Drew Knighton is a key piece in the chess-like style of play executed by the Elmore County boys basketball team. The Panthers are currently 5-5 on the season, and Knighton’s performance on the court, especially as of late, is very representative of everything that makes this Panther team successful.
“Drew is our Swiss army knife,” Elmore County coach Nathan Taylor said. “He can play point for us, he can shoot it from the outside, play in the post, and is also another coach on the floor.”
Knighton plays primarily in the backcourt alongside Jaden Eason. Knighton is the table setter for Eason in that he is averaging 6.2 assists per game, showcasing his ability to find the open shot. Knighton has gained confidence in his own jumper in the past three games for the Panthers, as he has racked up 12-, 9- and 7-point performances in the last three outings.
“The thing that impresses me the most about Drew is, even though we might not look at it, plays with an extreme level of physicality for us,” Taylor said. “He is not afraid to hit first, and he really is a spark plug for what we are trying to accomplish.”
Knighton is the ideal fit for Taylor’s game planning philosophy, because of his combination of size and finesse. Knighton boasts a smooth stroke, and is a loose candle from beyond the arc where he is the main scoring source. Eason has drawn much attention from opposing defenses, so that has opened up opportunities for Knighton to ignite his scoring flare in a big way.
Knighton is averaging 8.6 points per game on the season to complement his seven rebounds per game so far.
