Updated 2021 Rankings: Baltimore’s Top Shot Makers
It’s no secret that the key to winning a basketball game is the ability to make shots. More now than ever, the game is about putting the ball in the basket and doing so from all three levels. No longer…
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Continue ReadingIt’s no secret that the key to winning a basketball game is the ability to make shots. More now than ever, the game is about putting the ball in the basket and doing so from all three levels. No longer is the mid-range shot an emphasis. While it has quickly become a lost art that still does hold value, the simple math of three is greater than two has more players and coaches scheming towards shooting the long ball. At the college level, being able to make a shot is critical. There’s a difference between shooters and shot-makers and if you’re a coach at the high school or college level, you certainly know what I mean by this.
For this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top shot-makers located in the Baltimore area based off of our updated 2021 player rankings.
Ryan Conway Ryan Conway 6'0" | PG Dulaney | 2021 State #111 Nation MD | 6’1 | Dulaney
Ranking: 5
Recruitment: Committed to Seton Hall
Conway has been known as a difficult shot-maker since his middle school days. Now entering his senior year, that reputation has progressed even further. If you need an example look no furhter than his 55-point outing in just three quarters of action against Hereford last season. The 6-foot-1 lead guard can get his shot off in a variety of ways and can do so from the paint all the way out to NBA range with efficiency. He’s a sniper off the catch and has great body control on off the dribble pull-ups after breaking his man down. All reasons why many high-major programs were after him and why head coach Kevin Willard was excited to lock him in as a commit to the Pirates.
D’Angelo Stines D’Angelo Stines 6'2" | CG Mount St. Joseph | 2021 State MD | 6’2 | Mount St. Joseph
Ranking: 14
Recruitment: Committed to Old Dominion
Stines really burst onto the scene in the second half of last season and emerged as a legitimate scoring threat for the Gaels. As the postseason went on, Stines canned big shot after big shot and was instrumental in helping lift the Gaels to a MIAA A Conference championship. The defense must account for him on catches around the three-point line, but Stines is also a consistent threat to attack closeouts and convert mid-range jumpers. Had there been live evaluation periods throughout the spring and summer, I believe his recruitment would’ve skyrocketed, but Old Dominion quickly swept the savvy scorer and should benefit from a productive college career.
Jalen Bryant Jalen Bryant 5'11" | PG John Carroll | 2021 State MD | 5’11 | John Carroll
Ranking: 29
Recruitment: No current offers
Bryant can fit the mold of the modern day point guard in the aspect of scoring. He shoots the ball with range both off the catch and off the dribble. If it isn’t a three, he’s sneaking his way to the basket and finishing with craft to avoid shot-blockers. The 5-foot-11 guard plays with an IQ to him that’s fun to watch when he has the ball. Bryant is another prospect that really missed out on there not being spring/summer live evaluations. Division II programs could look to sweep in and establish themselves with a solid four-year floor general. If I was a Division III program, I’d be all over Bryant.
Khyrie Staten Khyrie Staten 6'2" | CG St. Frances | 2021 State MD | 6’2 | St. Frances
Ranking: 33
Recruitment: Offers from Delaware State and Loyola (MD)
Staten hit stride last season and was a dependable shot-maker for a nationally ranked St. Frances team. He was a beneficiary of playing with Ace Baldwin (VCU) and consistently made himself available around the perimeter, knocking his looks down by the boatload. Staten was also effective at shooting the one-to-two dribble pull-ups that come in handy at the collegiate level. He is set to make his college decision at 9AM today and judging by the two schools who have offered, they’ll get a sound competitor who knows how to win ball games.
Koralp Turk Koralp Turk 6'7" | PF Mt. Carmel | 2021 MD | 6’7 | Mt. Carmel
Ranking: 59
Recruitment: No current offers
Turk hit the scene for his first season in the United States last season for a young Mount Carmel team. The Turkish native brings and outside shooting presence at the four position who is extremely effective in pick-and-pop situations. The Cougars faced a fair amount of zone defenses last season and Turk did a nice job of getting open on the baseline from 12-to-15 feet out and knocking down shots with regularity. I think Turk could ultimately help a low-major program, but given the confusion that COVID-19 has caused, he continues to fly under the radar.
Jeremiah Stanton Jeremiah Stanton 5'11" | PG Gerstell Academy | 2021 State MD | 5’11 | Gerstell
Ranking: 111
Recruitment: No current offers
Stanton often times gets overlooked and should honestly be a bit higher in our rankings with the way that he can knock down shots. He plays for a Gerstell team that struggled mightily in their first year as a MIAA A Conference team, but was a consistent scoring presence and did so from three and mid-range. There’s not much that is known about Stanton’s recruitment to this point, but if I was a Division III program I would be heavily invested in the 5-foot-11 guard.