Live Period Round-Up: Top 3 16U Teams
Utah’s 16U groups performed at an extremely high level. This group demonstrated that Utah basketball has plenty of talent and more than most people give it credit for. Many states are thrilled to have one team perform at the level that the top teams in this 16U age group participated in. Below are the top three performing teams from the state of Utah in the 16U age group.
Exum Elite
The Exum Elite team earned the right to represent Utah at the highest of levels on the adidas Gauntlet. They earned an invitation to the adidas Summer Championship. While every prospect on this team has a future playing at the collegiate level, this team features a number of prospects who will be playing at the NCAA Division-I level.
Without a doubt the top prospect on this team is recent Utah commit Mason Falslev. Falslev follows 17U Exum Elite prospects Rylan Jones and Matt Van Komen in committing to Utah. In addition to Falslev, Jace Whiting, an Idaho prospect, and Dallin Hall are top tier guard prospects for this team. Further, Dyson Koehler has already earned an offer from Portland State while Andrea Mulibea might be one of the most versatile wings in the state.
This team almost reads as a who’s who of talent as Kemari Bailey, Kase Peterson, and Baylor Harrop round out this team as college level prospects as well.
Utah Mountain Stars
The Utah Mountain Stars played up in the 17U ranks in most of their events this July and beat some of the top teams. In fact, they beat the top ranked 17U Arizona team in Powerhouse UAA and nearly beating the second ranked team in Factory (AZ).
Mady Sissoko had everyone in awe due to his strength, motor, and upside. His strong play reaffirmed that he is a high major prospect. In addition to Sissoko, Richie Saunders did a little bit of everything and has a future playing this game at the college level. Saunders fills up the stat sheet as well as any prospect in this class. He has a tremendous basketball IQ and understands how to impact the game in an array of ways.
In addition to those two prospects, Leo Colimerio is one of the most versatile prospects in this classification. He is lengthy and quick with a smooth handle. He is oozing with upside as well. Moreover, Cam Chism and Corbin Zentner shot the leather off of the basketball. Lastly, Tenoa Togiai provided the team with a physical presence who rebounded the basketball well.
This team will not only be one of the top 17U Utah teams next year. Rather, this will be one of the top in the nation, assuming they are able to keep the pieces together.
Utah Basketball Club (UBC)
While Exum and Utah Mountain Stars seemed to steal the show in this age group, Utah Basketball Club earned the right to share the spotlight after their solid spring and summer.
Stone Hutchings shot the basketball at an extremely high level in July. He will be relied upon heavily for Copper Hills this next season. In addition to Hutchings, Zach Visentin and Sam Phipps had moments where they looked like they could make some serious noise in the Utah basketball scene this upcoming season. Both possess good length while Phipps provides good athleticism. Lastly, Brox Ashby provided a consistent scoring threat for the team.
This group might lack some of the NCAA Division-I names that Exum and Utah Mountain Stars have. However, they are far from a slouch. They are competitive and shoot the basketball at a high level while having a number of college level prospects as well.