Four Prospects to Know: Mannford vs. Kellyville
Mannford remained undefeated this season snagging their 19th win over Kellyville on Tuesday night. It was a back and forth game as Kellyville made a big push right before the half, and late in the fourth quarter, cutting the Mannford…
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Continue ReadingMannford remained undefeated this season snagging their 19th win over Kellyville on Tuesday night. It was a back and forth game as Kellyville made a big push right before the half, and late in the fourth quarter, cutting the Mannford lead down to single digits. Kellyville could be a team that pulls off a big upset win in the playoffs if they click at the right time. The Pirates of Mannford are poised to make the deepest run in the history of their basketball program. The biggest threat to Mannford will be fast athletic teams that apply heavy pressure defensively. Below I look at four prospects from this game that will have a shot to play small college basketball after they graduate.
Jake Banfield 2019 Mannford Point Guard
The best way to describe Banfield is a winner, gamer, tough and gritty leader. This is the type of kid I would want on my team every day of the week. There is not a moment on the court Banfield is not busting his butt to help his team to victory. Tonight, Banfield was tremendous showing off his great vision and passing abilities by hitting teammates with timely passes that lead to great open looks at the basket. Taking multiple charges for his team, Banfield’s dedication shined through as he defended the basket. Banfield is a smaller point guard that will not back down no matter who is guarding him. The improvement Banfield has made with his ball-handling skills has made it harder to guard him. Banfield consistently knocked down jump shot attempts from mid and three-point range. The college who lands Banfield is going to get a good basketball player, but an even better leader on and off the court.
Cooper Hallman 2020 Manford Wing
Heading into the game tonight I was well aware of Hallman’s talents from the multiple times I have seen him play over the last year. It is very clear Hallman has been working diligently in the gym to take his game to another level. Shooting the ball with consistency is the biggest improvement Hallman has added to his bag. Another area offensively Hallman has made improvements in is being able to handle the ball well enough to get to the basket going left or right. Offense is certainly where Hallman shines but he is not afraid of playing defense, taking charges or getting in the passing lanes for steals are a few examples of what he brings on the other end. If Hallman can continue to improve at the pace he has over his high school career, he is going to be a nice pick-up for a small college.
Daniel Keizor 2019 Mannford Wing
From the second quarter on Keizor battled foul trouble. Kezior is the glue that holds the Mannford team together. At 6’3 Keizor is an undersized forward that gives opponents fits. The dirty work most players shy away from is where Keizor makes his money. Diving for loose balls, taking charges and battling for rebounds against taller stronger players are a few of the tough attributes that Keizor brings to the floor. Kezior is a coach’s dream because he will do anything for his team. He embodies what Mannford basketball is all about. If his team needs someone to run through a wall, Keizor is the man for the job. Skill wise on the offensive end, Keizor showed off a nice jumper from mid-range making the defense pay if they left him open. Although Keizor plays at the four-man position for Mannford, in college he will likely slide out to the wing. That being said, the post skills Kezior has could allow an NAIA Division 2 program to play him as mismatched four.
Jordan White 2019 Kellyville Wing
White is similar to Kezior in some respects as he is an undersized four-man at 6’4. White is a good athlete with great strength and good footwork. He tallied 25 points tonight with every single point coming from inside the arc. The ability for White to be a mismatched nightmare on offense is certainly there. The speed and strength of his post moves mixed with his athleticism make it hard for him to be stopped at the small school level. White has the skill set to get a shot at a small college program next year without a doubt. He projects to the JUCO or NAIA division 2 level. No matter what the score was tonight, White battled, which is the primary reason Kellyville was able to make a game of it late.
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