Battle at the Lakes: Top Forwards
The Battle at the Lakes tournament was littered with great forward play, and a number of forwards were able to set themselves a part from their competition this weekend. Here is a list of some of the top forwards in…
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Continue ReadingThe Battle at the Lakes tournament was littered with great forward play, and a number of forwards were able to set themselves a part from their competition this weekend. Here is a list of some of the top forwards in St. Louis Park last weekend.
Top Forwards:
Jack Janicki-
Checkout this smooth mid-range game from Jack Janicki. #PrepHoopsBatL pic.twitter.com/8bzCL4JRe3
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) May 11, 2019
One of the best all-around offensive games that a forward had all weekend was possessed by Jack Janicki. He was a willing cutter from the wing which helped to put pressure on opposing defenses. Janicki was also good at finding the soft spot in transition for open, uncontested shots at the rim. Finally, he showed a nice ability to break defenders down off the dribble. The featured video highlights this ability. In the clip, Janicki uses a slow crossover dribble to lull the defender, and then he explodes to his spot where he knocks down the mid-range shot.
Tyler Tappe-
Tyler Tappe is doing everything on the court right now for Sacred Hoops. #PrepHoopsBatL pic.twitter.com/FF30ydlFr5
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) May 11, 2019
The best rebounding forward this weekend was Tyler Tappe. His ability to collapse from the wing/perimeter to grab offensive rebounds was phenomenal on Friday night. At one point, Tappe grabbed 4 consecutive rebounds, including back-to-back offensive boards. Tappe also showed a nice ability to score the basketball in unique ways. The clip above shows how Tappe was able to maintain nice balance and make a floater in the lane, despite the attempt by the defender to block the shot.
Willie Strickland-
The most impressive athlete I saw at forward this weekend was Willie Strickland. Every move Strickland made on Sunday oozed with athleticism. He was a nice rebounder and because of his ability to get vertical, he was able to high point the ball well and rebound over bigger players. Strickland also had a nice offensive game and showed the ability to get to the rim and convert. His transition dunks impressed the crowd, while his screens were clean and effective in providing his teammates with some space to work with.
Sam West-
If you were looking for a defensive menace, Sam West was your guy. West’s ability to force turnovers and execute a full-court, man-to-man press made him a nightmare for opponents. In the half court, he was able to affect the game primarily through blocks. This was highlighted by a possession in which he came up with two key blocks. The second was a controlled block in which his team was able to get out in transition. He also showcased the ability to make a nice floater on the offensive end of the floor.
Carter Thomas-
Another defensive forward who impressed this weekend was Carter Thomas. He showed a nice ability to read driving guards and help off of his man to force a number of turnovers for his team. He was also a good rebounder and read the ball well off the rim. On the offensive end of the floor, Thomas had a quick release and was good at drawing fouls by recognizing poor defense and taking advantage of their mistakes.
Kaiden Rector-
Checkout this great cross-court pass by the Minnesota Fury to find #33 for the open 3! #PrepHoopsBatL pic.twitter.com/ZbjBsvhOXs
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) May 11, 2019
One of the best passing forwards this weekend was Kaiden Rector. His ability to recognize passing lanes allowed him to break down defenses quickly when the ball found him on the perimeter. The clip above highlights this ability. In the clip, Rector recognizes that his teammate is open because of poor defensive positioning. He then is able to fire the ball across the court. His teammate receives the ball right in his shooting pocket and is able to knock down the open three.