NHR State Tournament: Saturday Standout 16U Guards
The Northstar Hoops State Tournament took over the metro area this past weekend with practically all the top players from all corners of the state on hand to compete. Here were some of the standout guards at the 16U level…
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Continue ReadingThe Northstar Hoops State Tournament took over the metro area this past weekend with practically all the top players from all corners of the state on hand to compete.
Here were some of the standout guards at the 16U level from Saturday’s action:
Bryce Lance, SW MN Stars
Lance was one of the best 16U players in the tournament and was turning heads playing at both the 16U and 17U levels. The Marshall lead guard made a great impact on the defensive end of the floor, where he applied considerable ball pressure on his man and was routinely in position to earn steals or deflections off the ball. That presence helped him overcome occasional shooting struggles. When he’s able to get space, he’s got a very good pullup jumper in the midrange and he’s a crafty finisher in the paint. More than his shooting/scoring ability though, his impact on the offensive end comes from his ability to find his teammates on probes through the lane and his ability to play under control.
Sam Votava, WC Select 16U
Votava’s been rock solid all spring for West Central United’s select team and he continued to provide really good two-way play Saturday. Votava is comfortable with the ball in hands and he’s always looking to put pressure on the defense. He’s a good finisher from the mid-range and in, he does a nice job keeping his head up and using his court awareness to find teammates after breaking down the defense and he’s an efficient cutter off the ball. He plays solid defense and rebounds his position extremely well too.
Ryan Dufault, Heat Tauer
Dufault’s been instrumental all spring with Heat Tauer and has established himself as one of the best 2021 guards in the state. He just keeps going out and doing it. Dufault orchestrates that Heat Tauer offense so well, perfectly balancing the desire to push the tempo and press an attack with slowing the game down and running things through the two hoss bigs. Dufault is a good shooter and can create his own shot in both the full and halfcourt and he’s a really good finisher for a small guard. He’s a grinder.
Josh Baker, SW MN Stars
Baker dominated in one of the Stars’ wins Saturday, doing a bit of everything over the course of the second half. He knocked down multiple 3-pointers, he picked up multiple assists, he got to the rim, he blocked a shot and he collected multiple rebounds. He’s an aggressive kid who uses his athleticism to create scoring chances and turnovers. His jumper looked smooth and his feel for the game looked solid in secondary playmaking fashion. His ability to rebound and push was a big asset for the Stars too. Looks like a guy who could break out next winter at Marshall.
Ryan Chamberlain, Heat Bohrer
Heat Bohrer had a tough time with Magic Hannah Saturday in the game I caught but Ryan Chamberlain was definitely a bright spot. The St. Thomas Academy wing is a smooth athlete who looked really good when he was able to attack in space. He’s long and lanky but seems quicker than he’d look and plays with good physicality.
Ja’sean Glover, SW MN Stars
Another SW MN Star standout from Saturday, Glover also did double time, playing up with the 17U team along with playing with his usual 16U club. Glover’s big, athletic and skilled, and looks like a guy with crazy high upside out of Madelia. He’s a good shooter at the 3-point line and looks comfortable attacking and probing in the paint. He’s a strong passer and plays smart. Definitely a guy to track over the next year and change.
Breyton Buysman, MN Select Robinson
Buysman is a guy who keeps standing out for Select Robinson. He’s not an explosive scorer or a highlight-reel type guy who dominates, but he makes plays. He has good size for a guard and he showed all weekend he’s capable of defending multiple guys on the court. He’s at his best when he’s going downhill and getting to the paint and when he does, he’s as big of a threat to score over someone as he is to find a big at the rim or a wide-open shooter.