Hard Work Live: Top Power Forwards (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 power forwards who either made their mark in the paint or showed-off an expansive skill-set:
Kiks Rosengarten (2020) | 6-6 | TNT 5 Iowa Prep Red 17U / West Fork (IA)
Rosengarten is a thick 4 who truly crashes the glass. Really soft hands to corral rebounds in traffic. Keeps the ball high on put-backs and finishes with a soft touch. Can score it over the shoulder, too. Rosengarten even performed a few complex post moves, showing-off his footwork.
Carter Janssen (2021) | 6-6 | TNT 5 Iowa Prep Red 17U / Cedar Falls (IA)
Janssen was arguably the best player on the floor, despite playing up a year at the 17U level. He projects as a power forward and has a very promising combination of speed, effort, and size. Gets up and down, even going coast-to-coast after picking off a ball in the passing lanes. He can attack slow-footed defenders by putting it on the floor out a face-up. Plays hard. Capable shooter.
Joshua Streit (2021) | 6-7 | Wear Out The Net – Davis 16U / Eden Valley-Watkins (MN)
Streit is a lean and mobile 4 whose athleticism and skill-set lends itself to versatility. Defensively, he can switch onto wings and defend in space, limit ball-handlers with his mobility and length as they come off a screen, and block shots. Controlled the glass all weekend. Streit’s most impressive quality, though, was passing. He draws attention inside and creates wide-open 3-pointers for teammates. Good vision. Uses the pump fake to score in the paint. Runs the floor. Streit is a Division I prospect.
Mason Klett (2020) | 6-5 | Minnesota Select – Brown 17U / Apple Valley (MN)
Klett has some tools to work with — adequate shooter from distance, foot-work, and he’s 6-foot-5 with some mobility. The weight room, though, will be imperative for his chances to play at the next level. Struggles to keep powerful forwards away from the rim. But we liked his skill as a scorer from inside and out. Makes very good post entry passes when he catches away from the rim and would be awesome in a high-low two-man game.