Summer Slam: 17U Friday/Saturday Standout Forwards
Solid teams from all over the midwest converged on the Pentagon in Sioux Falls last weekend for the Sanford Summer Slam. With teams from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and even Canada, there was a ton of great…
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Continue ReadingSolid teams from all over the midwest converged on the Pentagon in Sioux Falls last weekend for the Sanford Summer Slam. With teams from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and even Canada, there was a ton of great competition over a three-day stretch.
Here were some of the standout forwards at the 17U level from pool play Friday and Saturday
Tate Machacek, MN Matrix
Though he wouldn’t be classified as dominant, Machacek is one of the best two-way forwards in the 2020 class. There’s just not a lot the guy can’t do. He did a great job defensively in particular against Wyatt Olson and Dylan DeChampeau in the Matrix win against MN Rise. He’s a good help defender, he mixes it up on the glass and he’s versatile. His work on the offensive glass created numerous extra possessions and showed increased comfortability knocking down perimeter jumpers in spot-up situations. He’s always been solid in the mid-post but playing with Jacob Jennison (and Steven Crowl when he plays with Eastview) has forced him to expand his range and it looks like he’s getting there.
Josh Rogers, Fury Kallman
Rogers is extremely active and extremely athletic and he uses both of those skills (yes activity level is a skill) to good use on his way to consistently producing. He’s undersized for a true big man but he showed over the weekend that his skills are developing. He’s a good help defender and has the athleticism to guard down if necessary. And he always does great work on the glass.
Zach Todd, MN Lightning Schwartzoff
Todd is a bit undersized for a faceup four man but he’s tough as heck and he’s as hard a worker as anybody on the floor. He’s a strong finisher in traffic and against bigger guys and when he wants, he’s a tough guy to defend because he can handle the ball enough to put bigger guys in a bind. He’s a tenacious rebounder and does a great job producing in a low-maintenance variety.
Manny Montgomery, Rip City
Montgomery was really impressive for Rip City this weekend, using his athleticism and strength to control the paint for an undersized team. His motor runs hot and while he doesn’t take a lot of shots, he does a great job screening and rim running. He’s active on the glass on both ends of the floor and while he’s not the biggest guy, he’s physical on defense and is extremely tough to score on.
Jordan Merseth, MN Rise
Merseth is one of the most fundamentally skilled big men in the state. He’s big and strong but he’s got awesome footwork, great strength to finish through contact and an ability to score through or over opposing bigs. He’s not the most athletic, but he uses his body as well as anybod.
Wyatt Olson, MN Rise
Olson is one of the most skilled bigs in the state. He’s very good in the low and mid post, can face up and knock down mid-range jumpers or attack off the bounce. He’s a really good passer and has the mobility to do damage off the ball. He’s just rock solid at so many things. He can rebound out of his area. He defends bigger guys and smaller guys just as well. I’d bet he’s going to make a MIAC coach really happy.
Luke Schwartzoff, MN Lightning Schwartzoff
Schwartzoff is a load in the low post and has the skills to score against just about anybody. He will need to develop something going over his left shoulder because he’s somewhat all left-hand at this point but he’s got great touch, good footwork and the a motor that allows him to produce organically.