Mason’s Sunday Notebook: #HardworkSZNKickoff
On Sunday, I was at the #HardworkSZNKickoff in Council Bluffs, Iowa for Championship Sunday. I saw a lot of talent but there were a few players and teams who really stood out. I caught two of the championship games and a couple of the 15U semifinals and was able to see a lot of different and talented players. Here are the top three things that stood out to me.
Team Factory Gold 15U Eased to the Championship
In a game that wasn’t really as close as the final score indicates, Team Factory Gold cruised to take home the 15U Championship. They got out early with two 3-pointers to put MN Fury in a hole and then they never looked back. Chandler Meeks, a 6′ guard from Omaha Westside was all over the court. He is a really solid slasher who was getting to the rim and scoring consistently. MN Fury really had no answer for him. Another guard, Jake Orr of Omaha Roncalli showcased a nice mid-range jumper. He has a clean release and it is tough to contest because he gets so high with the release. Orr is another 6′ guard for this team but he is just so fundamental and skilled it is insane. The other Team Factory teams have a ton of height but the tallest kid on this squad is just 6’5. That allows them to run a little more and attack the basket. Their season kicked off well with a 56-47 victory over MN Fury.
Team Factory Gold 16U Dominates in Semifinal
While I didn’t catch the 16U Championship game, I did end up getting to watch their win over MN Fury that sent them into the Championship game. Brad Bennett led the team with 16 points, 14 of which came in the second half. The 6′ guard from Mount Michael Benedictine has an outstanding game even though his points came quietly. Bennett isn’t a flashy player by any means, he just gets the job done. Greg Brown played the best that I had seen all weekend as he nailed a few deep balls and hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first half. The 6’5 guard had a really solid game and with continued play like this he will see his stock rise.
Mors and Murrell Put on a Show
In the 17U Championship I was able to catch the second half and both Matthew Mors (SD Attack) and Max Murrell (Team Factory Gold) were two of the best players at the event and they matched up in the 17U finals. Mors was showcasing his ability to handle the ball and elevate to throw it down all game long. He’s a post prospect who has the ability to dominate inside but also the ability to shoot and attack off the wing. Mors is already got high major suitors all over him and that will only grow as we get into the live period. Murrell is a supremely athletic inside guy who uses that athleticism to score. He is about two inches taller than Mors, but he also has the ability to step out and shoot. Murrell’s recruiting is getting ready to take off in a big way.