Sectional 10 Deep Dive: Players to Watch Pt.2
The Indiana basketball regular season is coming too close this week. After how last year ended abruptly, every team is looking to take home a sectional title, and go after their class’ state championship. In the 4A class, there’s a…
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Continue ReadingThe Indiana basketball regular season is coming too close this week. After how last year ended abruptly, every team is looking to take home a sectional title, and go after their class’ state championship. In the 4A class, there’s a sectional that usually has 2-3 teams in the Fab 15 by the end of the year. This year infamous Sectional 10 has 6 teams that are a part of the Fab 15. Crispus Attucks, Cathedral, North Central, Lawrence North, Warren Central and Lawrence Central, all in the top 15. With all the individual talent from players on these teams, you may not be surprised by that. This is part 2 of the players to watch on the teams in Sectional 10, “The Sectional of Death”.
Shamar Avance Shamar Avance 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2021 State IN 6’1 PG 2021 (Lawrence North)
Leader, contender, winner, these are all things you use to describe Shamar Avance Shamar Avance 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2021 State IN after watching him this year. He has lead his team in comeback after comeback this season. The crafty guard just flat out gets it done. Whatever is needed in crunch time, a steal and score, a three to tie to game, Avance is always in the right spot and making the right play to seal the win. Shamar and the rest of his team just refuse to give up and somehow pull out wins where they were down big. And it’s him leading them every time. Sacrificing his body diving on the floor to save a ball, coming out of nowhere to get a hand on a pass late in the game -no matter what it is. Shamar has managed to do this all season. The hustle and heart he has is something special. Add in his skill that has grown from the summer, to the beginning of the season and up to now, Avance has become very nice. He is comfortable scoring from deep, but will attack the rim as hard as anyone soughing out contact, finishing around the rim. With his speed, along with his hustle, he has had defenders struggling to figure him out all year. He has a very solid handle, and doesn’t need many moves to get by his defender to score the ball. His game almost resembles a combo, being able to play and defend either guard position. He is a great on ball defender with quick feet and the want to, and that’s all you need. His matchup for the first game of the sectional, a highly ranked point guard, will leave him no choice to bring his all of his game to seal the deal. Shamar is currently ranked 25th in the 2021 class.
Chris Gunn Chris Gunn 6'5" | SG Lawrence North | 2022 State #114 Nation IN 6’4 SG 2022 (Lawrence North)
Last year as the summer wore on, it was evident that Gunn was maturing and his game was as well. By the end of it all he was in argument for the top shooting guard in his class. Now in present time, the Indiana Hoosier commit is a three-level scorer. Doing damage to defenses from the outside in, as the lengthy he guard has been quick to pull from long range on the catch if given daylight, forcing defense to press up. He has shown when pressed he uses his quick feet and length to get by defenders to the paint, using low or high sweep throughs to get into his silky smooth pull up jumper, or with his athleticism and length get to rim and finish high over defenders. He has the intangibles to be a great defender, on and off ball. Using his tall frame and long arms, he gets his hands on the ball a lot, causing run outs and dunks for himself and his teammates. CJ’s bounce is sneaky because of how smooth his game is offensively, but when he gets in the lane after a rip through he has shown the ability to dunk on somebody. He also uses his jumping ability to change his shot in the air if needed when the defense reacts. He has a solid matchup ahead of him to open the sectional’s first game. Gunn being the competitor that he is, will rise to the occasion. Him and his backcourt running will be trying to take the Wildcats as far as they can go. CJ is ranked #4 in the class of 2022, 1st in his position.
Lawrence North is ranked 2nd in the Fab 15, 7-0 against Sectional 10 members. Beating North Central, Warren central, and Lawrence Central twice, once each in the regular season and once in the Marion county tournament. They have also beaten Attucks this season. The Wildcats first round game will be against #3 Cathedral. A matchup everyone is looking forward to, it will be a game to remember.
D’Ante Davis D’Ante Davis 6'7" | SF Warren Central | 2022 State #132 Nation IN 6’7 SF 2022 (Warren Central)
Last year he was part of a solid Lawrence central team with his older brother leading. Now, “Tae” moved over to Warren Central to lead a team of his own. This year, his body has matured and filled out to match that 6’7 length like his brother has. It has made the Louisville commit a very versatile player, and arguably best defender in his class. This season Tae has guarded 1 through 5, whoever the best player on the opposition is, Tae would most likely be taking those duties defensively for the night. He is very effective, staying comfortable in front of players no matter how fast or how big. He always is active off the ball, using his hands and size to block vision and clutter passing lanes. Over this season he has grown on the offensive end, being a matchup nightmare for defenses when they go man to man. He can handle the ball despite his size and frame, so of course when defenses match him up with bigs ,he brings them out on the perimeter. When the opposition try to put bigger guards with some speed in front of him he takes him down low and puts his back to the basket. Then, when he does drive to the basket, the athletic forward is looking make contact, and power through it with strength. Davis has shown all year he has the skill to finish with off hand, off leg, guard oriented finishes through traffic. Regardless of his matchup, big or small, his athleticism and size had him soaring to the rim for dunks once he got a step on his defender. Just as the forward has battled this regular season, he will continue his proficient growth as we enter the first round of the sectional. Tae is ranked 3rd in his 2022 class, 1st in his position.
Malik Stanley Malik Stanley 6'0" | PG Warren Central | 2021 State IN 5’11 PG 2021 (Warren Central)
This guard has shown that he is a shooter, simple and plain. He has some of the best touch in the Fab 15 among guards. From 15 ft or 30 Stanley is at home, letting his easy jumper go with a soft release, that often ends with the ball falling through without touching the rim. He has proved to be very very comfortable shooting off the dribble, making 3 sometimes 4 moves before getting defenses on their heels with a hesitation and pulling up from behind the arch. He also is just as effective shooting off the catch, showing a different type of steadiness in his shot, as he steps back even further with range. Though he isn’t the tallest, his body is solid and he uses it to his advantage, getting into his defender and making layups through contact amongst the trees all season. He is the leader of his team, and has kept them together and playing with poise throughout the game. He never gets sped up, always remaining calm in his fluid handle, using his controlled quickness to orchestrate offense. His handle, in addition with his shot, makes Malik very dangerous offensively. Which is why this year, he has done real damage to teams who aren’t in tune with the scouting report of his skillset and do not step out on him when he has the ball around 25 ft. As he steps into his final sectional run, look for him to turn it up even more, as he plays the last games of his high school career.
Warren Central is 5th in the Fab 15, 3-4 against Sectional 10 teams. Beating Tech, Lawrence Central, and North Central. Giving up games against Cathedral, Attucks, and Lawrence North twice. Warren matches up against Lawrence Central in the first round.