NCHS Playoffs Best Performers: Part 1

The playoffs gave us plenty of teams to follow across 8 different brackets. With this many matches, there were bound to be a plethora of players who rose to the occasion in leading their teams. This series will include players from all brackets, meaning that it'll have to be broken up into multiple parts. The following four talents come from the 1A, 2A, and 3A brackets.    Rush is an exciting winger who can also play as an attacking midfielder. He's a player who is just as quick with his feet as he is with his mind. This attribute allows him to be ahead of the opposition at all times and it whatever context. In open space, he'll burst past with or without the ball. Having the ball at his feet doesn't slow him down at all. He'll breeze past defenders as if they weren't there. His ability to change the pace at which he runs so suddenly is just as impressive. Defenders chasing him have to overcorrect, which he then takes advantage of with his passing. His intelligence is unreal, finding passes that most wouldn't spot. The precision of his incisive passes is deadly as well. To tie it all in, the flair with which he plays with is dazzling to watch.     Walker is a defensive midfielder whose main role is to control the team. Though his main attribute isn't one that pops out at you, it is one that is felt. He'll calm down play when it gets too hectic by giving his team pause. When his team needs to build up from deep, he'll organize the attack with great positioning. He's also vocal in his commands, which makes the transition from defense to attack smoother. Further up the pitch, he contributes in creating chances. He finds players in great spaces where they can finish plays. When he receives the ball in good spaces to shoot from, he won't shy away. His shot accuracy is great, and makes it difficult for the keeper to get to.     Felix is a fantastic prospect as a striker. Despite his short stature, his impact in the box is great. Whether he has much space or not, he'll make sure his shots are venomous. His ballstriking is phenomenal, which makes the keeper work extra. He finishes his chances with fantastic composure as well. In the box, he's the complete striker. In build-up, he also contributes fantastically. The way he opens up spaces both on and off the ball allows his team to create chances. His associative plays also allow him to create chances for his teammates as well. He's his team's main man up top, but he also is his team's top assister.     Devin is an intelligent prospect who plays as an attacking midfielder. His tactical understanding of the game is very evident when you watch him closely. He orchestrates attacks even if he doesn't have the ball at his feet. When plays start to get too tight to progress, he'll move into pockets of space. This allows for two things to happen tactically. Either he'll receive the ball and circulate play, or he'll drag defenders to open up space for others to play in. On the ball, his passes are always played with purpose. With great accuracy and vision, he slices defenses open. This happens both in transition and in phases of long possession. Defensively, he's an undetected winner. His short stature allows him to stealthily win the ball back, and his strength allows him to keep possession of it.

The playoffs gave us plenty of teams to follow across 8 different brackets. With this many matches, there were bound to be a plethora of players who rose to the occasion in leading their teams. This series will include players from all brackets, meaning that it'll have to be broken up into multiple parts. The following four talents come from the 1A, 2A, and 3A brackets.