Dynamic Duo’s of Thurston County – player notes
Thurston county has been in the shadows for years now when it comes to TRUE basketball talent. With some high major recruits coming from our small county. We are finally gaining the respect and media attention we deserve. We can develop our players with the best of them and have some very talented guards on our Thurston county high school rosters.
Timberline Blazers Basketball:
Class of 2018 6’3 point guard Casson Rouse will be the best point guards in our area this season. The soon to be Timberline High School grad has a serious handle and pull up jump shot. He has a good feel for the game and can change speed and direction at the drop of a dime. I was mainly impressed with his ability to defend at a high clip.
One of the most underrated 2018 Washington state prospects is 6-4 Timberline guard, Erik Stevenson. Stevenson is a very balanced guard that can shoot, pass, rebound and play defense. His length and speed are traits that make him one of the better athletes in the state. He has a very good vertical that gives him the ability to finish above the rim and block opponents shots as well. Stevenson also has a knack of knowing when to pass instead of shoot as well.
North Thurston Rams Basketball:
Jeremy Spencer is a tough guard that embraces physicality. His biggest strength is taking the ball to the basket whether it is in transition or taking his man off the dribble in the half court. Jeremy can also take control of a team in the half court and initiate sets. North Thurston is a team that tends to use very little clock when they are not in transition, so Jeremy has the responsibility of ensuring execution. The 6’0 guard does a good job getting after it defensively with active hands.
Clayton Christian is a 6’3 small forward from Olympia, Washington that when locked in has a chance to be a very good player. Playing on Varsity all 4 years for the North Thurston Rams where he has been the best player on the floor has given him the opportunity to show off how versatile he is. Clayton has the physical tools to be a go to weapon. He has played with Pioneer Tech this spring and bulked up his upper body since we last saw him. When he lets the game come to him and not over dribble or be passive he is effective. Clayton has a smoothness to his game. Makes plays in the open floor and likes to use his upper body strength to finish at the rim. Excellent looking form to his jump shot and 3 ball which enable’s him to shoot at a high percentage. Clayton could be an excellent small forward prospect!
River Ridge Hawks Basketball:
Marquan Cannon has stepped his game up and is starting to show how high his ceiling can be. At 5’6, you think of a small guard who would struggle amongst the trees of this game; however, he has shown that he is a capable finisher at the rim. He quickly gets the “small feisty defender” label that many guards his size are stuck with. They see his baby face and think that he wont go at you. He counteracts that with a kill or be killed mentality on the floor, which serves him well.
DeAndre Phillips is a 6’0 wing and might be the most intriguing prospect in the 2019 class. He is brand new to the game and has been a gym rat ever since. He is a little raw but has that, “never quit” type of attitude. He is a 6’0 shooting guard with elite athleticism, rebounds out of this world, and his skill set is rapidly improving. He is simmering to have a breakout season this summer and fall. Playing for COB (Community of Basketball) he has proven he can be a do all it all type of player. With July right around the corner you will get a chance to see him up close and in person competing in some of the most competitive tournaments held in Seattle, Washington.
Capital Cougars Basketball:
Class of 2019 point guard Dawson Landers of Capital high school is usually the smallest player on the court, but has the biggest heart. The 5’10 guard plays with a big chip on his shoulder, which enables him to come up with big performances in big games. He is a tough-minded young man who loves when the game is on the line.
Class of 2018 guard Luke Layton of Capital High School is a hardnosed defender who can play multiple positions at a high level. His handle has improved since last year, which will help him at the next level. Getting his shot off was never an issue neither was showing up in big game and taking the big shot. High IQ type of player and with the expansion of his long range shooting can really spread the floor and make room for others to attack.
Olympia Bears Basketball:
Class of 2019 forward Andrew Lindsey has the IQ to defend smaller post players and wings as well as larger guards. Offensively he is best at mid range and attacking off the dribble or in transition. Shooting was a weakness last year, but he has improved that dramatically. He’s not a high volume 3 point shooter, and his game is still predicated on attacking the defense. But he does pick and choose when to shoot well, and makes them at a pretty high clip. It is very surprising that he doesn’t have any small programs reaching out to him. If he plays with a strong motor and offensively is aggressive, there should be no reason he doesn’t receive some interest.
Class of 2018 guard Ketner Young was another one of those guys that brought energy and quickness to the guard position. He was able to get by defender’s hips with regularity and had a creative finishing repertoire when he did. Ketner uses his quickness and athleticism to get to his spots on the floor and create opportunities for his teammates. He had a floater that he consistently went to from ten to fifteen feet out with a lot of success. Ketner is a guy to keep an eye on especially when he adds strength to his frame.