SAC Tournament: Top 2017 Performers
2017 Standouts We spent the whole week covering the SAC Tournament at Wayne High School and some senior really put on a show. Here are some of the top performers from the week: Malik Williams: Malik proved why he is…
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Continue Reading2017 Standouts
We spent the whole week covering the SAC Tournament at Wayne High School and some senior really put on a show. Here are some of the top performers from the week:
Malik Williams: Malik proved why he is a D1 player throughout the tournament. Williams turned in a near triple-double performance in their Semi-Final loss to Homestead. Malik has been working on his jump shot and ability to score off the bounce. He scored from all three levels in this tournament and was a menace on the defensive end. Williams will continue to be a threat and force in the Fort Wayne area. Williams bothers shots around the rim while staying out of foul trouble.
Jaylen Butz: Butz turned in three performances of 15+ points and 15+ rebounds in this tournament. Butz also put together a near triple-double performance against Northrop in second round action. Jaylen was aggressive on the glass all week and his length bothered shots around the basket. Not only can Butz score efficiently and grab rebounds, he showed off his passing abilities this week. Butz is a great passing big man with the ability to fill up stat sheets in multiple categories on a nightly basis.
Conlan Martin: Fresh off of his commitment to NAIA Powerhouse Saint Francis Fort Wayne, Martin put together a good performance in their opening round loss to Snider. Dwenger had Snider down into the fourth quarter. Martin can score from each level and has the passing ability to be a distributor for his team. Martin will need to continue playing at a high level to help the Saints in their tough SAC schedule.
Ray Walker Jr: Ray Walker Jr. really showed why he is a great defender this week posting games of 5+ steals against Carroll and North Side. Walker Jr. also showed off his passing ability as the point guard for the Knights. Ray can get to the basket and has a soft touch on his jump shot from deep and mid-range. He is not looking to be their leading scorer but showed that he can be when they played North Side. He is an under-sized guard but makes up for it with his quickness, quick hands, toughness, and basketball IQ.
J.J. Foster Jr: J.J. Foster Jr. is known for his scoring ability and he showed that off in the tournament. Foster Jr. hit some shots from volleyball-line distance and got to the basket as well. He is a focus of their offense as they run plays to get him open and rely on him to be one of their leading scorers. Foster Jr. will need to continue to score in different ways to open himself up from deep.
Anton Berry: Berry has been one of the most consistent players for the Knights early in the season. He showed off his scoring ability and toughness last week in the SAC Tournament. His jump shot has been improving as he can now knock down jumpers from deep with some consistency. He rebounds well for being an under-sized forward and is a vocal leader for this Bishop Luers team.
Jacob Redding: Jacob Redding has really sprouted this past couple years at Carroll. He is known for his jump shot and can knock them down quickly if you let him get open. He has been working on his ball handling and scoring off the bounce which we saw a few times during this tournament. Redding is a smaller two guard but can score in a multitude of ways. Will need to work on his defensive footwork.
Jack Ferguson: Ferguson took full advantage of his opportunities in this tournament. This was the first time a lot of people got to see Jack Ferguson play and he put on a show. His ball handling had defenders off balance, his jump shot was good from everywhere, and his toughness made him a crowd favorite. Ferguson had it all working last week but an area of improvement is his strength around the basket.
Parker Manges: Manges put together some quiet performances last week to help Homestead reach the Championship game. Manges is a knock down shooter from deep but showed that he can get to the basket as well. He rebounds well for an under-sized guard/forward and is a good defender as well. His footwork on both offense and defense need a little work but he is a major piece for Homestead moving forward.
Brandon Durnell: Brandon Durnell is another one of those guys that took advantage of the exposure. He showed that he had been working on his jump shot and finishing around the basket against bigger bodies. Durnell attacked the shot blockers and put himself in good position to get rebounds as well. He has good hands and is strong enough to battle with bigger bodies. He still needs to work on his jumper a little.
Richard Robertson: Richard Robertson has had a very strong start to the season for the Bruins. After his 35-point performance in the opening round, Robertson put up 21 points against North Side. Robertson has improved his jumper which brings his defenders closer so that he can use his quickness to get to the basket. Robertson still needs a little work on his passing but has really been putting in the work of the court.