Gilbert Tiger Basketball

		Tyler LaGanke Tyler, a captain, is starting his third season on varsity and he is coming off an impressive football season for the Tigers. Tyler has developed nicely over the years both on and off the court. Tyler, as the coaches like to say, just “gets it!” Last season, Tyler was the first option off the bench and many games it was difficult to take him off the court. He played his best basketball at the end of the season when it mattered most. Tyler is like a Swiss Army knife and has the ability to affect the game in so many ways. Given the opportunity, Tyler can score the basketball, he is one of the best on our team at facilitating our offense, getting the ball to the teeth of the defense, and executing in any position. Defensively, Tyler is quick enough to cover on the perimeter, but strong enough to bang in the post. Tyler’s weakside defense is excellent and he is often in the right place at the right time. Look for Tyler to provide leadership when on the court, he is one that the coaches can rely on.

		Trajon Hawkins Trajon, a captain, has been playing varsity basketball at Gilbert since his sophomore season. Trajon is a good leader on and off the court, as good as any that Gilbert has had previously. Trajon is excellent in the classroom and a vocal leader on the court. Trajon plays with a tremendous motor, in fact he led the Tigers last year in rebounding, steals and forced turnovers. Defensively, he has the ability to cover both on the perimeter and in the post when needed. Offensively, Trajon was our second leading scorer from last season and has the ability to score on all three levels. Trajon is one of our more consistent three point and freethrow shooters, he has the ability to score off the dribble and with his back to the basket. Trajon will be relied on heavily this season and will be a key factor in helping our younger players with development and perseverance as the season progresses. Trajon is an ultimate competitor and he simply just wants to win.

		Josh Bayfield Josh, a senior, is new to us this season, moving in from Chandler. Josh is a very mature player and he is learning our system and fitting in well at Gilbert. Offensively, Josh is an athletic and active player who does well around the basket, scoring and keeping balls alive. On defense, Josh is going to be asked to help the Tigers defend the post and help with rebounding. The coaching staff is excited to see Josh become more comfortable with our schemes.
	JUNIORS
		Doc Self Doc is starting his second season on Varsity, as he performed well for us last year as a sophomore, and he will be asked to be one of our three captains. Being named a captain as a Junior is rare, but it is very deserving of Doc. He is as good of a leader on the court, in the off seasons and around Gilbert HS in all of my years at Gilbert. As far as basketball, Doc is a natural scorer. In fact, as a sophomore last season, he was our leading scorer. Doc can flat out shoot the basketball and shoot it from deep. His range is near unlimited. Doc has worked hard in the weight room too, which is allowing him to beat defenders off the dribble. Doc will be asked to play off the ball a lot this year and run the point guard position when needed. Currently, Doc is gaining some interest from colleges to play at the next level, which is a possibility if he continues to progress like he has over the last two years. Look for Doc to be a leader on the court and at times score in bunches, but mainly to be a steady, consistent force on both sides of the ball for this young Tiger team.

		Carson Towt Carson is entering his first season as a varsity basketball player. Carson was a major contributor on JV last year and unfortunately broke his foot over the summer and missed the entire summer season. Carson has grown quite a bit over the last two years and physically he is just scratching the surface. Carson can be a very good shooter of the basketball and may have a mismatch at times this year to take his defender out to the perimeter. Shooting from the three point line comes with ease for Carson. We have asked Carson to develop his game offensively and he has shown the ability to score in the post and take his defender off the dribble. Defensively, Carson is going to be asked to guard in the paint and be relied upon to rebound the basketball for us. Carson is a tough-minded kid and willing to do what is needed for the team to be successful.

		Adonai Kabash Adonai is a junior this year and is starting his first year on the varsity team. Adonai has improved on the court and in the weightroom as much as anyone else in our program. Adonai has a very good work ethic and is a tremendous team player. Adonai’s strength as a basketball player is his ability to get to the basket and finish around the rim. Also, for a guard, his ability to offensively rebound is impressive. Defensively, Adonai has improved quite a bit. He continues to learn our defensive responsibilities and can be relied upon to execute our system. The coaches are excited to continue to see Adonai’s growth as a basketball player and his ability to help the Tigers become successful.

		Tsion Hawkins Tsion is a junior and starting his first season as a member of the varsity team. Tsion is deceptively athletic and strong. At times his ability to grab rebounds up and around the rim is impressive. Offensively, Tsion’s strength is his ability to knock down catch and shoot jumpers. Tsion continues to improve his ability to beat his defender off the dribble. Defensively, Tsion will be asked to cover some of the other team’s post players with the Tiger’s lack of size this year. He has steadily shown improvements in this area. Look for Tsion to provide a little toughness around the basket and to be able to knock down open shots when on the floor this season.
	SOPHOMORES
		Jaqwaun Myles Jaqwaun is starting his first year on the varsity team. Jaqwaun plays with a great motor and by being around the game as a coach’s son, he has a high basketball IQ and is very coachable. Jaqwaun will be asked to run the team as the point guard when he is on the court, and to be able to cover some of the best guards in the state. Jaqwaun is a physically strong guard who can attack the paint off the dribble and does a nice job of getting the ball up the court. He’s a quiet kid off the court and an excellent student in the classroom as well.

		Brycen Long Brycen will be starting his first season as a member of the Tiger’s varsity team. Brycen is a very heady player and just has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. Brycen is deceptively athletic and his ball handling has improved immensely. On offense, Brycen can score in multiple ways, hitting threes, driving and with his back to the basket. Defensively, Brycen can cover on the perimeter well and has shown the ability to defend and rebound in the paint.

		Paul Maldonado Paul, a sophomore, will be starting his first season on the varsity team. Paul is a very confident player and never backs down from an opponent. Fiery on the court, Paul plays with a lot of passion, which the coaching staff loves to see. Offensively, Paul gets to the rim well and also finishes quite well. Paul has improved his right hand and jump shot over the last year which is starting to make him a threat all over the court. Defensively, Paul loves to guard the ball hard, cause turnovers and get out in transition.

		Griffin Lamb Griffin, a sophomore, is new to the Tigers as he moved down the mountain from Flagstaff. Griffin has a long and lanky frame with a 6’11 wingspan. Griffin jumps well and he is quick, which can be important to affecting the game inside. Griffin rebounds the ball well on both ends of the court and blocks a lot of shots. As Griffin’s strength improves, his ability to score with his back to the basket will improve as well. Griffin has a nice touch from about 15 feet and could be effective in the pick and roll game. Griffin has a great attitude and has been a nice surprise for the Tigers.

		Juan Cordova Juan is a sophomore and will be splitting time between the varsity and junior varsity teams this year. Juan mostly plays point guard, but he enjoys and does a nice job running up the court on the wing too. Juan is as tough, pound for pound, as anyone in our program. He never backs down from an opponent or situation on the court. Offensively, Juan can hit the outside shot when needed, score off the dribble and facilitate the offense. Defensively, Juan loves to get up and guard the ball aggressively. Juan is a nice leader and plays with a great motor.

		Taylor Baldwin Taylor, a sophomore, will be splitting time between the varsity and junior varsity teams this year. Taylor is a quiet leader and never takes a play off. Taylor is very cerebral on the court and the coaching staff is confident that Taylor will understand what needs to be done while on the court. Taylor is a tough kid, who has a knack of being in the right place at the right time, grabbing loose balls and rebounds. Taylor will be asked to cover in the paint for us this season and be a steady player on the court.

		Ian Splittorff Ian, a sophomore, has earned the opportunity to practice with the varsity everyday and suit up with the varsity team on gameday. Nobody works harder in our program. Ian’s strength is his mental toughness, but on offense it is his three point shot. As Ian continues to develop strength, he will be able to have an effect on the defensive end of the court as well. As far as the games this year, Ian will play his games at the junior varsity level and the coaching staff is expecting Ian to bring a level of stability and leadership to a very young and inexperienced JV team.


.	2017-18 PLAYER PROFILES	.