Hard Work Live: Top Centers (SEA Verona)
Many of the top 17U and, especially, 16U teams at Hard Work Live played at the Sports Enhancement Academy Verona complex. I, too, was there all weekend!
Here are the centers who proved that low-post scoring will never go out of style:
George Guraj (2021) | 6-6 | Michigan Goonies 16U / Rochester Adams (MI)
Guraj may not have showcased a ton of ball skills. But, you know what, good things happen when you play extremely hard. Guraj is a lean athlete at 6-foot-7 who can defend in space and rebound the heck out of the ball. Dominated the glass during his minutes. He can move his feet when defending in space.
Oswaldo Villafuerte-Esparza (2021) | 6-5 | Michigan Majors 16U / Stoney Creek (MI)
Villafuerte-Esparza is a thick kid who can play with the ball in his hands. Catching in the mid- to high-post, he made impressive passes to cutters and opposite-side shooters. If anything, Villafuerte-Esparza passed it too much. He was hard to stop when he decided to attack. Crafty scorer. Hard to keep away from the rim. Will be fun to track as he continues to add size to his frame.
Joseph Doyle (2019) | 6-9 | Illinois Vipers 17U / Corliss (IL)
Doyle is the most physically imposing center we saw all weekend, and it wasn’t particularly close. He blocked shots — both against bigs and on help-side. Long arms and a terrorizing standing reach. Broad shoulders. Doyle can face-up with the ball from about 15 feet and hit jumpers. He was most productive on put-backs and point-blank finishes, though, as nobody could keep him away from the rim.
Jordan Merseth (2020) | 6-5 | Minnesota Rise 17U / Mankato East (MN)
Merseth was my favorite player from Friday night (most of my thoughts on the post can be found here).
Caught Merseth again on Sunday afternoon and he proved, again, to be one of the best basketball players at Hard Work Live. Forget college projection, we’re talking straight-up ball players. Sunday, he showed ability to hit 3-pointers as a trailing big. Makes very good decisions when he catches away from the hoop.