Top sleeper in the state: Samuel Fuller of Loyola Academy (Wilmette)!!!!!!

Patience is not something high school players, their parents, or handlers use these days. Immediate playing time, blaming coaches when they don't, moving around and transferring different schools looking for best deal. Samuel Fuller and his family could have done that, but they stuck with Loyola, the education, and working his way through the system. Sure it was frustrating sometimes but he stuck it out. Now it's looking good for him on the other side.

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SAMUEL FULLER, Class of 2027 6'4" point guard, Loyola Academy (Wilmette):

According to Loyola Freshman Coach Nibra White, Fuller came into Loyola Academy (Wilmette) as one of the most talented players in the program. It took awhile for light to come on. He played all five positions on the freshman A team his freshman year. Sophomore year he played all five positions on the junior varsity team. Junior year is always the key year for most high school players. First year on the varsity and some start, end up getting some significant minutes off the bench, or play very little. Fuller played very little last year behind college bound guard Trey Williams (Cornell), Samuel Golden (Denison), and current teammate Denison commit Luke Alvarez. Senior year he's playing alongside Alvarez who's playing shooting guard. Coach Tom Livitino has given the keys to Fuller.

Fuller is a big point guard who impressed playing in the summer live periods and so far in the fall. He's getting prepared to be a first year starter. Played travel ball in the Spring and Summer with Hoops 4Health Adidas 3GSB. Played well but was still under the radar.

STRENGTHS:

Good size for the point guard position, uses strength and ball handling to get into the lane and create havoc for defenses. Loyola's offense calls for dribble penetration and kick outs to open three point shooters. Fuller does this well and has the vision to find people using his size and intelligence to manipulate defenses. He has a good mid range jumper as well showing a triple threat as an offensive player. Hits threes off the bounce or the catch getting downhill in transition or halfcourt. Finishes at the rim using strength to power through defenders or around them. Defensively he can guard all five positions on the court, quick feet and hands to get steals on or off the ball. Rebounds well on the defensive end and pushes it in transition to set up the offense. Shows good shot selection on offense.

WEAKNESSES:

Lack of experience on the varsity level. Sometimes he dribbles too deep and stops his dribble in the lane which can result in turnovers. Learning when he has the lane to take it all the way to the basket and finish at the rim. Using the size that he has for a guard to be able to just score over and through other guards. This could be a product of what he's called to do offensively and doesn't look at the basket for scoring opportunities.

CONCLUSION:

Lots of colleges do not know about Fuller because of his lack of playing time as a junior. He's just coming into his own as a player and getting playing time to be seen by college coaches. Intelligent young man with an outstanding family and good demeanor as a player. Light is starting to come on for his talent. Confidence is getting there being on the court alot more than his junior year. Division Two coaches and lower he'll be a steal on the college level. He's one of the rare young men who'll be a better college player than high school player. Fuller and his family showed the patience to wait his turn. That is honorable in this day and age staying at one school and fighting through adversity. His profile is great for college coaches as this young man will not run at the first sign of adversity. Two end force can score from all three levels of the court, vision as a passer, and defends multiple positions with his frame. Size at 6'4" and strength to play through and around contact. Quick feet, not slow can get up and down the court. Has spin moves and uses his body well on both ends. College coaches tap in. This young man is the rare one that has fallen through the cracks as a late bloomer getting his first real time on varsity as a senior.

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