Hustle Finals 16U Championship: Top Performers
For the majority of this year’s PrepHoops Circuit, the Coastal Elite Slayers were the class of the Hustle Region 16U division. And for most of the PrepHoops Hustle Region Finals, they played the part with double-digit wins all the way…
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Continue ReadingFor the majority of this year’s PrepHoops Circuit, the Coastal Elite Slayers were the class of the Hustle Region 16U division. And for most of the PrepHoops Hustle Region Finals, they played the part with double-digit wins all the way to the championship game. But in the finals, they got a tough battle from Utah Premier National and in the end, made the big plays to capture the 16U ‘ship, 71-70.
“That was a great team that we played – they’re well coached and they run their plays right,” said Slayers head coach Mike Howell. “I was proud that we finished the game, and to do it in the championship game it was big time.”
Here’s a look at the top performers from the game:
Wayne McKinney (2021 Lake Oswego HS) – As was the case for most of the Finals, McKinney was absolutely dominant in the championship game. The 5-foot-11 point guard from Oregon drove to the basket whenever he wanted to, and if he didn’t score outright he was drawing contact and getting to the line. Defensively his hands were extremely active and he came up with some steals that led to easy buckets for himself or his teammates. Yes, if you want to nitpick he was a little out of control on a couple of occasions but McKinney was unquestionably the best player on the floor. He finished with 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Caleb Nelson (2021 Carlsbad HS) – Nelson spent most of the tournament really pouring in points, but despite hitting a couple of threes early his shot wasn’t quite falling in the finals so he focused on other parts of the game. In particular the 6-foot-6 wing wing was tough on the glass on both ends and he did a good job with post defense as well. Nelson – who recently landed his first scholarship offer from Point Loma Nazarene – finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
Kai Jessie (2021 Helix Charter HS) – Jessie is a creative offensive player who can knock down open shots or take it strong to the cup, absorbing contact along the way and still finishing. The 6-foot-4 wing got to the line early and often but also hit a couple of mid-range shots as well. Jessie noted that Biola reached out to him after seeing him play earlier in the tournament. Jessie ended up with 12 points on the day.
Keaton Webb (2021 Tri-City Christian HS) – Webb played more of a supporting role most of the tournament but really stepped it up in the final game. The 6-foot-4 wing had it going from three-point range, knocking down three catch-and-shoot bombs in the first half alone. He hit a key bucket down the stretch among his 15 points and also helped contribute on the boards with four rebounds.
Jaden Brownell (2021 Alta HS) – Brownell played well the entire tournament and that continued in the championship game. While the lanky 6-foot-7 forward got pushed out of the paint some, he still managed to fight hard for position and be very active on the offensive glass which led to some easy buckets. Brownell is good around the basket but also has a very soft touch on his perimeter shot. He finished with 21 points and seven boards.
Bodi Nageli (2021 Herriman HS) – Nageli was the other main scorer for Utah Premier National. The 6-foot-2 wing spotted up for a couple of mid-range jumpers and threes, but also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and create off the dribble. Nageli finished with 14 points.
Parker Christiensen (2021 Skyridge HS) – Christiansen also had a solid outing. The 6-foot guard is clearly left-handed but seemed to catch defenders off guard as he was able to get to the bucket and finish with some creative scoop shots on his way to 12 points.