Neosho Holiday Classic: Top Forwards
The Neosho Holiday Classic was a true highlight on my holiday tournament tour. It was very well run, the people were accommodating and hospitable, and the tournament itself was loaded with solid prospects and well-coached teams representing every style of…
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Continue ReadingThe Neosho Holiday Classic was a true highlight on my holiday tournament tour. It was very well run, the people were accommodating and hospitable, and the tournament itself was loaded with solid prospects and well-coached teams representing every style of play. One of the biggest takeaways from the event was the amount of talented forwards on display and how each one of them stood out and was unique in their own way. Here is our run down of the best of the best from the big men at the Neosho Holiday Classic
Best Overall: 6’6 Jr Chris Moore – West Memphis
There is no real argument to be made here since Chris is typically the best player on the floor regardless of the competition. He is a national composite 4-star recruit, #1 ranked 2020 player in Arkansas, and holds a large list of Power 5 offers. He was named MVP of the tournament at Neosho and rightfully so. He was dominant throughout, including a 23 point/15rebound/7 assist performance in the Blue Devil’s championship win over Memphis Mitchell. He is an excellent finisher inside and a big time high flyer. He is one of the best rebounders in the region. He is also showing improved ball-handling and mid-range ability as the year has progressed. But we came away equally impressed with his humble nature and unselfishness on the court. Rarely does he take a bad shot or force the issue, and he is more than willing to get his teammates involved.
Most Well-Rounded: 6’6 Sr Michael Shanks – Bentonville
I really like the Bentonville Tigers, and their senior forward Michael Shanks is the prototype player for their system. The Tigers are a well-coached, fundamentally sound bunch that executes at a high level. Michael is a high IQ player who knows how to set screens, read the defense, and seems to stay a step ahead of the competition. He has a long, athletic frame. He showed solid footwork and touch in the post, he can put it on the floor and attack the rim, and his range looks like it translates into an average to above average three point shot. He takes pride in his defense. He hedges and recovers very well on ball screens, can defend the perimeter or paint, and boxes out on every shot. One of the highlights of the tournament was against Morrilton in the semi-finals where Shanks soared in transition and threw down an alley-oop lob that literally shook the rafters. Michael, who is the #8 ranked senior in the state, has committed to Belmont.
Most Athletic: 6’7 LaTrace Jackson – Villa Angela St. Joseph
The Vikings traveled down to Neosho all the way from Cleveland, Ohio and it was a treat to watch them play. They are a talented, well coached group and had easily the most athletic forward in the tournament in LaTrace Jackson. He is 6’7, long, mobile and can absolutely fly. He is an excellent rim-protector and rebounder that has a more than projectible build and skill set. He was runner-up in the Slam Dunk Competition where he got the crowd to their feet with an impressive windmill jam. With his raw ability coming from a great program, it is borderline criminal that LaTrace has not received any offers yet. College coaches across the D2, NAIA, and juco levels need to take notice. He would be an absolute steal.
Most Imposing: 6’7 Jr Laityn Shepard – eStem
When PrepHoops walked into the gym at Neosho, the first thing we saw was Laityn Shepard. He is every bit of 6’7 265+ and looked like more of a defensive lineman than a basketball player. That thought process changed quickly as we started to see him in action. Laityn is impressively mobile for his size and has some polish to his footwork and touch from the block. He is obviously a deterrent and rim protector on the defensive end. Those intangibles are likely a large reason he finds himself ranked in the ArkansasBasketballRankings.com Fab 40. If he continues to improve his conditioning and touch from the free throw line, it is likely that he will move up the recruiting lists.
Under the Radar: 6’6 Sr Truman Kaderly – Lamar
Truman is a later bloomer who has grown into his body and has spent many hours rapidly developing his game. That hard work has led the long, athletic Lamar forward to being one of the top forwards in the Big 8. He has upped his output tremendously from 5 points, 4 rebounds per contest last night to nearly 16 points and 9 rebounds per game this year. He has a dunk-everything mentality and throws down two-hand flushes with regularity. He is an aggressive shot-blocker that is only scratching his potential. As he continues to elevate his game this season, he is seeing his stock start to rise. A number of small colleges have started to take notice including NAIA power William Penn.
Best Hybrid Forward: 6’3 Sr Cameron Powers – Mitchell
As the game evolves, we are seeing the traditional power forward being replaced by strong, athletic wings who can play inside/out. Cameron Powers is the epitome of that transition. He is a physical specimen who is strong enough to bang down low. He is effective in the paint and on the glass for the Tigers. He also possesses guard skills. He uses his strong build to bully his way to the basket and is a very solid drive and kick threat from beyond the arc.
Best Motor: 6’2 Jr Jonas Higson – Bentonville West
Against Joplin, the Wolverines got off to a rough start and looked to be relegated to a blow-out loss. Junior big man Jonas Higson wanted none of that and was the spark-plug for a comeback in what turned out to be a great contest. He looks like a linebacker, probably because he is one. Jonas played with refreshing energy and used his strong frame to dominate the offensive glass and finish around the bucket through contact. Every time Bentonville West needed a big play, Jonas seemed to deliver. Kudos on a fantastic effort.