Special Christmas Article: Giver of Gifts (Assist)
Today many across the US are either giving gifts or receiving gifts or both. I want to take a moment and highlight a few players that I have seen this month which are a giver of gifts on their team.…
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Continue ReadingToday many across the US are either giving gifts or receiving gifts or both. I want to take a moment and highlight a few players that I have seen this month which are a giver of gifts on their team. The gifts that they are giving are passes that lead to buckets. For the receiver, he gets buckets, and for the giver of the gift, he gets an assist, so at the end of the play, both the giver and the receiver are happy, like I hope many of you today are happy. Here are a few givers of gifts…
William Lloyd (6’0/Combo Guard/2023)
School: Briarwood HS
Instagram: w_lloyd09
Twitter: @Lloyd09W
William is a giver of gifts as he was in playmaking mode from the tip to the end of the game. I loved watching his creative passing talent. Whether he was creating for his teammates off the bounce or hitting them with the ‘one-more’ pass, he was getting the ball to his teammates in places where they could be productive. He is definitely in the driver seat for his squad, and he is the unselfish player that any coach would love to have at the helm of the ship.
He is listed as a combo guard, and even though facilitating is the strength of his game, he can score the rock when needed.
He has a good IQ and a nice flow and feel for the game, and those are things that separated him on the floor against Sylacauga. I can’t stress enough his uncanny ability to make plays for others. Will definitely puts his teammates in the Christmas mood as he consistently delivers gifts in the form of on-time and on-target passes.
Xavier Jackson (5’9/Point Guard/2023)
School: Center Point HS
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: @N/A
Before the game started, the talk around me was about Xavier and his desire to be a true PG. When the game began, I noticed Xavier and how he handled himself on the court. He worked hard to get his teammates involved early and often. The ball never got stuck with him, as he was either swinging it quickly or breaking down defenders, forcing help, then hitting open shooters. Xavier is a testament that winning plays are not always scoring plays.
The intangibles that Xavier brings to Center Point gives them a chance to be in any contest on any given night.
Xavier is a pass-first PG that you can tell when you watch him, loves playing the role of the traditional Point Guard. He has definitely been bringing Christmas joy to his teammates with his desire to deliver gifts in the form of good passes.
Logan Patterson (6’3/Combo Guard/2022)
School: Section HS
Instagram: Loganpatterson.25
Twitter: @Loganpatt25
Logan is a giver of gifts, but you will see him mentioned in other articles over the next few months as he has a game that impacts his team’s play in many ways. He can score the rock, he is a solid on-ball defender, and he is just a physical hard-nosed player that comes at opponents on both ends of the court. He has a strong game and can create for others and for himself.
Even though he can lock in and get a bucket whenever needed, he is a willing passer.
He has vision and passing accuracy. Because he can do so much and has to be accounted for, for so many other things on the floor, he often creates open receivers, and when he does, he is more than a willing passer to get his teammates the rock. With so much attention placed on him, he doesn’t mind sharing the stage, which aligns with the spirit of Christmas and sharing gifts.
The senior has several offers:
Maryville
Milsaps
LaGrange
Huntington
Jay Campbell (5’9/Combo Guard/2024)
School: Sylacauga HS
Instagram: jay_campbell.2
Twitter: @Jay_Camp2
Jay is listed as a combo guard but facilitating is one of the main strengths of his game. I mentioned the main strengths because J’s tenacious on-ball defense is the other main strength. I know we are talking about players that can dish out the rock, but I could not go far in this eval without talking about J’s commitment on D. He made it very difficult for ball-handlers and disrupted Briarwoods offensive flow.
Regarding facilitating, Sylacauga’s offense runs thru his hands.
The sophomore has the keys to the teams, and though young, he takes care of the rock and gets teammates in the right places. Now, it just isn’t enough to get everyone in place, but he has to get them the rock to produce, and he does an excellent job in dropping dimes. I am sure his teammates liked the gifts they got today for Christmas, but I am sure they also like the gifts Jay drops off to them game after game.
Ryan Dunn (6’0/Point Guard/2023)
School: Hartselle HS
Instagram: rdunn_20
Twitter: @rdunn_20
Ryan is the table-setter for his team. He sets the offense and serves the ball as he sees fit, as he is a knowledgeable PG that plays a mature game. Ryan distributes the rock across the roster and keeps his weapons satisfied. He has the ability to break down an opponent, then he has the vision to see where the ball needs to go once he draws help.
Ryan was dropping passes against Oxford that many on the court probably could not make.
He is amongst the top-tier guards when it comes to dropping dimes, and he served the rock to his teammates throughout the contest. The prolific passer definitely puts his teammates in the Christmas spirit, as I can imagine they go into every game anticipating the gifts Ryan will be delivering.
Just as the players that have been mentioned are givers of gifts, I hope this article has given you a nice read on this Christmas day and that you have been blessed by both the gifts you have received today and the gifts you have given today.
Merry Christmas.