Unranked Juniors Making an Impact: Part One
Every year there are upperclassmen who use their experience and development to make a splash. I wanted to recognize the players I’ve seen make a noticeable and consistent positive impact for their teams, who don’t get much attention in terms…
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Continue ReadingEvery year there are upperclassmen who use their experience and development to make a splash. I wanted to recognize the players I’ve seen make a noticeable and consistent positive impact for their teams, who don’t get much attention in terms of rankings and college offers. I have chosen eight unranked players from the 2022 class to dive deep on, and in part one we will look at the first four.
Sam Kwapnioski – SG Columbus
Scoring over 12 points per outing, Sam Kwapnioski leads the team in that category. Without top-shelf athleticism, Sam relies on a few tricks to wiggle inside the lane and score. Because of his athletic deficiencies many defenders see an opportunity to blitz and overwhelm him, but Sam does an excellent job of protecting the ball by keeping his torso between his defender and the ball. When his defender overplays his move to one side, and he can fluidly spin back while sealing the defender on his back. He has improvements to make on defense. He watches the ball too much, which leaves the backdoor open frequently when he is defending the corner.
Gatran Gatnoor – F Lincoln High
Lincoln High has struggled on the court this season, but Gatran Gatnoor has provided competitive energy in every one of his shifts this season. Against Grand Island, he was tasked with doubling Isaac Traudt Isaac Traudt 6'9" | SF Grand Island | 2022 State #45 Nation NE to force the ball out of his hands. Traudt is a smart player, but he had trouble recognizing Gatnoor’s doubles and evading them when they came. When Traudt got the ball out, Gatnoor recovered quickly to his man. He has been a key communicator for the Links, too. When facing a transition push, Gatran is always the one pointing out assignments to ensure all opponents are accounted for. He is switchable too, and he angles his body like a seasoned veteran when defending ball screens.
Kamari Moore – PG Norfolk
Moore has performed exceptionally well in the lead guard role for Norfolk this season. Not only can he rebound at a high level, but it seems he enjoys doing that dirty work. He is listed at 6’1″ and is averaging over seven rebounds in nine games played. He has a quick first step that only the best on-ball defenders can match, and when he mixes in his strong jab right before stepping left, it’s nearly impossible to guard him without second-level help. He has learned the tricks of finishing without size. With a head of steam downhill he knows he can rise quicker than most paint defenders, so he attacks the body without hesitation. He beats his defenders to the spot most times and can hang and adjust as necessary. Defending without size is a much tougher ask, and that’s where his weaknesses show. He can play traffic cone defense when he gets caught in the lane.
Ernest Hausmann – PF Columbus
Columbus has yet to win a game this season, but Ernest does everything he can to win each possession for his team. The junior forward shows relentless effort on the glass. If an opponent has not done early work to box out Hausmann, he will sneak by every single time. He struggles to finish at the rim, but makes up for it by initiating contact and getting to the line, where he does most of his scoring. The defensive instincts are impressive. He digs in at the right time, forcing turnovers or rushed shots and passes. I was impressed with his ability to slide his feet and stay glued to quicker guards. In a game against Omaha Westside earlier this year, Hausmann mirrored the speedy Chandler Meeks Chandler Meeks 6'1" | CG Omaha Westside | 2022 State NE after several dribble moves and swallowed him up in the lane, forcing a pass out. Not many defenders can match a guard like Meeks with both strength and speed, but Hausmann has the skill set to do it.