- Jared Exler
Under the Radar 2023 PA/NJ Players to Watch this High School Season
* Any college coach seeking additional information on any players, including projected collegiate level, may make an inquiry at necorridorhoops@gmail.com
Tasso Sfanos 6’1 Shooting Guard (Mars HS): Sfanos is a very good shooter from beyond the arc. He makes three-pointers when spotting up, coming off hand-offs, or on pull-ups. When opponents close out hard on him from beyond the arc, he can attack closeouts and finish in the lane with a soft floater. Also finds cutting teammates well for layups in the halfcourt. Defensively, Sfanos does a nice job drawing charges, beating opponents to the spot when they drive recklessly down the lane.
Seth Sager 6’1 Combo Guard (South Western HS): Sager gets to the rim effectively in the halfcourt with a good change of pace and spin move. He finishes proficiently around the basket with nice body control and touch off the glass. Has a soft floater in his mid-range arsenal as well. Sager also is a solid playmaker. He finds teammates in the halfcourt for cutting layups or high percentage finishes around the rim on drop-offs in the lane. Defensively, he creates steals at a good rate. Does a nice job jumping into passing lanes when opponents telegraph their passes in his area or plucking the ball away from his matchup when they are weak with their handle.
Charlie Thornton 6’5 Combo Forward (Radnor HS): Thornton is a solid shooter from long range with a high release point. He makes treys effectively when spotting up. Also scores well around the basket. Does a nice job being in the right spots for teammates to dish the ball off to him in the lane, along with creating high percentage layup opportunities on backdoor cuts. Thornton has some nice playmaking upside, showing flashes when attacking closeouts of dishing the ball off to teammates in the lane for layups. Defensively, he makes sharp movements when coming over from the help side to block or alter opponents’ shots around the rim.
Myles Grey 5’9 Point Guard (Reading HS): Grey is a good playmaker. He finds teammates effectively for cutting layups in the halfcourt and high percentage finishes on the break from hit-ahead passes. Gets into the lane effectively with his quick first step and sharp through the legs move. Grey also needs to be accounted for from beyond the arc. Makes standstill three-pointers at a solid rate when the ball is swung to him on the perimeter. Defensively, he creates steals effectively, using active hands to take the ball away from opponents when they are not strong with their handle.
Muhsin Muhammad 6’3 Shooting Guard (Germantown Friends School): Muhammad is a reliable floor spacer with compact form. He makes standstill three-pointers at a solid rate. Gets to the basket well with his nice crossover and through the legs moves. Muhammad finishes at a good percentage against bigger opponents around the rim with crafty layups. He creates high percentage layup opportunities for himself in the halfcourt with sharp cuts to the basket as well. Also makes his presence felt on the defensive glass. Muhammad’s instincts help him to be around the ball when it comes off the glass and to corral important rebounds.
Collin Teter 6’2 Shooting Guard (Red Bank Regional HS): Teter is a very good shooter from beyond the arc. He makes treys off movement and when spotting up. Does a nice job letting the game come to him, consistently playing in the flow of his team’s offense. Also creates high percentage finishes for himself with sharp cuts to the basket when opponents overplay him on the perimeter. Defensively, Teter is rarely out of position when one pass away or coming over from the help side.
Nyle Coleman 5’10 Point Guard (The Peddie School): Coleman gets into the lane consistently with his good burst and sharp crossover move to create for himself and others. He finishes proficiently around the rim against bigger opponents with good body control and touch off the glass. Also finds teammates effectively for open treys on drive and kicks. Coleman needs to be accounted for from beyond the arc as well,as he can make standstill three-pointers at a solid rate. Defensively, he creates steals at a good rate when opponents are not careful with the ball.
Derrick Watkins 6’2 Combo Guard (Roselle Catholic): Watkins spaces the floor effectively from long range, making three-pointers when spotting up. He has a smooth mid-range game with his pull-up and floater. Also excels in transition, using his speed and quickness when pushing the ball to score at a good rate with his tear-drop. Watkins is a solid playmaker as well. He finds teammates effectively for open threes on drive and kicks or high percentage layups from push-ahead passes on the break.
Darrius Phillips 6’7 Power Forward (Seton Hall Prep): Phillips is a consistent threat to score around the rim on drop-offs or putbacks with his soft touch and explosiveness. He creates high percentage layup opportunities for himself when he rolls hard to the bucket out of ball screens. Defensively, Phillips does a nice job making quick movements when coming over from the help side to block or alter opponents’ shots around the basket. Also is effective on the defensive glass, using his leaping ability and strong frame when boxing out to get rebounds at a solid rate.
Evan Cabral 6’1 Point Guard (Don Bosco Prep): Cabral gets lane penetration at a good rate with his crafty handle and good change of pace. He is a solid passer, finding teammates effectively on drive and kicks for open three-pointers in the halfcourt or cutting layups on the break. Is a consistent threat from long range, making three-pointers proficiently when spotting up. Also finishes well around the rim against bigger defenders with inside-hand layups high off the glass. Defensively, Cabral is quick laterally, making it difficult for opposing point guards to get dribble penetration against him.
Copyright © 2021 Jared Exler, All rights reserved.