#ThePlatform: Friday morning standouts (16U)
Ryan Forrest | Woodz Elite 6’3” PG Marion (AR) ’23 Crafty finisher Bouncy guard Forrest did his best to make a difficult life for Buddy Buckets Bahama’s players Friday morning when he scored 16 points against them to open the…
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Continue ReadingRyan Forrest | Woodz Elite |
6’3” PG | Marion (AR) ’23 |
- Crafty finisher
- Bouncy guard
Forrest did his best to make a difficult life for Buddy Buckets Bahama’s players Friday morning when he scored 16 points against them to open the weekend. The guard benefitted from Woodz Elite’s excellent team play in transition, with him being an habitual recipient on down-court looks.
At other times, Forrest proved to be one of the best isolation scorers on his team’s roster, often finishing on crafty conversions with either hand. He has a sharp go-to euro step, and he knows how to utilize it well to his advantage to create separation.
Gavin Shannon | Woodz Elite |
6’7” F | Tupelo (MS) ’23 |
- Playmaking forward
Shannon certainly looks the part, standing about 6-foot-7 his teammates with one of the most college-ready frames in the junior bracket. However, it was his playmaking talents that stood out the most in an early match with Buddy Buckets Bahamas.
At the high post, he did a stellar job of finding rolling teammates out picks as well as cutters looking to exploit less disciplined defenders. Not only did he fit passes into tight windows, his presence on the floor was an all-around net positive for Woodz, indicative on a possession when the gun-and-go team found itself in a transition scoring opportunity, but his teammate tossed a downcourt pass a bit zealous ahead of Shannon, and it seemed impossible that he would be able to track it down on its path to the endline. However, using his speed and length, Shannon reached for the ball, leapt to grasp it and flipped his hips to volley it to a teammate in the corner — all in a single motion. It was this regular playmaking that impressed spectators and scouts alike.
Matthew Stokes Matthew Stokes 6'8" | PF Bartlett | 2023 State TN | Woodz Elite |
6’8” C | Houston (TN) ’23 |
- Under-control big
- College-ready athlete
As far as “college-readiness” goes, few compared with Stokes’s unique stature and power. He scored 7 points against Buddy Buckets Bahamas, sometimes using that strength to bully his way to the rim, but other times using his touch and mobility to get to the rack.