Unranked 2023 Early Season Standouts
Basketball is back, and already we’ve been rewarded with some outstanding games and performances in the young season. There have been a ton of high-profile players doing exactly what we expected and more, but there have also been plenty of…
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Continue ReadingBasketball is back, and already we’ve been rewarded with some outstanding games and performances in the young season. There have been a ton of high-profile players doing exactly what we expected and more, but there have also been plenty of lesser-known players showing out across the state. I’ve identified a few guys from the Senior Class off to strong starts who should be able to continue this type of play throughout the rest of the season.
Reese Vassar
Reese Vassar
Brewster faced off against a tough 1A Chelan team Tuesday night, coming away with the 74-64 away win. And while Kelson Gebbers Kelson Gebbers 6’6″ | SF Brewster | 2023 State WA was the star of the night, it was one of his teammates that caught my eye as a rising 2023 prospect. Resse Vassar played an excellent game on both ends of the floor, with a reliable and heady approach. He is strong taking the ball inside. You can trust him to drain freebies at the line, and he has a smooth stroke from behind the arc to space the floor as a reliable kick-out option. He brought the effort defensively as well and made very few mistakes while playing a bunch of minutes.
Jay Ashford-Downing
Jay Ashford-Downing
Ashford-Downing looks to have a big role rebounding the ball and anchoring the defensive effort for North Kitsap this season. Although he didn’t register a point against Union last Saturday, he was all over the glass, showing strength, aggression, and an ability to anticipate the ball path and establish early position. It is going to be a huge need for the slightly guard-heavy Vikings this year, and Ashford-Downing is the man for the job. He also showed great defensive awareness and anticipation, using his length to disrupt shots and making passing lanes scarce.
Cory Manago
Cory Manago
Manago went off for 17 points in Foster’s second game of the season, taking on North Thurston Monday night. Foster took the tough loss, but Manago showed real skill in the halfcourt, primarily working around bigger defenders and in tight spaces to finish plays inside with the shot and the pass. Going against taller defenders, Manago was able to send shots high off of the glass and shoot from tough angles throughout the contest, making the majority of his buckets in this manner. He also saw space and reacted well to find teammates in scoring positions though his assist numbers won’t reflect that. He should be a strong second option for the Bulldogs this year to create opportunities in the halfcourt.
Julian Tooman
Julian Tooman
I caught a glimpse of Tooman in this year’s Curtis Summer League and have since been waiting to see more of him. I got my wish Monday at the Mercer Island Jamboree where Vashon faced off against both Mercer Island and Interlake. Tooman stood out right away, making almost all of Vashon’s plays to start their day; rebounding, driving and dishing, sinking shots at the line, and playing tough defense. He is a hard worker that plays with good awareness and seems to communicate well on both ends. He carries a lot of playmaking responsibility and is the guy who’s going to make Vashon go.