Prep Hoops Summer Challenge: Saturday Standouts (Part II)
Connor Davis, 6’3 G/F (H.I.T. Basketball 15U)
Without a doubt one of the more dominant performances of the weekend, this Neuqua Village rising sophomore was superb during a win over Kessel Heat in the Elite 8. He was smooth from deep and showed an awareness of the ball that few his age possess. When the dust settled, his team advanced to the Final 4 and he had 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Trey Schroeder, 6′ PG (Wisconsin Academy 16U Noll-Fish) — 2020
This Deforest High product caught fire in the second half of what had been a close game against Iowa Dynasty in the first round of bracket play. Schroeder, with his sweet stroke, took advantage of every opportunity the defense gave him, and finished that game with 18 second half points, 25 total.
Garrett Pientok, 6’4 F (Iowa Dynasty 16U) — 2020
Cedar Rapids Prairie has a trio of incoming juniors that could play a critical role in that team’s success next season. Pietnok is one of them. A rangy combo-forward, Pietnok moves fluidly in the point, and uses that agility to help get clean looks around the rim. He’s also comfortable on the perimeter, as evidenced by his two 3-balls in our viewing of Dynasty today.
Mason Kraus, 6’1 PG (Team Manitoba 17U) — 2020
This floor general from Winnipeg (College Sturgeon Heights Collegiate) is one of the better point guards we’ve seen this weekend. He’s quick off the dribble and is able to get to the rim where he’s a creative finisher and adept distributor. His handle is nice and his jumper is pure. If he’s left alone beyond the arch, he’s not shy about letting it fly, and it’s gnna to go in more often than not.
Iziah Paulsen, 5’10 PG (Iowa Dynasty 17U) — 2019
A dynamic offensive threat with a high motor and quick handle, this Iowa City Liberty guard was all over the court for Iowa Dynasty Saturday afternoon. On a team chock-full of standouts, it was Paulsen who was the most effective player, scoring a game-high 19 points during a blowout of Great Northern Elite.
Braydon Adcock, 6′ PG (Iowa Dynasty 17U) — 2019
He’s been waiting in the wings at Iowa City West for awhile now, and he’s really been impressive this entire offseason. A high basketball IQ paired with patience and poise make him especially effective, and his ability to pass, dribble and shoot is only accentuated but his knack for playing mistake-free basketball.
Daniel Peterson, 6’5 PF (NOVA Cavaliers 16U) — 2020
This athletic stretch-four was critical down the stretch for the Virginia squad during a hard-fought win over Team Iowa White in a 16U bracket-play game. It was the best block we’ve seen this weekend that might have saved the game for NOVA, when the Iowa team was making a late push and had the momentum; Peterson came from behind and violently swatted away a would-be lay-in. He also canned four clutch free-throws in the final minute of that one.
Dante Eldridge, 5’9 PG (Iowa Dynasty 17U) — 2019
Like so many of his Iowa City West teammates, Eldrige has a strikingly high basketball IQ. He’s always surveying the floor, and is a pass-first point guard. And although he’s a selective shot-taker, he is a very good shooter. We’re willing to wager that Iowa City West is among the state leaders in turnovers next season; that’s to say, they’ll seldom turn it over.