#PHGatewayToTheWest 2022 Saturday Standouts
It was about 95 degrees outside, so sitting inside a chilly basketball gym was a great way to spend my Saturday. The Gateway to the West Classic is a smaller event, which is great for evaluators because you can watch…
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Continue ReadingIt was about 95 degrees outside, so sitting inside a chilly basketball gym was a great way to spend my Saturday. The Gateway to the West Classic is a smaller event, which is great for evaluators because you can watch every team and really get detailed on each group. Here a handful of top performers I saw on the first day of the event:
Micah Johnson | CYAL Rebels 2022
The best all-around player I saw in Elkhorn was the 6’0″ point guard from Sioux Falls. Johnson scored 64 points in three games, and his scoring was far from the most appealing part of his game. He consistently made plays for others, gave effort and showed skill as a rebounder, and he disrupted opposing offenses all day long. He is a good athlete, and pairs efficient movement and quick decision-making to control the game on both ends.
Tash Lunday | Sacred Hoops 2022 Dwight
Another heady player from the event was Lunday, who showed top-shelf ability to read the floor and capitalize quickly on advantages. He cleared out space deep in the post, held it with a solid base, and made plays for himself and teammates. His team also benefitted greatly from his screening ability, and showed skill at rolling and popping.
James Gninefou | Team Factory 2022
The theme of this article seems to be smart players who make good decisions, because Gninefou fits the bill, too. He was patient, but not hesitant. He had no problems getting two feet in the paint. Because he did not force contested shots, his efficiency was maximized. He repeatedly passed up good shots for great ones, and many of those great ones were a direct result of his probing. The euro step was on point today, helping him fool defenders and create advantageous angles against size.
Myles Thompson | Kansas Players 2022
At 6’7″, Thompson was one of the best playmakers in the building. He uses his big frame to seal his man and shows a big target for the entry pass. Entry passing is a lost art, but he made the job easy for his perimeter players. Defenses were forced to send help, and Thompson calmly read the floor and made the next play. His passes were on target and very quick, giving the defense almost no chance to recover.
Ryan Dolphin | Iowa Mavs 2022 Grey (pictured)
The best pull up shooter on the day was the 5’8″ sniper from Pleasant Valley, IA. He could shoot the three, but did not take many. Dolphin prefers to combo a few dribble moves and do his damage between 10-15 feet. The time between the dribble pick up and the shot release is lightning quick, and he remains on balance throughout the whole process.
Alex Lang | SW Minnesota Stars 2022
Lang did a terrific job of orchestrating the offense and making the right decision with the ball in his hands. I do not recall a turnover from the 6’0″ point guard in the two games I watched from him. He had a few hot shooting stretches, but his ability to attack closeouts and beat the defense with jabs and eye manipulation stood out the most. When he got into the lane he used a pretty push shot instead to score in the midrange.