Morey Courts Summer League: Players to Watch (Part 2)
Most high schools around the state of Michigan participate in some sort of summer basketball league throughout the month of June. This includes many teams from around the mid-Michigan area, who compete in a summer league at a recreational facility called Morey Courts. This summer league isn’t loaded with college talent by any means; however, there are a few solid players who have the potential to not only have very successful prep careers but also make an impact at the next level. Most of the players who will be included in this article will be JuCo or D3 players, however, there are 1 or 2 who have potential to play NAIA or even D2. Here are some of the top players to watch in this league:
A few days ago I posted part one – here is part two:
Cole Blair (2018, Fulton) – Blair will be the counterpart of Fulton’s guard/wing duo (Barton the other being mentioned in Part 1) . He’s a solid all-around point guard with the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball. He’s a scrappy defender who does a good job applying pressure and forcing turnovers. He plays with a certain fire that gets into opponents’ head and causes them to make mistakes. Offensively, he has good enough handles to take care of the ball at the point guard position. He gets in the lane and finishes well with a nice floater game and a nice spin move. Look for him to have a big year alongside his teammate Evan Barton.
Johnny Lynch (2019, Shepherd) – Lynch is the one standout on a down Shepherd squad. He’s a bit of a wildcard, as he has good basketball skill but sometimes plays out of control. With that being said, that same aggressiveness that causes him to play out of control also causes him to compete against tougher, better competition. He has a good midrange game, including a reliable step-back move. He elevates well on his jump shot which helps him get his shot off over taller defenders. He will be the man on his squad this year, so look for him to carry the majority of the scoring load offensively and put up big numbers this year.
Nate Taylor (2018, Beaverton) – Taylor will look to takeover the reins from highly successful graduate Carter Johnston. He’s lightning quick, which allows him to penetrate and make plays at a high level. Combine his quickness with a good set of handles and you get a player who is tough to stay in front of. Once he penetrates, he does a good job finishing for himself or setting up his teammates. Taylor will look to fill the shoes as Beaverton’s next productive point guard.
Ryan Schafer (2018, Beal City) – Schafer is an athlete who plays with a ton of hustle and heart. His playstyle is that of a forward despite having the height of a guard, but his competitiveness allows him to play bigger than he is. Last year, he was the top rebounder and defender, both in terms of on-ball, 1-on-1 defense as well as off-ball, often recording multiple steals in a game. He’s capable of putting up a decent amount of points when his three-ball is falling. If not, he will still generate plenty of second chance opportunities on the offensive glass. He will be 1 of 3 core seniors who have been playing consistent minutes on varsity since sophomore year, so this could be a solid year for Schafer individually as well as his team as a whole.
Logan Chilman (2020, Beal City) – Chilman had a solid first high school year playing a key role on Beal City’s varsity. He did a bulk of the ball-handling/point guard duties last year, running the offense well and knocking down shots when needed. He hit multiple clutch shots/free throws throughout the year, so he is definitely not afraid of the moment. Given his role/performance last year, look for Chilman to take the next step and establish himself as the alpha on his squad this year. If not, he will be the second or third option and will still have a productive year.