Program Profile: Ray Allen Select 17U
Ray Allen Select draws primarily from Milwaukee’s cache of talent, though there is a strong FVA influence in their backcourt. In his first season with the program, Kimberly guard Jake Buchanan has assumed the role as their leader. Though a…
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Continue ReadingRay Allen Select draws primarily from Milwaukee’s cache of talent, though there is a strong FVA influence in their backcourt.
In his first season with the program, Kimberly guard Jake Buchanan has assumed the role as their leader. Though a tad undersized, he’s slippery in the paint and a hair trigger shooter. Buchanan’s ability to kickstart offense remains unrivaled by his peers, as he rarely hesitates to take a rebound 94 feet and finish. In the half-court, he can locate shooters spotting up on the wing, but is most lethal from beyond the arc. His offensive toolset is far-ranging, and he’s tossed his name in the ring of elite Wisconsin guards this spring.
Brookfield East guard Sam McGath, very similar to Buchanan’s MO, is an undersized scoring guard. His physicality at the position gives him a unique advantage, as McGath averaged five rebounds per game at Brookfield and uses his frame on offense to bang in the post and abuse smaller guards on drives. Michael Poker is another top-notch piece to rotate through their backcourt. Also playing for Brookfield East, Poker averaged 11.8 points per game while knocking down 40 treys on the year.
Malik Abdul-Wahid helms their frontcourt, bringing an assortment of skills and talents to the table. After Brookfield Central won the division one state championship with a roster shaken by a key suspension, Abdul-Wahid’s rebounding (6.6 per game in the playoffs) and seven total steals throughout the postseason made him a perfect glue guy for their roster. Offensively, he’s an athletic finisher and can operate outside of the paint, able to create mid-range jump shots and move without the ball.
Chicago Hope Academy’s Will Schultz adds some additional size and scoring from the forward position. With Chicago Hope, he put up 17.1 points per game and 7.4 rebounds. So far this spring he has brought a score-first playstyle to their core of big men.
JT Hoytink (Sussex Hamilton) and Logan Pearson (Kimberly) were both complimentary pieces to the big names of their respective school programs. Now, they’re each taking a more important role for RAS shooting and scoring the ball.
Overall, RAS 17U is a very balanced roster on offense with plenty of role pieces that can contribute. Their scoring is even across the board, though most of their production on offense is a byproduct of Buchanan and their backcourt.