WNC’s Top Juniors
Here is a look at the top juniors in Western North Carolina.
Jalen Lecque 6’4 G Christ School-One of most electric players in class; worry his athleticism will only get him so far; not a killer; can get hot from beyond the arc; jumps so high, not many at this level can rebound against him;
Brandon Stone 6’10 PF Christ School-Stone showed the ability to be used some as a point-forward with his ability to handle the ball and his ability to run the floor. He gets a lot of rebounds with his size and footwork. He gets good position on the low blocks, able to finish with either hand off of either foot. He is getting stronger and will build muscle on his upper-body. He is an above-average passer for his size and gets a lot of deflections on in-bounds plays and gets his long arms in on passing lanes.
Ren Dyer 6’4 SF North Buncombe High School-One of the toughest kids I have ever covered. He jumps higher and is just plain out more athletic than anyone in the region except Jalen Lecque. He is a great rebounder and plays physical. He scored 46 points including 30 in the fourth quarter against West Henderson High School a few weeks ago. He gets to the foul line and is one of the quickest second jump players I have ever been around. The Blackhawks go as Ren Dyer goes. He was recently offered by Western Carolina University.
Raishaun Brown 6’1 SG Asheville Christian Academy-The lefty has a smooth overall game, he has nice vision and puts passes on point for teammates. Also has a gift for scoring the ball at a high rate with a low rate of FGA. Has nice lateral quickness and a impressive IQ for the game of basketball. He has been offered by Western Carolina University.
Caleb Mills 6’3 G Asheville Christian/Big Shots JWB-Mills is a hybrid point guard that has the length at the position that is becoming more and more popular among college coaches.He can score from all points on the floor and is a great passer.
Caleb MillsZeke Littlejohn 6’2 SG King’s Mountain-Plays hard on both ends of the floor, has the ability to attack the paint and get to the rim. Has good size at the guard position and brings a level of energy to the game that is hard to find.
JacksonGabriel 6’2 G Lincoln Charter-Hard nosed competitor that brings it every single night, doesnt back down from challenges and has a gift for scoring the ball but brings it on the defensive end of the floor just as much.
Brad Halvorsen 6’0 SG Christ School-Plays the combo guard slot for his high school team , can shoot it from deep when he’s playing th SG spot and can run a team when they move him to the PG spot. Where he makes the most impact is on the defensive end of the floor, hes a physical defender but also wuick laterally.
Landon Henley 6’6 SF Tuscola-Has an old school game, but he gets the job done. He has a high basketball IQ, does a great job of getting set in the post in the right position, can knock down the mid-range jump shot consistently and can step out and knock down a three-point shot when called upon. He has a soft touch around the basket and is hard to guard for this area because of his size. He can score with his back to the basket or facing it.
Jake Smith 6’1 G Enka HS-The sophomore Smith is one of the best in the WNC area. He has a great shot, good form and a high release. He scores best coming off ball-screens and rising up to hit the long-range jump shot. Smith had one of the most impressive improvements on both sides of the ball as anyone in the area. He has improved his shotmaking which he was already a threat. He has worked on his athleticism and is finishing plays at the rim.
Devin Bassett 6’1 G Enka HS-Bassett is one of the top shooters in the area and can have outbursts of nearly 20-25 points per game on any given night. He is a scorer that can get his shot off around screens and can score with the ball in his hands.