Standouts from the Adidas Invitational
brockhowe
ADIDAS INVITATIONAL: INDIANAPOLIS- July 13-16, 2017
15U: Class of 2020
Congrats to Indiana Elite North on winning the Gold Bracket of the Adidas Invitational (62-48) over Indiana Elite Central. Congrats to Omaha EYCE Elite on winning the Silver Bracket of the Adidas Invitational (64-60) over Tipping Point/IE Baughman.
There was a lot of talent on display this weekend in Indianapolis especially in the class of 2020. The 2020 class in Indiana is loaded as they had 4 of the last 8 teams remaining in the Gold Bracket.
It was clear that the Mid Ohio Pumas Elite were the best team from Ohio participating in the tournament. They may even be the best 15U team in the state of Ohio with players like Chris Mayfield, Zach Loveday, Cam McCreary, Grant Whisman and Jake Younkin. Jack Pugh is on the team but sat out of this tournament to rest as he's battling some issues with his shins. The Mid Ohio Pumas defensively used a ¾ court 1-2-2 and trapped at different times to throw off the other team and then matched up man to man once the ball crossed half court. They did a great job in gap help eliminating penetration from quick guards, closed out on shooters and limited the other team to one shot. After the rebound, they get an outlet pass and are headed the other way- several times getting a layup without the ball hitting the floor more than twice. They are good at reversing the ball, getting the defense to move side to side and then screening the defense so they cannot get to the proper help position. All of this was evident in their game against Spiece Indy Heat EYBL when Mid Ohio Pumas won the game 71-39. Both teams traded baskets the first 3 possessions, and then Indy Heat went to a zone. The Pumas ran a set play and found Chris Mayfield for an ally-oop dunk that gave the Pumas all of the momentum and they never looked back.
Cam McCreary AAU Team: Mid Ohio Pumas School: Colonel Crawford
Cam runs the
point for the Mid Ohio Pumas and Colonel Crawford High School. He is the ideal point guard for the Pumas because he gets the ball where it needs to be at the right time. Many kids his age recognize the open man too late or try to make the pretty play but Cam is strictly business and gets the job done. He does not turn the ball over and is a coach on the floor directing players where togo. I like his demeanor because he never seems to get rattled even when the pressure cranks up. He is a smart defender and his close outs on shooters are text book with 2 hands up and short, choppy steps that allows him to defend the first dribble very well. He does all the fundamentals very well, which won't always show up on a highlight real, but coaches take notice. He is also a tough kid with a high motor that you'll find diving for loose balls and taking charges. Cam will eventually have his choice to play at quality D2 programs and may even pick up some D1 mid-majors by the time he is a senior.
Cam Coomer: AAU Team: Club Ohio School: Wilmington
Cam is a long shooting guard from Wilmington. He shoots the 3-ball very well and can shoot it from deep. He has a decent midrange jumper off the dribble and he has the ability to get to the rim. He came off a screen looking to shoot, the defender jumped at this shot fake, he put the ball on the floor headed to the basket with his primary defender now on his back hip he took the ball over the head of the help defender and finished with his left hand (off-hand). It was a really nice play that showed he had more to his game than floating around the 3 point line or coming off screens to shoot 3's. On the defensive end, he isn't a lock down defender but he has really good instincts and deflects passes regularly with his long arms. He is long enough where he can give the offensive guy a step and he's still able to contest shots and even get a fingertip on the ball. The number one thing I noticed with Cam is that he has really soft hands and the ball just sticks to his hands. He made several plays where he got out in a passing lane and you think the kid will just deflect the ball out bounds or go up for a rebound and have to tip it to gain control but Cam catches those types of passes or rebounds clean. For example, Club Ohio is on a fast break and there was a pass that was thrown pretty hard but behind Cam so he reaches his right hand back catches it behind his body on the left wing but lets his momentum carry him that way and as he's catching the ball he spins and takes a dribble to finish with a left hand lay up. It's one of those plays where you expect the kid to just get a hand on the ball but it goes out of bounds and for him to complete the play was very impressive. I look for Cam to put some more muscle on in the next year and he should have a pretty solid sophomore year for Wilmington.
Drew Fisher AAU Team: NW Ohio Basketball High School: Ottoville
In the first tournament game Saturday morning, Drew had a double-double in the first half and finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds. In the first half, he benefitted from the Hi-Lo action several times as well as finishing at the charity stripe. Drew did a great job of keeping the defender on his back while posting up and the defender would reach or jump on his back to try to deny the entry pass. Drew will be a sophomore at Ottoville HS.
the point for Spiece Gym Rats- Brewer. He has the ability to score in bunches and then when the defense starts to focus more on him, he makes the correct basketball plays getting his teammates involved. He is a threat coming off a pick and rolls because he can pull up off the bounce if the defender goes around the screen and shoot it from deep when the defender goes under the screen. He showed his ability to get into the paint and then step back to the elbow and knock down the shot. This is a go-to move for him. Noah has good vision and can fit passes thru tight spaces. The highlight of weekend for Noah may have been on fast break when he was dribbling down the left side of the court and there was one defender back who was looking to take a charge and Noah euro-stepped around him completely avoiding any contact and then made the layup while getting fouled by a trailing defender.
Hunter Bruce AAU TEAM: Pocket City SCHOOL: Boonville
Hunter was torching the nets this weekend in Indy from deep. He had six 3's in each of the two games I watched him. He created his own shot by using a jab step and also using a step back. Many kids that are freshmen can't hit the step back 3 but Hunter made it look easy/natural. The opposing teams started to face guard Hunter and then Hunter just ran the defender thru 3-4 screens each possession and wore them out. If Hunter can work on his handles and get a little quicker, he'll be a complete nightmare for opponents because he has the size and strength to play inside and out and then his opponents will have to respect his ability to get to the rim. Right now, he is a deadly weapon on the perimeter but I think he can add those tools to his game and take his game to another level.
point for the Mid Ohio Pumas and Colonel Crawford High School. He is the ideal point guard for the Pumas because he gets the ball where it needs to be at the right time. Many kids his age recognize the open man too late or try to make the pretty play but Cam is strictly business and gets the job done. He does not turn the ball over and is a coach on the floor directing players where togo. I like his demeanor because he never seems to get rattled even when the pressure cranks up. He is a smart defender and his close outs on shooters are text book with 2 hands up and short, choppy steps that allows him to defend the first dribble very well. He does all the fundamentals very well, which won't always show up on a highlight real, but coaches take notice. He is also a tough kid with a high motor that you'll find diving for loose balls and taking charges. Cam will eventually have his choice to play at quality D2 programs and may even pick up some D1 mid-majors by the time he is a senior.
Cam Coomer: AAU Team: Club Ohio School: Wilmington
Cam is a long shooting guard from Wilmington. He shoots the 3-ball very well and can shoot it from deep. He has a decent midrange jumper off the dribble and he has the ability to get to the rim. He came off a screen looking to shoot, the defender jumped at this shot fake, he put the ball on the floor headed to the basket with his primary defender now on his back hip he took the ball over the head of the help defender and finished with his left hand (off-hand). It was a really nice play that showed he had more to his game than floating around the 3 point line or coming off screens to shoot 3's. On the defensive end, he isn't a lock down defender but he has really good instincts and deflects passes regularly with his long arms. He is long enough where he can give the offensive guy a step and he's still able to contest shots and even get a fingertip on the ball. The number one thing I noticed with Cam is that he has really soft hands and the ball just sticks to his hands. He made several plays where he got out in a passing lane and you think the kid will just deflect the ball out bounds or go up for a rebound and have to tip it to gain control but Cam catches those types of passes or rebounds clean. For example, Club Ohio is on a fast break and there was a pass that was thrown pretty hard but behind Cam so he reaches his right hand back catches it behind his body on the left wing but lets his momentum carry him that way and as he's catching the ball he spins and takes a dribble to finish with a left hand lay up. It's one of those plays where you expect the kid to just get a hand on the ball but it goes out of bounds and for him to complete the play was very impressive. I look for Cam to put some more muscle on in the next year and he should have a pretty solid sophomore year for Wilmington.
Drew Fisher AAU Team: NW Ohio Basketball High School: Ottoville
In the first tournament game Saturday morning, Drew had a double-double in the first half and finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds. In the first half, he benefitted from the Hi-Lo action several times as well as finishing at the charity stripe. Drew did a great job of keeping the defender on his back while posting up and the defender would reach or jump on his back to try to deny the entry pass. Drew will be a sophomore at Ottoville HS.
A COUPLE OF INDIANA 2020 PROSPECTS
Noah Wolfe AAU Team: Spiece Gym Rats- Brewer School: Canterbury Noah plays the point for Spiece Gym Rats- Brewer. He has the ability to score in bunches and then when the defense starts to focus more on him, he makes the correct basketball plays getting his teammates involved. He is a threat coming off a pick and rolls because he can pull up off the bounce if the defender goes around the screen and shoot it from deep when the defender goes under the screen. He showed his ability to get into the paint and then step back to the elbow and knock down the shot. This is a go-to move for him. Noah has good vision and can fit passes thru tight spaces. The highlight of weekend for Noah may have been on fast break when he was dribbling down the left side of the court and there was one defender back who was looking to take a charge and Noah euro-stepped around him completely avoiding any contact and then made the layup while getting fouled by a trailing defender.
Hunter Bruce AAU TEAM: Pocket City SCHOOL: Boonville
Hunter was torching the nets this weekend in Indy from deep. He had six 3's in each of the two games I watched him. He created his own shot by using a jab step and also using a step back. Many kids that are freshmen can't hit the step back 3 but Hunter made it look easy/natural. The opposing teams started to face guard Hunter and then Hunter just ran the defender thru 3-4 screens each possession and wore them out. If Hunter can work on his handles and get a little quicker, he'll be a complete nightmare for opponents because he has the size and strength to play inside and out and then his opponents will have to respect his ability to get to the rim. Right now, he is a deadly weapon on the perimeter but I think he can add those tools to his game and take his game to another level.
