Winter Climbers: Class of 2020 Part II
The natural curvature of the basketball Earth just began to rotate our impending playoffs into view. It is that time when the upper limb of the playoff sun appears above the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of…it is a sunrise metaphor. Deal with it.
Time to revisit the Class of 2020 rankings and adjust to account for the player’s growth and stagnation. Also, 23 new players splashed into the pool.
If you want to look at the complete rankings, smash here.
Climbers are either players previously undervalued, unseen, or possibly players that developed their game in the last few months. These players represent the four biggest climbers (LEFT-new rank, RIGHT- spots climbed upward).
#113 Jaylon Wooten ⇑58
Literal growth of Jaylon Wooten vaulted him an incredible #58 places higher. Wooten now stands 6-foot-4, making him a viable college wing in stature.
Playing alongside a 6-foot-11 center (Brayden Siren) and 6-foot-8 (Elijah Cobb), Wooten gets to play his natural position. It really helps him learn the intricacies of wingplay.
As you might expect, Wooten has more growing into his body. Growth spurts require both the spurt and the adaptation to the spurt. Wooten is nearing the end of the latter stage. Gliding around the court is new for the lean lefty. His change of direction seems to improve monthly.
Imagining his ceiling is certainly tantalizing and yet the production presently sits well with the Riverdale program. Wooten scored 15 points against Stewarts Creek last month. Expect more of that after Riverdale’s outstanding senior class graduates this upcoming spring.
#28 Lucas King ⇑39
Entering February Lucas King averages 16.6 ppg, 4.3 rbg, 3.0 apg, 81.3% free throws and 33.0% three-pointers.
King creates beautifully. He doesn’t give up on his dribble or stop probing prematurely. With the skills and imagination Lucas King shows he is certain to be an offensive gnat years into the future.
Blessed with natural ability, Lucas King clearly works hard on his craft. Too many consecutive moves flawlessly exist in his repertoire to be accidental. College coaches will need to evaluate King during his forthcoming AAU season. King is the epitome of a hidden gem.
#119 Jay Coleman-Rose ⇑37
Coleman-Rose impressed with Memphis Showtime 16u last summer. The physically imposing point guard played well in AAU and continued that development into a strong Memphis Central high school season.
Jay provides the Warriors of Central with a stabilizing force. Speedy yet controlled Jay records 15-17 each game. In their win over Bolton, Rose scored 17 points and helped with 7 assists.
Coleman-Rose made his ranking debut in August.
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