Hard Work Region Finals: 15U Saturday Standouts
A lot of great action at the 15U level on day two of the Prep Hoops Hard Work region finals. Let’s take a look which players stood out on Saturday. SG Justin Wohlers (2022) Minnesota Lightning Ellerbusch/Lake City MN Wohlers…
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Continue ReadingA lot of great action at the 15U level on day two of the Prep Hoops Hard Work region finals. Let’s take a look which players stood out on Saturday.
SG Justin Wohlers (2022) Minnesota Lightning Ellerbusch/Lake City MN
Wohlers is a big guard that has superior strength for the 15U level. On multiple Wohlers drives, the 6’4″ wing put his head down and bullied Heat MacDonald defenders for finishes in the paint. Wohlers is also lethal from beyond the arc. Hit four threes, one of which from the parking lot, finishing with 24. A really strong prospect that averaged over 8 points per game as a freshman for state tournament bound Lake City.
PG Emmanuel Manyuon (2022) Minnesota Lightning Ellerbusch/Austin MN
Manyuon is another strong piece for the Lightning. The 5’11” guard is so quick off the dribble and so comfortable driving either direction. I was impressed with Manyuon’s combo moves, using a mix of between the legs crossovers to twist and turn Heat MacDonald defenders. Emmanuel did not shy away from late-game pressure and came through when it mattered most, scoring the final four points in Lightning’s nail-biting 72-65 win over Heat MacDonald.
PG Carter St John (2022) Team Future/Indianapolis Bishop Chatard IN
Carter is a very stoic guard out of Indianapolis. Coaches can exhale a little easier when he is on the floor as the 5’10” guard is a smart player that rarely makes mistakes. St John is extremely crafty in the lane and does a nice job of changing paces, keeping defenders off balance. In their second-round win, St John finished with 10 points and dished out a handful of assists while managing Oakland Elite’s ball pressure.
C John Archer (2022) Oakland Elite/Walked Lake MI
John is a 6’6″ fundamentally-sound center. For four of Archer’s ten points, the Oakland Elite big man used the backboard as a safety blanket to rattle his one-dribble jump hooks home. In the losing effort to Team Future, Archer stood at the high post and effectively read the defenses, finding open shooters or cutting wings to the basket. On one possession, Archer drew the middle defender in with a shot fake then found teammate Jach Reinsteiner on a beautiful backdoor bounce. A very skilled big man who is one of the better passers in the 15U class.
PF Jacob Conner (2022) Team Flyght Ohio/Alter Bishop OH
Before even watching Conner play, a lot of intrigue comes with the 6’6″ versatile forward’s size and length. In Team Flyght Ohio’s win against ET21 Buckeyes, Conner used his impressive wingspan to alter a variety of shots, even getting his hands on three. On the offensive end, Conner has a lot of skill and showcased his ability to stretch. Late in the first half, Conner moved to the top of the key off a pick and pop then squaring his feet and hitting an open three. If Conner adds some muscle, he could be a very intriguing Division one prospect.
PG/SG Cody Pennebaker (2022) Heat MacDonald/St. Francis MN
The first time I watched Cody play, I loved how the 6’2″ guard defended, but today his shooting stood out. In their loss to Lightning Ellerbusch, Pennebaker knocked down three treys and did an extraordinary job of distributing. Has had a fine summer with Heat MacDonald, and boosted his stock this weekend.
PF Sean Craig (2022) Hopson Elite/Sylvania Northview High School OH
In Hopson Elite’s win over Fury Kaupa, Craig was an absolute monster on the offensive glass. The 6’5″ forward outjumped his opponents and did a great job of keeping the ball up, never giving Fury guards a chance to swipe the pilfer away. Craig does a great job of rim-running out in transition, using his speed to beat opposing players down the floor for transition buckets. Very athletic big that is capable of guarding multiple positions.
PG Casey Verhagen Wisconsin Playground Black/Sheboygan Area Lutheran WI
As a top 15 player for his class in Wisconsin, Verhagen definitely lived up to the hype on Saturday. The 5’11” PG is a first-team competitor and has a burner from deep. Casey’s second-half playmaking ability was on display in Playground’s win against Team Future. Verhagen shared the rock, finding open shooters, and later finding teammate Maximus Nelson for an alley-oop slam that sent a roar throughout the entire gym.