Summer Slam: 17U Friday/Saturday Standout Guards PHD
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 guards at the 17U level from pool play Friday and Saturday
Connor Hollenbeck, Pentagon Schoolers Kraning
Hollenbeck was awesome in helping Schoolers Kraning get through pool play. The 6-foot-3 guard was excellent handling the ball and breaking down defenses and showed a strong sense of where to get to on the floor where he could do the most damage. He’s a strong finisher inside and has the size to elevate and score on jumpers in the mid-range. His vision is a plus as he’s a capable distributor as well. And his defense was really good Saturday – he uses his length to wall off potential drives before they can even draw help defenders.
Jaxon Wiseman, ND Attack Blue
Wiseman was one of the more impressive guys in the tournament for me because of his ability to play with and without the ball. He’s an excellent cutter off the ball, cutting with purpose and great timing, he’s a solid spot-up shooter and he’s very good as a secondary ball handler either getting himself to a position to score, or breaking down defenses and drawing help. He’s athletic and feisty as a defender and does a good job getting underneath opposing ball handlers.
Carson Henningsgard, ND Attack Green
There are few guys in North Dakota who can put up as many points as quickly as Henningsgard. He’s an excellent shooter on the catch and when he gets hot, there are times where it looks like a 3-pointer is a layup to him. He’s not real twitchy or explosive but he’s extremely crafty and smart with the ball, using angles and change-of-speeds to get to spots on the floor where he can finish. He gets to the free throw line at a high rate and has the strength and finishing creativity to score in traffic despite not always getting great lift. When he gets going, he’s fun to watch.
Reggie Slaba, Pentagon Schoolers Kraning
Slaba does a little bit of everything it seems for Schoolers Kraning. He handles the ball and can initiate offense, he can spot up and play off the ball, he’s a solid slasher. He fits in perfectly and does a great job facilitating and keeping the defense on its heels. His defense on the ball is outstanding as he uses his strength to get underneath ball handlers and make them uncomfortable.
Talon Hoffer, Inspired Athletics
Hoffer is one of the more impressive wing players in North Dakota and his combination of athleticism, size and skill make him difficult to match up with. He’s got good form on his 3-point shot and makes them enough as a spot-up guy but he’s at his best when he’s going downhill to the rim and either drawing fouls, finishing or drawing extra defenders before dumping it to a big or kicking it to a shooter.
Casey Caden, Pentagon Schoolers Kraning
Caden was one of the best shooters I saw over the weekend and like a lot of the top-end shooters, he’s really good at getting to areas on the floor where he can utilize that skill. He’s very good using screens and plays with a great understanding of spacing and maintaining spacing relationships with guys who have the ball. His release is smooth and efficient and when he gets a chance to line it up, it’s like a free throw.
Colton Ratchenski, ND Attack Green
Rathchenski is a thick, physical guard who can really break people down and get to the paint. His strength and burst allow him to attack gaps effectively and he’s got a nice floater game – essential for a shorter guard. He shot the ball inconsistently but when he attacks, it opens things up for so many guys.