2023 Rankings: Top 20 Duos (6-10)

<p>This is part two of the <em>Top 20 Duos</em> from the class of 2023. These five duos dominate their positional groups and provide great versatility for their squads. Here are the next five duos from the class of 2023.</p> <p><strong>6.</strong> <em>(24)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="1270612" first="Vaughn" last="Weems"] SF 6'4 <strong>/</strong><strong> </strong><em>(25)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="923104" first="Isaiah" last="Afework"] CG 6'4 <strong>| </strong><em>Federal Way</em></p> <p>Federal Way was one of the faster, more athletically balanced teams last season, and Weems and Afework were a big part of that. Both are long, agile players who wreak havoc on the defensive end, and both were first-team all NPSL, with Afework taking home defensive player of the year. With the ball, they are just as dynamic. Weems is a creative finisher who can find the smallest opening and shoot the gap, while Afework is just a plain old dog. He's one of those guys that has a nose for the ball and can smell the basket. It doesn't always make sense but he finds a way to the ball with unmatched tenacity. They are great players with elite footwork and drive which makes them one of the top duos of 2023.</p> <p><strong>7.</strong> <em>(31)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="923125" first="Nahmier" last="Robinson"] PG 5'10 <strong>/</strong> <i>(32) </i>[player_tooltip player_id="1436196" first="Myles" last="Damon"] PG 6'1 <strong>| </strong><em>Rainier Beach</em></p> <p>How can two point guards be a duo? If you watched Rainier Beach at all, you know how versatile their players are and how they play at one of the highest paces in the state. Robinson and Damon are the ones creating turnovers, pushing the ball, and picking spots to attack. They are two of the fastest players in the state with the ball but are rarely running out of control. Together, they provide more than one outlet to get the ball off the boards and out on the run. Even in the half-court, they work together to draw defenders in and open space for each other. They are strong finishers at the rim and have the mid-range on lock. They ran through opposing guards all of last season and are catalysts for one of the favorites to win the 3A championship.</p> <p><strong>8.</strong> <i>(12) </i>[player_tooltip player_id="1391705" first="Maverick" last="Sanders"] SF 6'5 <strong>/ </strong><em>(41)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="1416288" first="Chapel" last="Smith"] SF 6'6 <strong>| </strong><em>Mt Spokane</em></p> <p>Now on to the bruisers - Sanders and Smith are big, strong wings that grind defenders down with a patient offensive attack. They can go from the post, the top of the key, or out on the wings, but they both use big frames to get defenders leaning before using one quick move to blow past. When defenses start to sink back or are slow on the rotation, Smith and Sanders can both hit the open trey. They work hard on the glass, crashing on offense, and sealing possessions on defense. There is no rest against these two skilled, bruising players. They lead a dangerous team that got quality big-game experience in last year's tournament.</p> <p><strong>9.</strong> <em>(4)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="923122" first="Tyce" last="Paulsen"] SG 6'5 <strong>/</strong><strong> </strong><em>(54)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="1416284" first="Cinque" last="Maxwell"] CG 6'0 <strong>| </strong><em>Curtis</em></p> <p>These two represent the mindset of the Curtis Vikings perfectly. Paulsen is one of the tallest players on the Vikings squad and is a consummate worker on the glass because of it. These two guys know their jobs individually and with respect to the team. They sell out on defense, working to stay in front of their man, rotating, talking, and staying ready to make plays. This attitude is a huge reason why they were 4A state champs last season. On offense, they can both knock down the outside shot, are strong finishers through contact, and stay largely within themselves to limit mistakes. They find open space and are always ready to make the extra pass. This duo is so good because even when the shots aren't falling, they add so many possessions through hustle and awareness that they are hardly ever a minus on the court. </p> <p><strong>10.</strong> <i>(28) </i>[player_tooltip player_id="1371803" first="Brady" last="Kageyama"] PG 6'0 <strong>/</strong><strong> </strong><em>(42)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="923133" first="Alex" last="Yu"] PG 6'3 <strong>| </strong><em>Bellevue</em></p> <p>Here's one more pair of point guards, but these two have very different styles. Kageyama is a lightning-quick, attacking guard who can create his shots by knifing through defenses like a hot knife through butter. Yu's style is more like a room temperature knife through butter, he still gets the job done but it's with a lot more force. They both have an excellent stop-and-go change of pace on the dribble, but Yu is much stronger and can push his way to the basket with ease, forcing through tiny creases, while Kageyama gets defenders on their heels and pulls up or blows by. Their games have expanded playing with one another, as they've both had to share time on and off-ball. Both have great ball-handling skills and either can operate the offensive sets. It's a luxury to have a duo like this, where depending on what the defense is showing, either can take over a game.</p>