Summer Stock Risers
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The spring and summer periods are crucial times for players to grow their games, play against new competition, and get out in front of college coaches. These five players have played with a tenacity and consistency that has elevated their…
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Continue ReadingThe spring and summer periods are crucial times for players to grow their games, play against new competition, and get out in front of college coaches. These five players have played with a tenacity and consistency that has elevated their games and made the scouts take notice. Here are a few names rising the ranks and making the most of their opportunities.
Brooklyn Hicks Brooklyn Hicks 6'3" | CG Timberline | 2023 State #168 Nation WA 6’3 CG Timberline ’23 | Seattle Rotary
I’ve had the privilege of seeing a lot of Hicks this spring and summer, and every time I come away more impressed. During summer ball with his high school team, Hicks showcased his scoring and leadership, putting up 30-point games left and right while also using his playmaking to get teammates involved. As a top-three player in his class, it’s easy for him to stand out on his high school squad. What’s been even more impressive is how he’s flourished in his role with Seattle Rotary, one of the most talented AAU programs in the state. Hicks brings a high level of energy to the team starting with his defensive pressure. No matter who he is playing with, his athleticism stands out and he pairs that with a tireless work rate to make ball-handlers uncomfortable all game long. He’s also shown he can fill a multitude of roles offensively. He’s a superb finisher that can end a break with authority, an outstanding passer with the timing and vision to execute difficult passes, and he possesses the ability to space in the half-court, killing defenses that leave him open on the arc.
Miles Heide Miles Heide 6'7" | C Mount Si | 2023 State #274 Nation WA 6’9 PF Mt Si ’23 | Elite Sports Academy
Here’s another top-five player in the class of 2023. Even so, Heide hasn’t stopped putting in work, garnering offers this summer from the likes of Iowa, Loyola Chicago, and San Diego State. He had an incredible performance at Arizona’s Section 7 event in June, putting up 21.5 points, 19.5 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, which has led to an increase in national attention for the skilled big man. In Atlanta, he followed that up with an impressive showing at Session 3 of the UA Live, averaging 11.8 points on 59% shooting, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks, while his team went 7-0 over the weekend. He continues to play strong around the rim, abusing smaller defenders on both ends. But what sets him apart is his fluidity as a big. It allows him to capably guard smaller, quicker wings out on the perimeter and is a reason why he can grab a board and take the ball coast to coast, making the key pass to finish the break. He’s continued to develop as a versatile, powerful forward, but he stays focused on details as well, chesting boards and always searching for a body to hit when the shot goes up.
Isaiah Afework Isaiah Afework 6'5" | SF Federal Way | 2023 State WA 6’4 SF Federal Way ’23 | Team Stuck
Afework is a player who constantly has his fingerprints all over the game. He contributes in all the little ways that add up to winning basketball and it all starts with hustle. He’s a profound athlete and has the big frame to back it up, but it’s his work rate that really makes his athletic ability shine. Last weekend at the UAA Session 3 was a perfect example of his impact. He’s a unique player that is able to stand out on the floor without needing the ball in his hands or plays designed for him. Defensively, he can guard 1-4, can lock down offensive players without fouling, and has great help-side rotations. His transition defense stood out, as he was often the first man back, or hustled down to stop any advantage the offense had. The hustle continues for Afework on offense, crashing boards, making hard cuts to the rim, and finding room between defenders for strong putbacks and finishes at the rim. Afework is already a threat with his combo of strength and quickness, but his hustle helps fill in any gaps his teams have.
Tennessee Rainwater Tennessee Rainwater 6'6" | CG Davenport | 2023 State WA 6’6 CG Davenport ’23 | Hooptown Elite
One player that’s taken huge advantage of the spring/summer seasons is Tennessee Rainwater Tennessee Rainwater 6'6" | CG Davenport | 2023 State WA . He’s a guy that has burst onto the scene and steadily kept rising. At 6’6, he’s a tall guard capable of ball-handling responsibilities, and his strong build helps him be an asset defensively, picking up multiple positions. The thing that has really caught my eyes though is Rainwater’s explosiveness. He’s proven time and again, that with one quick move he can get by defenders, and with his long strides, it’s pretty much game over. He has the finesse moves too; euro steps between defenders, rocking the cradle to protect the ball on drives, and the lower body strength to slow his strides and outlast leaping defenders. At the UA Live event over the weekend, he showed off his three-point shot that continues to be more consistent as the summer rolls on. Rainwater is a versatile leader from the guard spot who can create mismatches, hurt you from inside or out, and will consistently do the little jobs that make a difference.
Zoom Diallo Zoom Diallo 6'4" | PG Prolific Prep (CA) | 2024 #19 Nation CA-N 6’5 PG Curtis ’24 | Elite Sports Academy
Diallo has a long list of high-caliber, division one programs calling his name. He’s proven why over the spring and summer, most recently picking up an offer from Florida State University. It’s Diallo’s all-around game that has schools clamoring to get their hands on him, and his winning mindset that has him climbing the national ranks. The numbers back it up. He averaged 20.1 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 0.7 steals per game over the weekend at UA Live Session 3. He was efficient across the board, shooting 47% from the field, 40% from three-point, and 72% from the free-throw line. His efficiency is largely due to his ability to get in the paint and score from a number of angles and spots. Diallo has an uncanny ability to get shots to drop inside, showing incredibly soft touch on anything from scoops, teardrops, and floaters, to fadeaways. As the numbers show, his outside shot is getting better too, adding another dimension to the already diverse point guard.