Big Shots Team Loaded 15U Standouts (Part 1)
Every year I get the pleasure of enjoying some local AAU basketball on my birthday, as one of the premier grassroots even companies Big Shots teams up with one of the premier programs in the country Team Loaded for the…
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Continue ReadingEvery year I get the pleasure of enjoying some local AAU basketball on my birthday, as one of the premier grassroots even companies Big Shots teams up with one of the premier programs in the country Team Loaded for the Big Shots Loaded event in Richmond. Not only is it special because it’s on my birthday, it was also the first local AAU event I ever covered about five years ago with Vantage Hoops.
Now that the sentimental aspect is done, I got an opportunity to watch high level talent from Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas. With all of the talent I saw, I have broken up my standouts by age group. Here’s a look at part one of the 15U standouts I saw this past weekend.
Tyler Nickel | 6’6”WF | Team Loaded VA
Nickel’s game reminds me so much of Tyler Herro at Kentucky because he’s a big wing who isn’t the fastest guy but he simply knows how to get buckets. At 6’6” he has range out to the three point line, he can put it on the deck and he’s a big time finisher above the rim both in transition and in traffic. He has good feel and is unselfish, usually making the right and easy play, and he can score or create for others in isolation situations.
Justin Taylor | 6’5” WG | Team Loaded VA
Taylor flat out looks like he was built to be a division one shooter. At 6’5” he has super long arms and a lightning quick release which allows him to get his shot off without too much space, and he’s constantly moving without the basketball to get open. He can attack closeouts in straight lines and he’s able to finish in traffic with both hands. He also goes to school at STAB who’s head coach Damin Altizer is a well renowned trainer so he’ll continue to improve with time.
Maliq Brown | 6’7” PF | Team Loaded VA
A young big man who played sparingly for Blue Ridge in their state championship run, Brown showed that he has some major potential and he’s at the right school to get him there. With their reputation of developing big men at BR, they have the chance to turn Brown into a number of things, but against players his own age he looks like a dominant big man. He’s extremely mobile and athletic as he run the floor, blocked shots and dunked a lot of stuff throughout the weekend. He showed some touch in the midrange and ability to switch on guards, all things that should continue to improve with time.
Kenyon Giles | 5’9” PG | Team Loaded VA
Giles has some flash to his game but when you really watch closely you see that he’s a lead guard with great feel for the game and a solid set of fundamentals that make him very hard to guard. He’s quick with his first step but he also changes speeds well off the bounce to get in the lane. He can pass with either hand, he can shoot from deep and has a good middle game, all things you want to see out of a young, smaller guard.
Amari Gray | 6’0” PG | Team Loaded 804
There have been a lot of good guards that have come out of LC Bird in the past few years, and Gray looks like he’s ready to step up and be that next guy moving forward. While he was on varsity he didn’t play much behind a stacked group of upperclassmen, but now he’s able to show what he can do. He’s a big, physical guard who can get downhill and play bully ball around the basket. He showed good vision and understanding of defensive rotations, he shot the midrange well and he’s a good rebounder and a go-getter as well.
Bryce Blaine | 6’2” WF | Team Loaded 804
Another LC Bird kid on this group, Blaine has a great frame to be an impact scoring wing and if he continues to grow he should be very valuable moving forward. At 6’2” he made shots from all three levels, showed good strength when attacking the basket and was able to bully smaller defenders around the basket. He showed good grit and competitiveness and rebounded well against bigger players. He’ll be one to watch continue to develop.
Davian Banks | 6’0” G | Team Loaded 804
Banks came off the bench to give 804 a spark and he was good the entire time. He was lights out from three, shooting them on the move in transition and moving well without the ball to get open looks. He attacked the closeouts well, but he also showed the ability off the dribble to knife through the lane and either make the right pass or show finesse with a good finish in traffic. His ability to play on and off the ball and score in a number of ways was very impressive.
Keyontae Williams | 6’7” PF/C | Team Loaded 804
The first thing you see when you look at Williams is his massive frame of mostly baby fat, but when you watch him play you see there’s a good chance he’l lose some of it. Williams doesn’t move bad at all, he has great hands and feet in the post, he showed good touch with both hands and he has good feel for the game as well. He’s only 14 years old according to his coaches and he wears a size 18 shoe, so the chance of growth is probably going to occur. He has plenty of skill, and once he grows into his body he’s going to be tough to stop.