By: Cooper Hart
With public school basketball starting this past Friday, I was able to catch three games live over the weekend.
Fuquay-Varina @ Holly Springs
Green Level @ Willow Spring
Heritage @ SE Raleigh
Isaac Ericksen – Sophomore – Green Level
Isaac dominated inside for the Gators in their win over Willow Spring on Friday night. Isaac finished as the second-leading scorer with 14 points and showed off his versatility on both sides of the ball. As a defender, Isaac was especially good in the paint, blocking shots and rebounding everything. He was able to challenge as both a primary and weak-side rim protector, using his size and timing to alter shots and make it difficult for the Storm to get clean looks at the rim. He was also able to move his feet quickly enough to stay in front of guards on the perimeter and be an active presence in their press. Offensively, Isaac was a matchup nightmare for his opponent and used his length to shoot over his man as well as get himself clean looks at the rim over the defense. His unique two-way ability makes him an enticing prospect to monitor throughout this season and beyond.
Israel Eatman – Sophomore – Green Level
Maybe the most impressive performance I saw this weekend came from sophomore guard Israel Eatman. He played with incredible poise and patience that was especially important against a pressing Willow Spring defense. He was able to create his own shot effectively without eating up time, touches, or dribbles, something that is very promising to see in a player this young. He isn’t the primary guard for this team at all times but he is more than capable of handling that role. He has a high feel for the game and he’s great at directing traffic on and off the ball. Israel also impressed me as a defender, using his combination of size and IQ to cause a ton of problems for anyone that he guarded. Israel might be one of the best unknown names in the area, finishing this game with an easy 16 points.
Ryan Crotty – Junior – Holly Springs
Sharpshooting junior Ryan Crotty opened his season with 14 points with 3 threes against Fuquay-Varina. Ryan looked much improved as both a shot creator and a defender, both of which are tools that higher level college programs will love to see from him. His handle is rapidly improving and he showed off his ability to get past defenders and attack the second line. As a defender, Ryan has improved a lot at containing quicker guards and he also looked good when guarding ball screens, something that Holly Springs as a team did well all game.
Will James Jr. – Sophomore – Holly Springs
Will was the story of the weekend, finishing his first varsity game and start with 19 points, 4 assists, and shooting 4/5 from deep. The strong framed sophomore was versatile and dynamic on both sides of the ball. He was able to defend both guards and bigs at a high level and that will be vital to the Hawks success for the remainder of the season. He was also an effective a low-usage off-ball scorer. With so many star players around him, Will’s ability to create offense without eating up too many possessions will be extremely valuable.
Dylan Setzer – Senior – Fuquay-Varina
Dylan scored 19 points on 7/10 shooting from the field and 3/5 from three against the top ranked team in the east. Last season, he averaged 1.3 two-point field goals per game and in game one this year he made 4. This jump (admittedly small sample size) is encouraging as Dylan expands his game to be more than just a shooter. Look for him to continue to be one of the best off-ball scorers in the area this season.
Jake Hart – Senior – Fuquay-Varina
Jake is clearly the best player for Fuquay-Varina, his ability to create his own shot as well as 4-on-3 and 3-on-2 advantages for his teammates is unmatched. His ability to make reads out of ball screens was especially impressive this game. Jake finished the game against Holly Springs with 13 points and 12 assists, a stat line that will likely continue with his shooting volume increasing and the near return of teammate Matthew Foster. Jake also finished with 3 steals and 3 blocks, starting his back-to-back GNRC DPOY campaign off on the right foot.
Immanuel McClain – Senior – Southeast Raleigh
Immanuel was the best player for a deep and athletic SE Raleigh team in their win over Heritage on Saturday. The senior guard consistently displayed his ability to create open looks and was routinely the go-to guy when the Bulldogs needed a basket. He impressed me with his ability to stay steady the entire game, something that is difficult for most high school guards. Immanuel was always poised with the ball in his hands and always looking to attack. His consistency in getting to his spots make him one of the most dangerous offensive threats in his conference.
