Unheralded Glue Guys
These kinds of players stay on your mind because of their consistency, selflessness, and ability to do the little things when they matter most. Not all of these players are starters, but they all fill key roles and are vital…
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Continue ReadingThese kinds of players stay on your mind because of their consistency, selflessness, and ability to do the little things when they matter most. Not all of these players are starters, but they all fill key roles and are vital to the success of their respective teams. Here are the glue guys that need more shine.
Cam Holliway 6’5 (2022) G Mount Si
Holliway is a big part of Mount Si’s second unit. Another tall guard for the Wildcats, Holliway isn’t going to shy away from an open shot. If the hand’s down, the shot’s up. He has a little bit of clutch in him and can hit big shots when other guys can’t get it going and momentum starts to fade. However, Holliway’s biggest impact doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. He is a smart and ready defender. He’s locked in each possession, gets great depth in his defensive stance and stays there, ready for anything coming his way. He works just as hard off-ball as he does on the ball and knows where he can make an impact on an uberly talented team.
Taylor Wells 6’6 (2022) P Freeman
The Scotties post is a solid and fundamental player. He won’t turn it over, making good, crisp passes, and securing rebounds with two hands. Wells makes strong moves and has some serious intention behind his attacks. He can shoot over defenders, hit turnarounds from in close, and can get wet from outside. He’s got good scoring ability but his mindset is to make the right play, not to check stat sheets. He’s a real asset to the 5th ranked Freeman squad, and can do just about anything the team asks of him. Defensively he has a great motor and thanks to his size, can effectively go inside or out, providing defensive versatility that can’t be overlooked.
Quin Goldsmith Quin Goldsmith 6'5" | SG Freeman | 2022 WA 6’5 (2022) F Freeman
With Goldsmith and Wells, the Freeman Scotties have two bigs who help in every phase of the game. While Wells is a little more fundamental, Goldsmith is the aggressor of the two. My favorite part of his game is his cutting. Too often players get caught watching the game, not Goldsmith. He makes well-timed dives down the lane, back door cuts, and is good at losing his man to get easy looks inside. Good cuts are a sign of a high IQ player and he shows this off on the defensive end too. Goldsmith likes to peel off of his man anytime a nearby pass floats his direction. He gets tips, blocks, establishes great position for offensive boards, and can handle the ball well too. He also checks off the clutch factor, hitting the eventual game-winning jumper against Colville last week.
Drew Carlson 6’1 (2024) G Olympia
Carlson is a big piece of the Bear’s starting five. He’s a full-effort guy, diving for loose balls, hounding ball-handlers, communicating well on defense. He’s a ball of energy on both ends of the court. He yells to teammates on defense, emphatically pointing out screens and cutters. Offensively, Carlson is prepared for each trip down. He has good awareness of spacing, making good fills, and keeping good flow on each trip. Equipped with a quick handle, he likes to attack the hoop and is keen to find the right pass if the lane closes up. He’s a textbook passer, making firm passes right where his teammates need them. Carlson also brings energy to his teammates. He gets hyped after making big plays and fires up the whole squad.
John Carnino 6’4 (2022) G Enumclaw
Carnino is a different kind of glue guy. He is a willing defender, and his length can bother shots inside and on the perimeter. But his real influence comes as a guy who can score in bursts. He’s easily the type of player who can reverse lost momentum, excite an offensive lull, and jumpstart his team. He is long enough to pull up with a hand right in his face, can hit the mid-range or three-pointer, and mixes it up by getting shorter pull-ups from inside. He has a good feel for leading teammates on cuts through the lane and ensures quick movement in the offense.
Mason Kent 6’6 (2022) F Kentlake
He’s one of the bigger kids on Kentlake’s squad but Kent plays all over the court. He went anywhere from setting up on the block, plugging the middle of the Falcons’ defense, to bringing the ball up and running the show. His versatility can’t be overstated, and he can be plugged into just about any position. He’s long and athletic on defense; blocking shots, securing rebounds, and is both strong enough to go inside and quick enough to extend his defense outside. Offensively he does most of his scoring damage on second-chance opportunities, hard cuts, and quick spin moves on the drive. He won’t light it up from long range, but Kent has a nice turnaround at times from the block or baseline.