Unranked Juniors Making an Impact: Part Two
In part two, I discuss the rest of the impact juniors who have had success despite their unranked status. Grant Jansen – C Gretna Jansen has been a steadying presence for the Dragons all season long. He excels at the…
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Continue ReadingIn part two, I discuss the rest of the impact juniors who have had success despite their unranked status.
Grant Jansen – C Gretna
Jansen has been a steadying presence for the Dragons all season long. He excels at the little things that have enormous impact. He has limited mobility, so he works to always be in a better position than his matchup. If a teammate is driving into the lane, Jansen will legally clear his man out to widen that driving lane. He also recognizes his challenges to rise vertically, so he frequently deploys fakes that he sells with the entire body. When he receives defensive pressure with the ball in his hands, he calmly avoids swipes at the ball until a pass prevents himself. I’ve seen him make several types of kickout passes, depending on what the situation requires. So many bigs are looking for the first opportunity to get the ball out, but Jansen stays patient until the best shot emerges.
Ean Luebbe – SG Columbus
As is the case with most Columbus players, Ean struggles to score the basketball. He is a poor finisher due to his inability to vary speed and angle. When he starts a drive, he remains on that trajectory at the same speed, which makes him easy to contest. Instead, his impact comes from rebounding. He fights hard for advantageous positioning, but doesn’t need it to ultimately come down with it. Multiple efforts are a staple of his game, and a lot of his scoring comes from putbacks off his offensive rebounds. Even if he finds himself near the perimeter when the shot goes up, he maneuvers around the bodies while tracking the flight of the ball.
Isaiah Forte – SF Omaha Northwest
Forte is a player defenses must account for in transition and semi-transition situations. He is slippery when attacking the basket, and doesn’t need much air space to slice through for a clean look. He has a quick first step that is difficult to contain, and when he has a step on his defender he finishes well with either hand. When engaged, he can be a terrific defender. He is long and athletic, and Northwest likes to use those traits when trapping and pressing. He has active hands and quick feet which help him blanket the ball-handler.
Antoine McNair – G Omaha Benson
McNair’s offense can be exposed in the half-court because he struggles to shoot, but he has success driving hard to his left. He can plant and rise quickly for floaters, which helps him avoid having his shot blocked. He is a confident player who is willing to attempt difficult passes. He has a nice stroke from the free throw line, but shoots from the hip from distance, which tells me his strength limits his impact on the perimeter. He defends with energy and aggression which can cause some turnovers, but that energy takes him out of the play and out of position too often, because his defensive awareness is lacking. Even with those weaknesses, he is a great scoring option off the bench who can make plays in the open floor.