Rise Above Basketball 17u Team Profile

By Jared Exler | Friday, June 17th, 2022

Declan Davis 6’0 Combo Guard (Plymouth South HS): Davis is an impressive shooter with fluid mechanics. He makes three-pointers when pulling up, running off screens, or on standstill attempts. Gets to his soft mid-range pull-up when attacking closeouts or using a ball screen. Also creates better finishing angles around the basket for himself with a step-through move. Is a productive scorer near the rim using an array of finger-roll and inside-hand layups. Davis also is a solid playmaker, getting into the paint well with his crossover or hesitation moves. He creates shots for others on drive and kicks for open three-pointers or precise passes for cutting layups. 

Collin Johnson 6’6 Power Forward (Tabor Academy): Johnson is a true stretch four. Makes treys at a solid rate on standstill attempts or pick and pops. Has the ability to get to the rim when attacking closeouts. Scores effectively around the basket through contact with his well-built rame. Also can jump-stop and finish using an up and under move on defenders. Johnson is a reliable threat to score when catching the ball in the post. Scores well with a soft jump-hook when backing opponents down on the block. Johnson is a good defensive rebounder. Uses his strength to regularly get an advantageous position on opponents when boxing out. 

Matt Draheim 5’11 Combo Guard (Boston College HS): Draheim is a versatile floor spacer from beyond the arc. The southpaw has compact form on his shot. Hits treys on spot-up, pull-up, or side-step attempts. Does a nice job playing within the flow of his team’s offense, rarely taking ill-advised shots. Excels in an offense with quick ball movement and unselfish passing. Gets to this soft teardrop in the lane well when attacking closeouts. Draheim can impact the game by creating shots for others when playing on the ball. Generates lane penetration using a crossover or spin move on defenders. Has a good feel as a passer in the paint. He regularly makes the right reads finding open teammates. 

Logan Murphy 6’4 Wing 2024 (Tabor Academy): Murphy is a solid three-point shooter. Has deep range and needs very little time and space to get his shots off. Excels at making treys on catch and shoot attempts. Shows flashes of hitting threes when pulling up. Has a nice in-between game when attacking closeouts. If an opponent collapses on Murphy in the lane, he can score over them with a smooth floater or pull-up jumper. Has good body control and soft touch off the glass to finish difficult layup attempts. Uses his size to his advantage as a passer, finding seams in defenses to hit cutting teammates for layups. Murphy also contributes to the defensive glass. Uses his good anticipation and leaping ability to corral rebounds in critical moments. 

Jaydan Exalus 6’3 Combo Forward (Cardinal Spellman): Exalus is a proficient scorer in the interior. Excels at catching the ball in the mid-post and taking opposing forwards off the dribble with his quick first step. Finishes around the rim through contact with his brawny frame. He can also get to the basket when attacking closeouts and create better scoring angles for himself using a spin-move on help defenders. Exalus cannot be left open from beyond the arc. Makes treys at a good rate on standstill attempts. Generates second chance layup opportunities off his misses near the basket with a quick second jump. Defensively, he makes his presence felt on the glass. Exalus has the strength and toughness to corral important rebounds and limit opponents from getting additional scoring chances. 

Liam Kennelly 5’11 Point Guard (Millbrook School): Kennelly is a terrific passer. Gets into the lane effectively with a sharp crossover move. In the half-court, he finds teammates for cutting layups or drop-off finishes around the rim. Kennelly rewards teammates for running the floor hard on the break with precise hit-ahead passes for layups. While he looks to get others involved first, he is also a capable shooter from long range. Makes treys on standstill attempts or when pulling up. Defensively, Kennelly creates steals well. Uses active hands and good reflexes to constantly be around the ball in passing lanes. 

Jake Peterson 6’5 Small Forward (Hanover HS): Peterson is a sniper from deep. Can get hot in a hurry and has range out to the NBA line on his shot. Hits three-pointers at a high volume on standstill attempts, off movement, or when pulling up. Moves well without the ball. Creates high percentage layup opportunities for himself with his instincts as a cutter from the wing. Peterson shows in spurts an ability to hit mid-range pull-ups when attacking closeouts. Defensively, he does a nice job using his size and length when closing out to force opponents into lower percentage attempts from the perimeter. 

John Brigham 6’8 Center 2024 (Dexter Southfield): Brigham uses his wide frame well to get deep post position on opponents. Scores effectively on the block with a soft touch on his jump-hook using either hand. He is consistently in the dunker spot at the right times for teammates to dump the ball off to him for high percentage finishes. Brigham is a solid passer out of the post when defenders double him. Finds teammates for cutting layups or open three-pointers. Also creates second chance opportunities for himself with his high motor on the offensive glass. Defensively, he does a nice job keeping his hands up straight. Forces opponents into lower percentage attempts around the rim while staying out of foul trouble. Brigham also is a good defensive rebounder. Uses his frame effectively to get an advantageous position on opponents when boxing out. 

Nomar Tejada 6’1 Shooting Guard (Brooks School): Tejada makes his mark from long-range. Has a high release point on his shot. Makes treys effectively off movement or when spotting up. Consistently gets his attempts off from beyond the arc within the flow of his team’s offense. This helps him shoot it at the efficient clip that he does. Defensively, Tejada uses his good lateral quickness and strong body well when guarding on the ball. Rarely allows his matchup to get dribble penetration when blowing by or driving through him. Also creates steals at a solid rate. Tejada has quick hands, ripping opponents when they are not strong with their handle.

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