Chereef Knox 6’6” Imhotep Charter (We R 1) – Every team has that one guy who does the dirty work as they say and sacrifices his individual stat line for the good of the team and while I call that guy a true team player Coach Andre Noble of Imhotep Charter would call him invaluable. After a junior season that saw him average around 9 PPG and an equal amount of rebounds in earning 3rd team honors on the PIAA 4A all state team Knox could be ready to expand his role and become another weapon for the Panthers moving forward. If you look at the plusses of his game rebounding stands out as he has great instincts for grabbing missed shots especially off the defensive glass where he can outlet to start their transition game. He sets up in the paint using his body well to box out then just exploding off the floor to snare the board. On a team with several strong rebounders Knox always seems to find the right spot to be in position for a rebound. He has very good motor and he runs the floor quickly from end to end as he transitions from offense to defense and vice versa. He’s a capable defender as well since he can guard interior players, despite giving up a few inches, but also step out to contest perimeter shots with strong close outs. Chereef is also a good help defender which is a staple of Imhotep’s relentless pressure. He also improved his offensive output as the season progressed becoming more confidant in his jump shot. His repertoire was generally limited to layups and dunks whether in half court situations or on the break but as his confidence has risen so has his ability to knock down some perimeter shots. His form when not rushed is pretty good with a nice arc and good follow through. He does however shoot some shots with his body at a weird angle and that is one reason for his inconsistent outside shooting.
Knox is not without faults of course as I just mentioned his sometimes weird body angle shooting and ball handling is another issue that is a glass half full deal in that he is fine in short bursts either going to the hoop or in the open floor but I would not task him with bringing the ball up under pressure for instance. In these situations I’ve seen him turn the ball over numerous times with poor decisions or bad passes. This is something he should be able to improve given his athletic ability and work ethic since he’s a valuable player for the Panthers and is often on the floor in late game moments. Another issue for Chereef is his penchant for picking up multiple fouls that could be avoided if he stopped reaching. Knox is a good defender so these fouls are mystifying to me. His passing ability is also hit and miss as he tends to make some questionable decisions at times then comes back on the next play to deliver a laser to a cutting teammate for the deuce.
Knox had gotten early interest from Hofstra and Rider but as he matures into a greater role manifested by his tremendous attitude, work ethic and athleticism he undoubtedly will garner a ton more interest in his services. Remember he has been the team guy who did the dirty work then got more involved as the season progressed and he has shown a continued improvement in all phases of his still burgeoning game which should up the ante in his recruitment.