Battle at the Lakes: Top Snipers
Ian Ely, 5’11 SG (ECI-Kretchman 15U)
His team may not have come away with the win, but this North Dakota (Bismarck Century) shooting guard proved himself to be one of the best marksmen in the field when we saw him on Saturday against Kingdom Hoops. He started the game 6-6 from deep before missing one in the final seconds. Everything he threw up was shredding the nets.
Gatdoar Bijiek, 6’4 SG (Beyond Ball 17U)
A Des Moines North product, Bijiek caught fire against Minnesota Comets Elite. He canned eight 3-balls in that one. Which is more than anyone on this list was able to do in a single game. The Beyond Ball guys got some footage, check it out.
17U Beyond Ball 24k 6’4” sharpshooter @GBijiek was on ???? last weekend in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Comets Elite!
33pts
8/14 3 FG
11rb
7ast#beyondball #mob #connectingcultures pic.twitter.com/SDKD8dCEpT— BeyondBall (@wayBeyondBall) May 16, 2018
Jaren Marshall, 6′ SG (Team Factory Gold 15U)
A sharpshooter from the 15U platinum champs, Marshall canned five triples during an exciting win over Iowa Barnstormers 16U in the Sweet 16. That win would just be the beginning for this gritty group from Omaha. Marshall, a freshman, will be canning a ton of 3-balls for Omaha Burke over the next three seasons.
Blake Cassidy, 6’3 SG (Northern Exposure 16U)
The Northern Exposure squad was chock-full of snipers, and this Pellston sophomore maybe had the purest stroke of them all. He put in three 3-balls in an impressive win over Full Package on the opening night of the tourney.
Treyton Zastrow, 6′ SG (Wisconsin Playground Warriors 16U)
If he’s hoisting one up, chances are it’s going in. When we saw him the first time, the Manitowoc Lutheran sophomore rained in six 3s. Perhaps the most accurate spot-up shooter we saw all weekend, he’s certainly a key weapon for one of the Midwest’s best 16U squads.
Gabriel Madsen, 6’6 SG (Wisconsin Playground Warriors 16U)
There’s a lot more to Gabriel’s game than just snipin’ ; he can slash, and has the the size to guard several positions. But his ability to let them go from deep and with precision is a strength. And he doesn’t need much space to get his shot off. He’s a candidate to blow-up this summer.
Bowen Born, 5’10 PG (Iowa Barnstormers 16U)
Maybe the most skilled player in the state of Iowa, Born’s handles and IQ are off the charts, and so is his ability to shoot the rock. If he’s open, he’s nailing the shot; and what makes him most impressive, is his ability to create and hit off the bounce.
Jamison Battle, 6’7 SF (D1 Minnesota 17U)
The big wing found his place in a team of superstars by running to his spot and letting otherworldly point guard Tyrell Terry find him in the corner (the two are teammates on DeLaSalle, too). Battle is a big-bruising wing, but is developing an ability to be a knock-down shooter. He put in four 3-balls during D1 MN’s shellacking of Team Rose in the 17U semis.