Mid-Season Check In: Senior Stock Risers
We are quickly approaching the midway point in teams’ schedules for the 2019-20 season. With that being said, we’ve had a solid amount of time to evaluate how certain players are fitting into their team’s systems. By the time players…
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Continue ReadingWe are quickly approaching the midway point in teams’ schedules for the 2019-20 season. With that being said, we’ve had a solid amount of time to evaluate how certain players are fitting into their team’s systems. By the time players reach their senior seasons, they should have established themselves as not only top players on their respective teams, but also in their immediate areas.
For this article, I’ll take a look at the senior stock risers Baltimore thus far.
Jamal West | St. Frances
West has been producing at a high level all season for St. Frances. As they begin their life post Jordan Toles and Jahmal Banks (both enrolling in their colleges early for football), his production will be counted on even more. The South Alabama commit guarantees his teammates and the crowd that he’ll play 100 percent at times. West is a walking double-double who has improved on the range of his jumper.
Jason Edokpayi | Mount St. Joseph
Edokpayi has inserted his name in Player of the Year conversations after all he has done for the Gaels this season. The Fairfield commit continues to look more and more like a steal with the way he’s scoring and impacting games defensively. He has scored with efficiency out to 17 feet, controlled games on the glass and has been a shot-blocking presence for a Mount St. Joseph team that doesn’t present elite size.
Brandon Murray | Poly
Murray has established himself as the best unsigned senior in Baltimore. More schools are starting to notice and gravitate toward the 6-foot-5 guard as DePaul recently offered. There should be a slew of schools following as Murray has proved himself against multiple nationally ranked programs this season. Murray has explosive athleticism that allows him to finish above the rim in traffic, but can also light opposing defenses up from beyond the arc. He plays with high energy at all times, which shows in his willingness to guard defensively and rebound out his area.
Justin Lewis | Poly
Lewis has tallied big time performances this season and shown why he was sought after from many high major programs. The Marquette signee has shown more comfort with playing out on the perimeter. At 6-foot-8, questions around whether or not Lewis could log minutes at the three were valid at the high-major level. He still has work to do, but is showing progressions in making shots from outside and becoming a better defender on the perimeter. When it comes to scoring in the paint or on face-up opportunities in the mid-range area, there aren’t many better than Lewis. He also has impeccable timing as a shot-blocker defensively.
Will Thomas | Mervo
Thomas has bounced back in a huge way after missing all of last season with injury. The 6-foot-5 guard can fill many roles and play multiple positions successfully. He’s assertive as a scorer when his team needs, but continues to exhibit his vision as a play maker. An underrated part of Thomas’ game is his ability to alter shots in paint as the help defender. His athleticism and timing allow him to make up space quickly and also makes him a presence on the glass.
Teon Rushing | Mervo
Rushing is proving that making the move to Mervo would benefit both him and his recruitment. The 5-foot-10 point guard has gained interest from a number of Division III programs and plays with tremendous toughness at his position. He’s shown ability to finish in traffic, knock down open shots and make the right reads off the bounce. Defensively, Rushing is a pest who can pressure the ball effectively.
Mike Gray | Lake Clifton
Gray had established himself last season as one of the toughest guard you’ll find in Baltimore. The 5-foot-11 floor general is at his best playing downhill and attacking the basket. His football background supplies him the strength to withstand contact and finish off plays. While his jumper still needs improvement, he is capable of knocking down three’s in bunches once he sees one fall. Defensively, Gray is a competitor and takes pride in shutting his man down as much as possible. For the point guard position, he’s an above average rebounder.
Cam Byers | Dulaney
Byers is figuring it out with a Dulaney team that has leaned heavily on him to produce offensively. The 6-foot-5 forward has taken huge strides as a shooter from three off the catch and continues to improve as a rebounder. His production has resulted in an uptick for his recruitment with a handful of Divison II schools and a couple of low-major Division I programs tracking him closely.
Martaz Robinson | New Town
Robinson is putting together consistent, big time performances that I knew he was capable of over the years of covering him. The 6-foot-2 floor general has become more assertive as a scorer, which his team needs in order to remain a top team in the county. The Delaware State commit is finishing at the rim at an efficient rate and making teams pay for leaving him open on the perimeter. His IQ and ability to play make in a smooth manner should transition well into the college level.
John Godinez | Parkville
Godinez is one of the best players who flies under the radar in the Baltimore area. The 5-foot-9 guard is extremely crafty with everything that he does, but remains efficient and secure within his decisions. Godinez can break his man down off the dribble and score on floaters or from three with decent range. He operates well in pick-and-rolls and has advanced vision and anticipations with the reads that are available. Defensively is the area for improvement for Godinez, but it isn’t technical things that need work. It’s more so just being locked in throughout the course of a game and realizing he can impact on that end as well as the offensive end.
Noah Charles | Glenelg Country
Charles has been steady this season for the Dragons as their floor general. He’s shown ability to take over games as both a distributor and scorer when his team needs. He scores it well in the painted area with floaters over contested bigs and is a proven shot maker off the catch from three. He defends the ball well and doesn’t gamble to create easy scores. There’s no doubt that he’ll have an opportunity to play at some level in college next season.
Igor Yoka-Bratasz | Glenelg Country
In terms of consistency, no one on Glenelg has been as consistent scoring the ball than Yoka-Bratasz. The 6-foot combo guard can score from outside and off the dribble. He’s limited athletically, but uses his high IQ to have an upper-hand on taller or quicker defenders. One critique of mine for his game is I’d like to see him be ready to shoot more often when catching it beyond the arc. He can make shots in bunches, but often times lets the defense off the hook with slight hesitation.
Mitchell Fischer | Loyola
Fischer continues to build off a breakout season as a junior that led to being voted First-Team All MIAA. The 6-foot-7 stretch forward has all of the skills that college coaches look for in stretch fours in today’s game. He’s a player that benefits from a system-heavy offense that depends on ball movement and off-ball actions. A few low-major Division I programs have been tracking Fischer’s play.
Lorenzo Donadio | Boys’ Latin
Donadio is a newcomer to the area since transferring from Farragut Academy (FLA). He’s wasted no time in proving his worth and piling up interest from low-major Division I programs. The 6-foot-3 Italian native is a three-level scorer and makes his impact all within the Lakers’ dribble hand-off system. Donadio is a high IQ player who has not only logged big time scoring outings against highly regarded teams, but has also been a consistent rebounder and play maker for others.
Tyler Brelsford | Mount St. Joseph
Brelsford has taken the reigns as the primary play maker for the Gaels this season and they’ve desperately needed his production. The George Washington commit has shown improvement in just about every facet of his game. Scoring from three levels, getting to the free-throw line consistently and making teams pay in transition has been a common theme.
Cam Sapienza | Mount St. Joseph
Sapienza has waited his turn at Mount St. Joseph and has taken advantage fully to earn a major role in the rotation. Sapienza’s ability to stretch the floor and his three’s in bunches opens the floor up immensely for the Gaels play making guard and Edokapyi down low. The 6-foot-1 sharpshooter plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn’t back down from anyone. A number of Division III programs are hoping Sapienza chooses their school.