Unranked Players Who Are Elite 3 Point Shooters
While it is an honor to be ranked as a prep basketball player, there are still players with many skills and talents that may go unranked. These athletes deserve coverage for their skills and accomplishments. Many of these players are talented enough overall, or so good at a particular skill, that they can contribute to a team at the collegiate level.
Shooting a three pointer is an art form. Only a few can be elite at this skill. There are certainly elite three point shooters that can be found outside of the prospect rankings. These players are critical to their teams success and may have a future in basketball at the next level, playing for a coach that values the three point shot. Here are four players in Michigan who are unranked, but among the elite shooters in the state.
DAVID ESPITIA (2018, G, Lincoln Park):
Espitia can be considered one of the most underrated guards not just in the Downriver League, but possibly in all of southeastern Michigan. He is shooting 40% from three point range. Espitia is undoubtedly one of the best shooters in the league. He has solid shooting mechanics and unlimited range. Espitia has the ability to score 25 plus points on any given night. Quite simply, defenses have to know where he is on every single possession. He can also finish at the rim with either hand and is shooting 86% from the free throw line.
TJ RAEDY (2019, SG/SF, Saginaw Nouvel):
Raedy is a marksman from deep, shooting the three pointer at a 42% clip. He is a competitive player with a reputation of a shooter. Raedy has the ability to not just spot up and shoot, but also create his own shot and shoot off the dribble. In addition, he is a versatile athlete who can play multiple positions. This causes Raedy to be a matchup nightmare for opponents. He is a leader for Saginaw Nouvel and is always ready to take the big shot.
“TJ does a little bit of everything for us. At one point or another he has played every position, 1-5. When we need a bucket, he’s our go to guy. His ball handling is much improved and of course he can really shoot the ball. TJ is a competitive kid who is usually the first one in the gym every practice and the last one to leave.” -Coach Mike Kessler
GREGGORY WILLIAMS (2019, SG, Ecorse):
Williams is one of the hottest three point shooters in southeastern Michigan. He is shooting 42% from three so far this season. Williams is a confident shooter with no hesitation when open. He knows that a miss brings him one shot closer to catching fire. Williams is also a solid defender and a top notch rebounding guard. Williams’ philosophy on the three point shot is best summed up by this quote from Kevin Martin: “As a shooter you go through stretches of missing shots, but you just gotta stay with it and keep going and they are gonna start falling again.”
JAKE SCHULER (2019, SF, Rochester Adams):
On a young and talented Rochester Adams team, Schuler has become a relied upon three point shooter. He is currently shooting 41% from behind the arc. Schuler’s mechanics are sound and he always keeps defenses honest. He is averaging 11ppg, 7rpg, 3.5apg, and 2spg. Schuler is also excellent from the free throw line, where he shoots 84.5%. Schuler is aggressive on the boards and is a hustle player on defense where he is always willing to take a charge.
“I became a great shooter by continuous repetition and building upon the small things each day to transform my shot.” -Jake Schuler