Battle for the Arch (Sunday Standouts)
Prep Hoops Missouri was in attendance at the Battle for the Arch Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Whitfield School in St. Louis. Here are some of the top standouts from Sunday’s championship bracket:
Derek Richards 5’9″ Missouri Mavericks 17U
A talented 2019 combo guard from Louisiana High with good quickness and the ability to get buckets at all three levels. He can get in the lane and finish with tough drives, plus he has improved his 3-point shooting over the course of his career to make him an even formidable offensive weapon. He displayed the ability to get points in bunches and carry his team through a stretch. He is one of the state’s top Class 2 players.
Seybian Sims 6’7″ Iowa Dynasty 17U
A tremendously bouncy forward 2019 from Iowa City West who put on quite a dunking display in leading his team to the 17U championship. He had four dunks in the semifinals against the Missouri Mavericks and five more dunks in the championship game against the Machine Elite. Not only is he athletic, but he plays with a high motor and he runs the court like a gazelle. He was a force around the basket.
Romello Ball 5’9″ Machine Elite 17U
A quick 2019 point guard from Parkway Central, Ball plays the game with a lot of speed and pace. He is constantly moving and pushing the ball to get into the lane. He had some acrobatic finishes in the paint among the trees after fearless drives. He is also a tenacious defender who loves to put pressure on opposing ball handlers.
Dante Eldridge 5’10” Iowa Dynasty 17U
A tough 2019 point guard from Iowa City West who led his team to the 17U championship and scored 15 points in the victory over the Machine Elite in the finals. He is quick and plays with a lot of pace and toughness with the ball. His ability to penetrate and get into the lane caused problems for opposing defenses all afternoon and he can finish at the rim. He is also a solid perimeter shooter.
Devin Fields 6’2″ Missouri Mavericks 17U
A tough 2019 guard from Green City who was a very resourceful scorer. He is physically strong, which enabled him to get buckets through contact on the drive or on post ups in the paint against smaller guards. He plays hard and is always on the attack. He was a Class 1 All-State performer at Green City. Impressive player.
Demarcus Bond, Jr. 6’3″ Machine Elite 17U
A talented 2020 guard from SLUH who displayed a lot of potential while playing up at the 17U level. He has good length and a versatile skill set offensively. He shot the ball well from 3-point range and displayed some smooth handles and passing ability. He has a pretty nice upside.