The Love For The Game Fest brought out a ton of talent in the high school division, with players showing their ability to impact the game in different ways. Whether it was scoring the ball at all three levels, getting teammates involved, bringing energy on the defensive end or simply making the right plays, these guys did a good job of putting their games on display. A lot of promising talent with plenty of room to grow as they continue to develop and understand their strengths.
Ahmir Ingram — 6’6 Forward
Ingram is a 6’6 forward that displayed an ability to take over a game. Often showing the potential he has to minimally put the ball on the floor to make moves around the basket, keeping the ball high when finishing and showing a nice soft touch on his jump shot. With an added motor and more engagement, he could be a solid all-around athlete.
Sa’Meer Berry — 5’11 Guard
If there’s anything Berry is bringing to the game, it’s a ton of energy, effort and heart. His aggressiveness on the defensive end, along with his will to pick defenders up full-court, was very contagious to his teammates. Berry is a strong guard that plays well to his strengths. Very streaky from the outside, but as his outside shot becomes more consistent, he’ll be hard to take off the floor unless it’s foul trouble.
Ayden Mateo — 5’8 Guard
Mateo was a very important piece to his team when it came down to handling full-court ball pressure. He was very poised when facing one defender or seeing another defender to get by. He kept his moves to a minimum and made sure to get his team’s offense set up. Off the ball, Mateo did an outstanding job of always being shot-ready, moving without the ball and finishing strongly in traffic when it was time.
Omari Siplin — 6’2 Guard
Siplin might have took a while to get going, but when he did, he made sure to put everything on display. Scoring the ball well from all levels, making it hard for his opponents to stop him and getting his teammates involved when help forced him to. His shifty ball handling and slithery ways landed him at the rim consistently, where he scored at a high rate. Off the bounce, Siplin showed better balance when getting his feet back together. Once Siplin’s shot mechanics fully come together, he’ll be a nightmare to defend on the court.
Noah Ingram — 5’6 Guard
Ingram let it be known that he was the best floor general in attendance as he continuously set the table for himself and others. Whether it was a pick-and-roll action or an isolation, Ingram had no problem putting his team in a good position. He did an outstanding job of making the right reads to pass the ball or take the open shots given to him. Definitely a solid guard to look out for.
Zion Holmes — 6’1 Guard
Holmes continues to prove why he’s one of the top shooters in his county. Even with the attention being on him, Holmes was able to comfortably get to his spots with limited dribbles and get into his shots. He also showcased his ability to get downhill and finish in traffic, along with his ability to read the floor and make the right play. I love the direction Holmes is heading in with his game, but added aggression getting downhill will completely open up his outside jump shot.
Gavin Johnson — 5’11 Guard
Johnson is a player that we can always count on to play the game the right way. Something that he’s been doing for a while and will only get better at doing so. His growing patience when handling the ball has helped tremendously with his game. His driving attacks and passing decisions have also grown. One of the best things that stood out about Johnson was his defensive aggression. Quick hands on the ball, plays the passing lanes well and did a good job at keeping the ball in front of him.
Kayden Paynter — 5’11 Guard
Paynter entered his first game with a defensive approach and allowed that to handle everything else. Quick on his feet, long arms with quick hands and the toughness to pick his man up full-court each and every time. Very coachable kid that accepted coaching and did what was asked. Offensively, Paynter displayed a nice jump shot that was followed by a quick first step when defenders closed out. Love the energy from this kid.
Alex Skouras — 5’10 Guard
Skouras has seen his first growth spurt, so it was interesting to see the game he’d present us with. He didn’t force the issue of trying to finish at the rim just because he’s grown a few inches. He took whatever the defense gave him in most cases. Still very calm with the ball in his hands, still possesses a quick trigger from the outside and knows how to move the ball well when there’s an open man. As Skouras begins to get faster, stronger and smarter, he’s going to be a name we hear over the next few years.
Oliver Vanderwel — 6’4 Forward
Vanderwel is a lanky forward that altered a ton of shots at the rim with his long arms and overall athleticism. Vanderwel did a good job communicating to his teammates, letting them know he had their back. Offensively, Vanderwel made some strong attacks to the rim when he caught the ball with driving lanes available. He also did a good job setting screens. Vanderwel can improve on rolling to the basket better and always being ready to receive passes.
Yazir Barnes — 6’0 Guard
Barnes has a game that can be very hard to stop if you allow him to get into a zone. He’s a strong guard that could also play the forward spot at the high school level. Very strong, finishes well with either hand with or without contact, knocks down the three ball well and can put the ball on the floor. Barnes might not be the most athletic player on the floor, but he knows how to use the athleticism that he does have to his advantage.
