2022 Section 7: Top overall performers part II
GLENDALE, AZ - There was a lot of talent under the roof of State Farm Stadium for the 2022 Section 7 team camp. Who were the best of the very best from the point of view of our Editor Justin Young? We continue the conversation in our part II piece from Arizona.
RELATED: Part I
When he’s in college at a blue blood, we will look back to his recruitment and note that Section 7 is where he moved from prospect to player. A gifted forward cut from the Tobias Harris mold, Bryant can stack up production in a multiple of roles. When he’s at his best, he’s close to the rim but his passing and ability to play in the open floor make him a problem to guard. We are just starting to see his game come together. We are at the base camp of where he can go. And darn near every high-major who watched him play offered him. They see it, too.
Dunlap makes tough shots. That was the story about him over the course of another great showing from H-W at a premier event. He has good balance and squares up for a clean look from the perimeter. Dunlap is a trusted hand from the wing and will be a player that has shots drawn up for him at the next level. Last year’s H-W team had some important senior leaders and Dunlap certainly played the role of a go-to guy throughout their great 21-22 campaign. But a full-time role as his team’s alpha will be interesting to watch. He’s competitive enough to be a top 50 guy in this class nationally.
After seeing Lewis at the Tark Classic in Las Vegas with Denver Prep, I wrote this in my notes to the hundreds of college coaches that take my national service: “Put him on your list of intriguing guards from the class of 2024. He’s a multi-positional guard with good size and a knack for scoring, passing and defending. Of the class of 2024 prospects I saw in Las Vegas, I’d argue he was one of the better young players that jumped off the pages as a recruitable prospect. When he’s at his best, he’s a creator who puts pressure on the defenders across from him. He knows how to turn up the speed, move in and out of a defense with the dribble and thrive in the open floor. It wouldn't surprise me to see him develop into a top 100 national level player who has a recruitment that spans several high-major conferences.” After seeing him over the weekend with his new team at Coronado out of Las Vegas, I’m going to keep it simple. Ditto.
What a big-time weekend from the Vegas floor general. He is starting to carve out a space for himself at the prep level as a high-end thinker and terrific conductor of a high-powered machine. The lefty raised the level of play of those around him with his decision-making and controlled pace. He can pick apart a defense with his dribble and is poignant with his decision to either shoot, score or pass. Thomas is much stronger than his defenders give him credit for, too. He reminded me a lot of DJ Augustin at the same stage of the game.
If you’ve watched the long and lanky forward has always had the word potential attached to his name since he’s been on the prep scene. Williams blocks a good number of shots, ran from rim to rim and served as a reliable rebounder. If we look at where he was 12 months ago to where he is now, it’s impressive. When you think about where he could be 12 months ahead, he’s one of the more interesting guys in this class. Consistency in the clutch is the area where the most growth can happen but the confidence is there to make that jump. Overall, he was a crucial piece to a terrific Centennial run in Glendale over the weekend.
