City rankings: Tri-Cities/Walla Walla

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mid-Columbia 3A/4A league has some young talent coming back next season. With teams looking to replace some big chunks of offense lost to graduation, they will need others to step in and fill that void. Not to worry, these players have the talent to step in and show the rest of the state what they can do. In no particular order, here are my top players in and around the Tri - Cities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303ca4d580a3","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josh Woodard ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Richland ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"This kid is tough! He should definitely be on the radar as a skilled guard who can shoot it with the best of them. He is one of the best catch and shoot players in the state. He does a great job of setting himself up for the catch and has a quick release that is money. He's a smart player who has a very high basketball IQ. In games I watched he looked like the best player on the floor for a really good Richland team last season. Let it be known, this is a kid who will make for a good college level guard and has two years left to prove it. Although he's not very big, he makes up for it with his tight handles and lights out shooting. He can distribute and is also crafty finishing on  the break or driving to the basket. He Moves his feet well on defense. I was really impressed with his game. If he hadn't been written about here before, he absolutely deserves to be.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1450941"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"He might have the most upside in the Mid Columbia 3A/4A conference. At 6'4u0022, he's got the size and length, combined with great skills. He's a knock down shooter, and shoots it effortlessly from deep. He is a good ball handler and can be trusted to bring it up. One thing that stands out was his ability to read the defense. If he's guarded closely, he's good at going by the defense to finish or find his teammates. The fact that he can handle the ball so well is huge for him. Four skills that will turn into to weapons. His size, athleticism, shooting ability, and handles. Those four things give him options when he has the ball and those options will turn into weapons! He also crashes the boards, and plays a smart floor game. He will no doubt take over as the main option for Walla Walla next season. He even had a monster put back dunk on a rebound this summer that was impressive to give an idea of his athletic abilities . A little bit of a late bloomer, he's ready to go and will continue to make big time gains. College coaches are starting to notice. He's got two more years. Player to watch!","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Kade Smith ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Chiawana ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The first thing I noticed was that he jumps center for his team as a 6'2u0022 guard. The second thing I noticed was that he came down and immediately drilled two threes. A great shooter with big time range who is athletic enough to get into the lane and finish. He makes good decisions and his floor vision is excellent. He will drive and kick if the defense overlays. If not, he's money from three. Another solid guard worthy of the press.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1409013"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"I saw him play in the off-season and was impressed with his effort and hustle. He's a stretch three who is not afraid to bang down low. He can score in a variety of ways, and has a quick trigger from deep. Kamiakin lost most of their offense from a year ago, and he will be counted on to step into more of a scoring role. He is capable of doing that. He knows how to use his size and skill set to get buckets and his high energy play will fill up the stat sheet.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Donavin Young ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Chiawana ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"There is a lot to like about about this kid, with his size and huge wing span. He's thin and athletic at 6'6u0022. He disrupts shots on defense and can guard multiple positions with his quickness. He didn't take many shots but his presence is felt in the paint and should be a big part of what Chiawana does next season. He can run the floor, block shots, rebound at a high level. He should also be an option to get his team buckets and will be counted on to do so more often next year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Jace Vopalensky ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Richland ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Just like his teammate, Woodard he excels at the catch and shoot. This is the best part of his game and he does it well. He is able to handle the ball and play either guard position. Woodard should handle most of the point guard duties allowing him to do as his mascot is. Be a bomber. He's sturdy, able to take contact in the lane as well. The loss of a few guards at Richland will also call for him to step up and be a scorer. With the way he shoots it, that shouldn't be a problem.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Luke Westerfield ","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'9u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"A true back to the basket post player. He showed the ability to finish with two handed dunks twice in one game I watched. He doesn't stray far from the paint and should be a good fit for the inside outside play for the Bombers. He looks for his teammates if he is double teamed in the post and kicks it out to the open shooters. A soft lefty touch from fifteen and in, although he's best when he gets himself position deep in the paint. If he does, it's usually a bucket. As he continues to develop his strength and explosiveness, along with the footwork, he will be a force down low.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303deb703c59","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1457595"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"An aggressive player who is all over the floor. He had some big games last season as a sophomore. He shoots the three well and likes to draw the contact in the paint. On offense and defense. He blocks a lot of shots and rebounds. Skilled player, at 6'4u0022, he can get it done inside and out. Although stats are hard to come by sometimes, he did have a 28 point game last year, and several others where he filled out the box score. With two years left, he should be a player to watch.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1450572"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"He will be a nice compliment to Sullivan on the perimeter for Walla Walla. He is an athlete as evidenced by winning the state high jump championship last spring. He will be counted on to score more next season with the loss of several seniors. This is an athletic and long backcourt that is looking to make some noise, and push for a post season run.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->