Grassroots Preview: Northwest Prospects 2021
The Northwest Prospects 2021 is a team featuring a collection of skilled perimeter players. What they lack in post play, they make up for with speed, shooting, and chemistry. Fresh off of wins over Team Bradley NW Panthers 15U and Seattle Rotary 15U Select in the Premier Open Run in Portland, Oregon, the Prospects are an elite level squad with talent worth watching.
The Prospects are led by Jace Chatman, Kaden Horn, and Christian Lenard. Chatman, younger brother of Boston College guard Jordan Chatman and Southern Utah forward Jessica Chatman, is a 6’2 guard with length, composure, and the ability to score against pressure. He also shows the ability to knockdown spot-up threes. Kaden Horn is a 5’9 shooter with range who uses a crafty collection of shot fakes, jabs, and ball handling to get his three-point attempts off against any defender. When he gets rolling, he is not afraid to shoot several feet off of the line, both on the catch and off the dribble. Christian Lenard is a 5’9 guard that fills the other wing, using a sweet shooting stroke and high basketball IQ to manufacture points consistently. Lenard projects as an intelligent point guard that can play with or without the ball.
The play of Izaiah Vongnath and Blake Bell add to the Prospects’ success. Vongnath stands at only 5’7, but may be the quickest guard in the Northwest. Playing the point, he is able to blow by most defenders, creating looks for himself and his teammates. Blake Bell is the fifth starter for the Prospects, and standing at just over 6’4, is the tallest kid on the team. Bell often plays on the perimeter, and is able to attack the basket off the dribble, finishing in the paint with short jump shots or layups. He also flashes defensive potential with good shot-blocking instincts.
Off the bench, the Prospects play Chase Muro, a lengthy 6’1 wing with the potential to be a lockdown defender, Jaxon Faile, a 6’4 big man with the ability to stretch the floor, and Soren Hopper, a 6’0 wing that plays with grit and passion on both ends of the floor.
This collection of players plays inspired basketball, using ball movement, long-range shooting, and overall high-IQ to break down the stingiest of defenses. Already an elite team, if the Prospects had a little more size, they would be a formidable force against any opponent.
Player Name | Height | School |
Blake Bell | 6’4 | Camas |
Jace Chatman | 6’2 | Skyview |
Jaxon Faile | 6’4 | Skyview |
Soren Hopper | 6’0 | Skyview |
Kaden Horn | 5’9 | Mountain View |
Christian Lenard | 5’9 | Camas |
Chase Muro | 6’1 | Camas |
Izaiah Vongnath | 5’7 | Union |