Five 2019s Ready For A Breakout Season
For high school hoopers with dreams of playing college ball, their junior season is a year to take the next step. Many hoopers have already gained experience on varsity as an underclassmen, but as an upperclassmen they are in a position to be a top option for their squad. In many situations, junior season can serve as a coming out party for players – a year where they prove they belong and put their name on the map. Here are five 2019s I believe are ready to take the next step this season:
Carrington McCaskill (Detroit Renaissance) – The 6’7″ forward earned his first offer just a few months ago. While his skillset is still fairly raw, he’s an insane athlete with a great motor. McCaskill excels at crashing the glass – I’d argue he’s the best in the state at tipping in (or dunking) an offensive rebound. He’s also good for a couple highlight dunks or blocks seemingly every game. As McCaskill continues to develop other areas of his game, his production will continue to rise. As one of the most promising 2019s in the state, look for him to have a big season this year.
Chandler Turner (Detroit Renaissance) – Like McCaskill, Turner received his first offer just a few months ago. The 6’5″ guard has an ideal basketball frame as he has height, length and athleticism. While maybe not a number one scorer, Turner is capable of making a defense pay from all three levels. He has a reliable jumpshot, can get to the rack, can pull-up and can distribute if needed. Turner has shown he’s comfortable shooting even with the defense contesting him – especially on mid-range jumpers. This season, Turner and McCaskill will likely feed off of each other, so look for both of them to have a big year. If they play to their full potential, Renaissance will be one of the top teams in the PSL this year.
Josh Palo (Howell) – The 6’2″ guard is one of the better under-the-radar players in the 2019 class. Palo has a nice skillset offensively and is capable of playing the role of a scorer as well as a facilitator. He’s efficient at all three levels; he does a good job at recognizing what the defense is giving him and taking advantage. Palo also does a good job at being aggressive and putting pressure on the defense while making sure not to force the action. This year, he has the ability to be the number one option for Howell, leaving the door open to have a big time season.
Marcus Alston (Lansing Sexton) – Like Palo, Alston is another player in the 2019 class who has flown under the radar so far. The 6′ guard can do a bit of everything on the court: he can shoot, attack the basket, create his own shot, play defense and more. When you watch him play, you can tell he plays football, as he has strength and athleticism to go with a physical, tough style of play. Alston can get a bucket from all three levels – he excels at creating his own shot. Look for him to put up some numbers for Sexton this season.
Isaiah Bridges (Midland) – Bridges is a bit undersized for his position, as he plays like a big despite standing 6’4″. However, he’s able to make up for his lack of height with his strength, motor and skill. Bridges has nice post moves with his back to the basket – something that is a lost art in today’s game of basketball. He had a nice AAU campaign running with HoopGrind this spring/summer; if he can carry that momentum into the high school season he will have a productive year for Midland.