grabbed some big rebounds to keep them alive. Athletic but thin, averaging 9ppg, second on team. DII/Low DI potential

Lake Washington vs Skyline

2009-01-06T22:06:00.001-08:00

This was a pretty good game though Skyline took a 10pt lead in the second half and never gave it up. Both teams played hard aggressive basketball but Skyline's depth held up to get them the 56-41 win. Player Comments

Lake Washington
#23 - Spencer Wozeniak - 6-0 SR Small pg that must have barely been 6ft. A fairly quick guard that was best on defense. A pretty good ball handler, a bit out of control - had trouble keeping his head up. He is undersized and I'm sure the local JC's will be recruiting him. He is averaging 12pts a game, second on the team. Maybe DIII

#42 - Greyson Blue -6-9 SR Big body, great frame. Fairly mobile and ok feet, does a good job of posting big and asking for the ball. Has soft hands and nice touch around the basket. Makes his FT's and rbs the ball. Plays hard on both ends of the floor but not a get out and run sort of player, definitely a back to the basket post. Low DI

Skyline
#41 - Corey Hutsen - 6-8 JR I like this kid a lot. Very skilled big man with a good frame and really long arms, can play the 4 or the 5. Very good with the ball, can put it on the floor make a move and score with a nice soft touch, goes left or right when finishing. Makes his free throws and will pass the ball when help comes to double him. Mobile for his size but I wouldn't say he's quick. Very good feet. Very high percentage shooter, was scoring or getting fouled all game. Lots of potential as he works on his speed and strength. Smooth smart player. Low to Mid DI

#0 - Nick Crossan -6-0 SR Tough take charge combo guard, very right handed. Unlike Corey though Nick is what my last boss would call a volume shooter. He's leading the team averaging 18ppg but I'm not sure there's a shot he doesn't like. He's got a very quick release and can knock down 3's, definitely a shooter. He also did a good job slashing but had trouble finishing on the left side. High DII

#43 - Jared Lemke -6-7 SR Tough smart undersized post. Big body, needs to get in better shape and put on some muscle. Not athletic but great feet and low post moves. Pretty good finisher and makes FT's. Uses his body really well to rebound and create space. Good reverse pivot post to get open. DII

#25 - Kasen Williams -6-3 SO Very athletic guard, did not try to force many shots. Played within his game, needs refinement. Great body and mobility. See's the floor and made some excellent passes. Can handle fairly well just needs to learn the game and get more comfortable. Needs to work on his jump shot. Lots of potential. Low DI, maybe Mid DI with work

Nathan Hale vs. Tyee

2009-01-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

Not the best game here but wanted to see the Tyee big man and the two players at Hale that are both top 5 in the Metro league in scoring. Unfortunately this game was all Nathan Hale, the final was a low scoring 50-39 in favor of Hale and Tyee struggled the whole game. Nathan Hale was putting on a clinic in screening and cutting while Tyee needs to get back to the fundamentals.

Tyee
#34 - Jacob Brown -6-7 SR - Big bodied center. I was expecting to him to do a bit more but he did not get on the court much because of poor play and foul trouble. He is very slow but has a big frame and is strong. Has pretty good hands and long arms and can get big when posting up. He really needs to do lots of Mikan drills because he was all over the place with the ball. His size and potential should get him recruited JC or DII but he needs to redshirt and work on his individual skills.

#5 - Justin Scipio -6-1 SR - Quick somewhat athletic pg. Long and good sized for a pg. Can handle the ball well and plays with his head up. Makes good sharp passes but needs to work on his fundamentals. Is a bit out of control and doesn't finish well but has the ability to create. Has an ok pull up when he sets his feet but tried to shoot shots while moving too much. Has some nice moves in open court. Needs fundamental work on defense. Has potential. DII/DIII

Nathan Hale
#23 - Dagem Sebsibe - 5-10 SR Fairly quick pg that can handle the ball well, has a nice set shot when he has time. Passes and plays smart. Size and lack of creating ability will hold him back. DIII/JC

#4 - Ben Scheideman -6-2 SR - Got injured about 1 minute into the game and stopped playing. Is 5th in the Metro conference in scoring at 19.4 ppg.

#3 - Thomas Pierson - 6-4 SR - Plays forward for Hale because of their lack of size and guarded the big man. I liked this kid a lot. He will be a wing in college, probably a 3. He's focused and plays hard on both ends, always rebounds and is ready to make a play. Shot a great percentage for the game and finished with 18pts. He gets high percentage shots and has a great 12ft and in jumper. He scored at least 3 layups on great backcuts and got open by setting screens. A good all around player that really knows the game. Needs some work on his 3pt shot. Intangibles really add to his game. High DII, maybe low DI by the end of the year. 2nd in Metro league scoring at 21.4 ppg.

Mt. Rainier vs Enumclaw

2008-12-30T21:02:00.000-08:00

Seattle Times has Mt. Rainier ranked 5th and Enumclaw 9th in 3A basketball in the state. They met tonight at Bellevue CC for the BCC Christmas Classic finals. Mt. Rainier is the more athletic team but Enumclaw had the size, it was a fun game to watch. Enumclaw took a 10 pt half time lead and had to hold on in the end to win by 3. Enumclaw really played well together and Rainier did not, that was the difference in the game. Mt. Rainier players were visibly upset and pointing fingers late in the game, their inability to handle adversity really hurt them when they needed to be their best.

Enumclaw
#23 - Riley Carel -6-2 JR - Leads the team from the pg position, more of a combo guard. Good ball handler and average athlete. Not really quick but plays under control and hustles. DIII

#42 - Tarren VanTrojen - 6-6 JR Big bodied undersized post. He's listed 260 lbs. and its mostly muscle. He is quite quick and his defense and rebounding was huge. He blocks shots and is physical on both ends of the court. He is only averaging 7.4 pts a game but mostly because of the way they play, they are a pass first team and Tarren was a very good passer. They spread their pts around well which is why they are still undefeated. DII

Mt. Rainier
#1 - Jarrell Banks -6-1 SR One of the better available seniors in the Seattle area. He is a very fast athletic guard that can handle the ball and get to the hoop. He has great body control and can make the defender get on his heals then back up and pull up for a jumper. His shot is flat and he has little follow-through but it's a quick release and it goes in! He has the ability to play defense and put good pressure on opposing guards. He is leading the Seamount Conference in scoring at 21.2 per game. Low to Mid DI

#3 - Dominique Brooks -6-1 SR Solid pg that dribbles with his head up and plays under control. Plays really hard on defense and is second on the team in scoring at 12pts per game. He is thin and looks like he still has some growing to do. Did not see him shoot the ball much. Quick and athletic. DII

#23 - Tyrell Lewis -6-3 JR Athletic guard with great size. Is not very skilled but can make an open 3pt shot. Panicked a lot and took poor shots when Enumclaw pressured. Athleticism and ability to pressure on D gives him potential. Averaging 11.2 pts per game. DII/DIII

#33 - Bryce McPhee -6-5 JR Long thin wing that really kept Mt. Rainier in the game. Had a great put back dunk in transition late in the game. Very aggressive rebounder and defender. A bit thin but looks like he's still growing. DII maybe Low DI with some added weight in a year. Averaging 7.7 pts per game.

Ranier Beach vs. Bainbridge

2008-12-13T17:04:00.000-08:00

This one was not as good as I'd hoped it would be. I knew Rainier Beach was talented but Bainbridge I thought would be better. I didn't make it past half time as after about 3 minutes into the game Beach dominated. Bainbridge tried to run some UCLA offense but after a couple of quick screens didn't get them anything they tried to go one on one which is not what you want to do against Rainier Beach. Bainbridge looked scared and it really affected their game. Beach on the hand was sloppy but didn't have to do much to win this one. They must have opened the game with 7 or 8 straight unforced turnovers. Once they got going though they were unstoppable. I would love to see them play Federel Way, a couple of deep athletic teams that like to put on the pressure. I think Rainier Beach is a little deeper and more talented. I have lots of guys to comment on here and I'm sure I missed some.

Bainbridge
#33 - Ben Eisenhardt -6-10 SR - Talented Seattle U recruit, did his best to keep Bainbridge in it. He's long thin and mobile. Needs some work in the waitroom. He can shoot from outside and has some nice moves around the basket. Put's the ball on the floor well but is not a very good passer. I like how he runs the floor.

#10 - Jimmy Bagget -6-0 JR - Tough little guard, was the only player other than Eisenhardt who didn't look scared out there. He did his best and worked really hard but he was not athletic enough to match any of the Beach players. He attacked the basket and played tough D. DIII

Rainier Beach
#4 - D'Vonne Pickett - 5-10 SR - Quick strong little guard. Eastern Washington got another good recruit here. I like the pickup of Pickett and Forbes (Federal Way) for Eastern, although they are small they will certainly compete right away in the Big Sky, they will really be able to apply pressure defensively with these guys. Pickett can really create and he's a lefty which is always nice. He needs work on his jumper but he's more of a pg then a scorer unless it's at the basket.

#0 - Aaron Dotson -6-4 SR - Big time guard that signed with LSU. He is certainly physical and athletic enough to play at that level. I did not see his great scoring ability though he did finish with 20 (I missed the first half). I saw him miss three 3 pt shots, two of which were air balls. Maybe he just had an off night. He's fast, athletic, and long though so he can create easy buckets for himself. He stole one at the top of the key and took it all the way for a dunk. That's a high percentage shot that coaches like!

#11 - Corey Stern -6-7 SR - This kid reminded me a lot of Cole Dickerson of Federal Way. Similar body types but Stern plays a little more around the basket. He has a good body, he's very mobile and can handle the ball. He's strong and aggressive and will rebound the ball. Does not create well for others. Low-Mid DI

#5 - Jaamon Echols - 5-9 JR - Lightning quick little guard. Like the way he gets after guys defensively, lots of hustle. Great ball-handler, can shoot 3's off a pull-up with a quick release and a nice high arc. Can create for others. His size limits him. High DII, low DI

#3 - Najee Alli - 6-4 SR - Big strong athletic guard - a lefty. Very quick for his size, can really pressure defensively. Handles the ball well. Needs work on his jump shot but can really slash. Is a good rebounder. Low DI

#15 - Mike Reeves - 6-7 SR - Came off the bench and did not play much. I think he is a fairly good wide reciever and that may be what he plans on doing in college. He's long and athletic, great hands - big (not surprised he's a WR). He's a bit thin but he runs, blocks shots, and rebounds. He's got an ok jump shot as well. High DII, Low DI

#10 - Lonnie Pearson Jr. -6-6 JR - Came off the bench and played considerable minutes. Very long and thin, needs work on fundamentals. Can rebound and block shots. Athleticism and size helps him. DII

Kentwood vs. Federal Way

2008-12-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

I had to go see the big man Josh Smith and see how he would play against the pre-season top team in 4A. I had to hustle down there after physical therapy in Lake City and missed the first quarter. It didn't look like it was going to be much of a game when I got there. Federal way had a 5 pt. lead and quickly pushed it to 20. Federal way is fast and athletic, they used full-court and half-court pressure to frustrate Kentwood. Kentwood is lacking a great dribbler but for the most part did a good job of passing their way around the press. There was one long stretch where they got nervous and Federal Way took advantage by forcing turnovers and getting some easy buckets, this is how they pushed the lead to 20. When Kentwood did a good job and broke the press the big man usually got a thundering dunk out of it. The ball looked like a baseball in this guys hands. It reminded of me of dunking a little nerf ball on those hoops that hang on the back of your door, that's how big this kid is. Kentwood somehow battled back, spurred by a couple of Josh Smith dunks, some impatient shots by Federal Way, and some key 3's by Tre Tyler. But they didn't get close enough in the end and Federal Way sealed the deal with free-throws. Federal Way is talented and deep, they can match up with anybody. I can see why they were picked so high. Some player comments:

Kentwood

#34 - Josh Smith -6-9 JR -Supposedly the top JR in the nation or right up there. Can't really argue with that, he's a giant, looks like Shaq, and looks like he can still grow and put on more muscle. He's got a soft touch and ok footwork. He grabbed 15 rbs and he wasn't even trying, imagine if he did! If he tones up a little more, keeps his weight but gains some quickness, he's going to be unstoppable. And he makes free throws.

#33 - Tre Tyler -6-2 JR -Somewhat athletic, ok body. Competitive and not a shot he doesn't like. He took four 3's from NBA range and made 3 of them. Needs to improve his ball handling and passing. DII/DIII

Federal Way

#11 - Michael Hale III - 5-10 SR Very quick little pg. This kid has great ball handling skills, can dribble with his head up and has all sorts of moves. He was faking people out left and right and finished with 23 to lead all scorers. He has a nice pull-up jumper as well, made a key steal at the end of the game and got fouled to end Kentwood's come-back bid. Size limits him. Low DI

#32 - Jeffrey Forbes -6-0 SR Apparently has signed with Eastern Washington. I liked this little guard, he's got really quick feet and is a great defender, his lateral quickness is excellent and he can apply pressure all day. He can shoot outside and is more of a 2 than a 1. His ball handling could improve. Very athletic.

#25 - Cole Dickerson -6-7 JR Good athletic body, good handle and touch for a big man, more of a 4 than a 5. Would be a great 4 man that can reverse the ball run the floor and make the high low pass. Athletic and rebounds well, can finish at the basket. Didn't see him shoot but if he can could be a very dangerous college player. Low DI

#5 - Andre Barrington -6-3 SR Not surprised he signed with WSU (football), plays like a linebacker, huge upper body and shoulders, hustles and plays D, sacraficed his body the whole game. Needs skill work.

#20 - Robert Christopher -6-3 JR Long athletic guard, needs to work on his feet and ball handling. Quick and can finish at the basket. Aggressively rebounds as a guard. Needs more skill work but has lots of physical potential. DII

Seattle Prep vs. O'Dea

2008-12-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

A great way to kick off the high school basketball season is a Seattle Prep - O'Dea game. These are a couple of talented teams that put on a good show, with Seattle Prep getting the win. Lots of athletes on the court for this one, these two teams showed they will be very competitive this season. Seattle Prep took the early lead and held it through most of the game. Home court certainly helped but team defense was the key, they play pressure man to man and they have the athletes to do it. Both teams were deep with talent and could go to there bench when needed, it was a very evenly matched game. In the second half O'Dea went on a run and tied the game at 41 late in the 3rd quarter (maybe early in the fourth). Prep responded with some big put backs off of offensive rebounds, another key to there victory.

After watching this game and two NWAACC tournaments, I really think the NWAACC is down this year as far as talent, they have always been at a disadvantage to the bigger JUCO's that offer scholarships and housing but I think this year is particularly weak. I haven't seen all the teams yet but for now that's how I see it.

Here are some player observations:

Seattle Prep

#25 - Patrick Nyeko -6-6 SR Most potential on the court but wasn't the best player tonight. Struggled a bit offensively, particularly with putting the ball in the hole. He really attacked the basket well but didn't finished strong, he did find his way to the foul line which I liked. This kid is a big wing, and yes he can play on the perimeter. I did not see him shoot but for a 6-6 guy he can really put the ball on the floor and get to the basket - quickly and with both hands! If he has a jump shot he will be a very good college player. Reminds me of Linton Johnson who was at Tulane when I was a manager there, Linton actually didn't start most of his senior year but because of his 6-8 athletic frame and his work ethic ended up in the NBA. I don't think Nyeko is quite that good but he should be a good college player if he works hard. My favorite thing about him was his perimeter defense, he got his long arms in the passing lanes and did not let his man get the ball, lots of deflections and at least one steal. He should be low to mid DI.

#3 - Jon Humphrie -6-1 SR Most aggressive player for Seattle Prep, really wanted to score. Fairly quick and ok leaping ability, not a high-flyer. Strong with the ball and can handle it well. Did not finish well at the basket, forced some shots. JC/DII/DIII

#24 - Sam Howell -6-2 SR Really liked this kid, reminds me Jordan Hayter, a 6-3 guard we had my first year in Alaska who was the Oregon 3A player of the year his senior year. Sam is a smart tough player. Could be stronger but makes up for lack of size with hustle. He dived on the floor for at least two balls and took charges. Can shoot 3's, quick release. Can dribble and pass well. Sets screens and uses them. Plays hard D, good away from the ball. DII

#21 - Mitch Brewe -6-4 FR Could have commented on more players but wanted to at least mention this kid. Didn't look like a freshmen, scored inside and grabbed rebounds. Has a lot of growing to do, feet will get better with time. Should be a good player in years to come.

O'Dea

#20 - Sean Jones -6-5 SR Was the best player in this game, really played well in the second half. Big athletic wing, another big perimeter guard. Finished inside and had a nice short to mid-range jumper. Made a great spin move on the low block for a reverse layup on Nyeko. He did make a key mistake when he went up for a two handed dunk of both feet in the 4th quarter and launched it off the back rim. That dunk might have kept them in the game, instead it gave Jon Humphrie an easy layup on the other end. Either way this kid was good. He is very quick, very athletic, and can handle the ball and shoot (only 3 he took was out of the corner with a hand in his face and nothing but net). Low DI

#24 - Jordan Suther -6-2 SR (JR?) Solid wing, big arms and shoulders. Knows how to sneak into gaps and get open on the weak side for 3's. Not a really quick release but deadly when open. Had a quiet 16pts. Not really quick put played under control and played within his role. JC/DII/DIII

#23 - Dominic Ballard -6-3 JR Has potential, great physical body but may not get bigger. Lefty but can go right or left. Ok shot but needs work, forced some plays, tried to dribble through too many people. Very strong with the ball, good ball handler. Could be a good sized pg in college if he works on his creating. Plenty of athleticism. Low DI.

Pierce Thanksgiving Invitational

2008-12-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

Caught the final day of the Thanksgiving Invitational at Pierce College in Lakewood, WA. They have a nice new gym, it was a great place to host a tournament. Here's how they finished:

1st Bellevue
2nd Whatcom
3rd Pierce
4th S. Puget Sound
5th Shoreline
6th Linn-Benton
7th & 8th Lane & Columbia Basin

The first game I watched was the 4th place game. South Puget Sound played Linn-Benton and handled them fairly easily. While the score was close S. Puget Sound seemed to consistently keep an 8-10 pt lead and won by 9. They have a young team that has potential but doesn't have any real game changers. Linn-Benton had some OK bigs but the guards had a tough time getting them the ball. Some player comments:

Linn-Benton
#32 - Trevor Siefken -6-10-SO Tall thin center with good touch. Got into foul trouble and did not play much. Struggled getting open and needs to put on some weight... lots of weight.

#23 - Tyson Christie -6-2-SO Stocky, strong big guard. Fairly athletic and definitely team leader. Very aggressive, played hard.

#14 - Michael Kirkwood -6-5-FR Strong athletic small forward. Good body, has potential but needs work on offense. Led them with 11 rbs.

S.Puget Sound
#3 - Will Sharp -6-1-FR Thin, aggressive pg. Has potential, he's quick, a good ball handler and plays with his head up. Really wants to score, needs to focus more on creating for others. Has good hands, leads the team.

#20 - Michael Hall - 6-5-FR Long thin forward. Can put the ball on the floor and attack. Mobile.

#45 - Trevor Smith -6-6-FR Good body, recruited him at Alaska Fairbanks. Has potential, very athletic, needs to work on his touch.

The 3rd place game was between Shoreline and the hosts Pierce. This was the game of the day. Shoreline has some talented players but they rushed a little bit and struggled to get good shots. The credit goes to Pierce though for playing tough team defense. Pierce held the lead for all the first half. Then Shoreline battled back in the last 8 minutes to take the lead with with couple of minutes left. It was a battle to the end and they went into overtime. I OT Shoreline tried to force some plays and Pierce capitalized. It was basically the story of the game. Pierce finished with the win. I think Shoreline will improve throughout the year and be a tough team to beat. Player Comments:

Shoreline
#20 - Jonothan Lackings -6-0 SO Seemed smaller than 6-0. Lightning quick 2 guard, great defender on the ball. Tough little player that could slash and make open 3's. A bit out of control at times, forced a lot of shots. Led them in scoring with 20 pts but on 6 for 18 shooting and 4 TO's. DII

#10 - Stephen McCall -5-11 SO Solid pg. Good ball-handler, dribbled with his head up. Controlled the team well, definitely a leader. Good passer and creator. Could shoot mid-range and 3's set or off the dribble. Made a clutch 3 pt. shot off the dribble going full speed in the last 30 seconds to tie the game. Solid defender, had some trouble finishing at the basket. 14 pts, 8rbs, 6 asst, and 2 TO's. Good DII maybe low DI

#30 - Evans Ojwang -6-3 SO Athletic, long, strong wing. Nice touch around the basket, really gets out and runs. Did not like to use his left hand, defense was a bit inconsistent. A little out of control. Had 16pts 8rbs (4 on offense) and 2 steals, but 5 TO's. DII

#52 - Theron Laudermill - 6-8 SO Long thin big man. Not a defensive stopper and lacked mobility. Had trouble posting but when he got the ball had surprisingly nice moves and touch. Was 5 for 6 with 10 pts and 7rbs in only 22 min. off the bench.

Pierce
#3 - Brandon Semken -6-3 FR Has potential. Long athletic wing with a good body. Pretty good defensive player. Not a great ball handler and forces shots. Has a nice stroke when he's open.

#24 - Chris Grove -6-6 SO Team leader, took over the game in the second half when Shoreline was making their run. If it weren't for him Shoreline wins before it gets to OT. Great touch around the basket, can shoot mid-range and 3's. Did a good job of shooting over the big man. Good handle and mobility, can slash and get to the basket. Gets rebounds, passes, takes charges, always hustling, intense player. He's got a motor. His size and strength limit him. Had 18pts, 5 rbs and 3 steals. High DII, maybe low DI

#43 - Malcholm Love -6-3 FR Has lots of potential. Big, strong, athletic guard. Good jump stop and pull up. Quick first step, can slash and get fouled. Hits 3's when open. Aggressive, hustles. Has a DI body. Only a freshman. High DII, low DI

#42 - Ben Bennest -6-5 FR Solid big man. Didn't make mistakes. Plays hard. Was a key contributor.

Finally, the championship game was between Bellevue and Whatcom. Both teams looked tired and mentally a bit out of it. They were talking a bit to much to each other and getting frustrated. Lots of fouls were called. I thought Whatcom really got the short end of the stick on foul calls, they mentally did not handle the adversity well otherwise I think they had a good chance of beating a tired Bellevue team. Even with the bad calls they only lost by 7. Since I watched Bellevue and commented on their players before I will not write as much about them here, see my first post - Bulldog Classic to read more about Bellevue's guys.

Bellevue
#1 - David Maddock -6-2 FR Did not write about him last time. Quick, athletic, guard. Thin with good handle on the ball and good touch around the basket. Definitely a slasher, not a shooter. Forced a couple of shots.

#40 - Rahiti Marere -6-6 SO Wrote about him last week but wanted to comment on him again. He carried the team. He has a great mid-range jumper, great finishing ability and knocks down 3's. Plays hard and kept them ahead. Does not make many mistakes. Size and strength limit him. Had 21pts 6rbs. Mid-High DII.

Sam Cartmell again was solid, had a quiet 15pts on 4 for 5 shooting and shot 9 foul shots. Pete Harris and Curron Singleton were again solid but both forced some shots.

Whatcom
#34 - Don Perconti -6-4 FR Strong solid guard. Has a nice 3pt shot but forced some. Heavy feet hurt him defensively against the quick Bellevue guards.

#3 - Zac Andrus -5-10 SO Tough strong little pg. Battled with Pete Harris and got him frustrated. Good handle and quick. Strong with the ball, can make 3's if open. Lefty

#44 - Ryan Sweet -6-7 SO Good size, big arms. Played a lot on the perimeter but I thought he was more of a low block guy. Wanted to shoot the 3 and can make it but better inside. Had lots of trouble guarding perimeter bigs, quick runner and first step but not laterally. Good feet, soft touch and rbs. DII/DIII

Bulldog Classic

2008-11-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

The 2008-09 season has begun and my first post comes from the Bulldog Classic at Bellevue CC. This was an eight team tournament hosted by Bellevue CC that included the following NWAACC teams: S. Puget Sound, Yakima Valley, Wenatchee Valley, Mt. Hood, Portland, Everett, and Highline. Here's how they finished:

1st Bellevue
2nd Yakima Valley
3rd Mt. Hood
4th Highline
5th Wenatchee Valley
6th Portland
7th & 8th S. Puget Sound and Everett

I showed up Sunday and caught the second half of the 3rd place game and the Championship game. Both were pretty good games and were fairly close to the end.

When I arrived for the Mt. Hood/Wenatchee 3rd place game it was 28-28 at half. Both teams were patient and under control but Wenatchee struggled hitting open shots which ultimately cost them the game. They did frustrate Mt. Hood defensively when the went to a zone with about 8 minutes left, they have big guards and they got their hands up and got some deflections and turnovers. It was close and looked like they might really cut into Mt. Hood's lead when FR Andre Norman of Mt. Hood knocked down a big 3pt shot with about 4 seconds left on the shot clock and 2 minutes on the game clock. Mt. Hood held on for a good win. Here are some observations of the players:

Wenatchee Valley
#5 - Greg Giese 6-2-SO- Long thin wing. Smart player with patience, he seemed to lead the team and kept them in the game. He got some big deflections and did a good job of penetrating to the paint on offense and shot 9 for 10 foul shots. Unfortunately he was 2-7 from the field. Had five steals but also 5 TO's. Led them in scoring with 13 pts. Could be a DIII or low DII guy, good team player.

#42 - Matt Best -6-6-SO- Big thick strong undersized post. He has good hands, he rebounds and finishes around the basket. Led them in rebounds with 9. DII/DIII

#2 - Jordan Emerson -5-11-FR- Starting pg from Louisiana. Somewhat athletic and long for his size, was a bit out of control and had trouble finishing around the basket. OK ball handler.

Mt. Hood
#10 - Earl Jones -5-8-FR Quick little pg, good ball handler but forces things sometime. Sets a good pace for the team and can blow it up the court in transition. Struggled finding passing angles against the zone. Got to the foul line. Led the team with 12 pts on 3-8 shooting also had 7 steals and 6 TO's. low DII/DIII could improve in a year.

#42 - Adam Nielson -6-6-FR Strong smart player. Hustles and makes plays. Not really quick more of a post. Seals well away from the ball. Passes and rebounds. Coaches son I think. I'm pretty sure his other son also played at Mt. Hood and went on to BYU-Hawaii. Adam looks like he'll be good enough to play DII as well.

#11 - Jamar Johnson - 6-2-FR Athletic long guard. A bit out of control, fouled out with 13 minutes left. Was aggressive and made some baskets.

The championship game was a good one. Bellevue and Yakima Valley are probably two of the best teams in the NWAACC. Both have athletic teams that play fast and aggressive. Yakima Valley held an early lead in this one but mostly because Bellevue was impatient and forced some bad shots. Bellevue was definitely deeper and had more talent. Bellevue played great half court pressure man to man defense and kept it up the whole game by playing lots of subs. They wore Yakima down and beat them by a final score of 77-61. This one was closer than the score suggests though. Some player observations:

Yakima Valley
#3 - Rico Wilkins -6-0-SO Athletic, long, and quick. Forced shots and finished 2-11 from the field.

#4 - Jody Johnson -6-4-SO Athletic, skilled forward. Kind of a tweener, not a post and not a guard. Plays hard, can make an open jump shot and rebounds the ball. Didn't have his best game but still had 8pts and 9rbs. Had a few balls slapped out of his hands on the offensive end. I think he'd be a good DII 4 in the right system, he can play inside and out and will rebound from all spots. We recruited him my first year at Fairbanks but nothing came of it because of a coaching change.

#20 - Nico Sandoval -5-9-SO That's right, Nico and Rico run the backcourt for Yakima, great names. Nico was fun to watch, savvy little guard that could pull-up and shoot over bigger players. He's got a quick release on his shot that is hard to guard. Handles and passes well though maybe gets a little too fancy as he has some turnover problems. DII/DIII

#42 - LeMar Anglin -6-6-SO Played really well. Strong kid. Very strong around the basket, finished his shots and grabbed rebounds. Played tough D and hustled. He can play the 4 or the 5 and looked like a solid DII player.

#33 - Trent Spellman and #5 Dennis Wilson are both athletic guards that contributed.

Bellevue
#24 - Pete Harris -5-11-SO Strong, athletic pg. Good ball handler that's focus was on getting them into their offense. Didn't try to force to much and controlled the tempo. Plays good on the ball D. DII/DIII

#2 - Curron Singleton -5-10-SO Quick athletic guard, could play the 1 or 2 but definitely trying to score. Led them with 17pts and 3 for 5 from 3pt line. Solid defender. DII

#22 - Sam Cartmell -6-3-SO Strong athletic wing. He took over the game in the second half and led them to the win. Scored 15 pts on 6-11 shooting and played great defense. He attacked the basket and made open 3's. Solid player, would be a great DII wing or low DI.

#32 - Blake Pankow -6-6-SO Mobile long forward. Not bad at putting the ball on the ground, played hard. Lefty

#40 - Rahiti Marere -6-6-SO Transfer from Evergreen St. Skilled big man but very thin. Great touch around the basket and played hard. Lefty, had an unsuspecting 15pts and 9rbs. Was consistent through out the game. DII/DIII