Midwest Grind Session Day Two Standouts
The Midwest Grind Session is in the books. The competitive field brought teams from several states to Bel Aire, Kansas. Look for lots of coverage from the weekend, but here’s a peek at some of the top Kansas performers from…
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Continue ReadingThe Midwest Grind Session is in the books. The competitive field brought teams from several states to Bel Aire, Kansas.
Look for lots of coverage from the weekend, but here’s a peek at some of the top Kansas performers from day two of the Midwest Grind Session:
Owen Braxmeyer Owen Braxmeyer 6'1" | CG Manhattan | 2021 State KS , 2021, Manhattan:
Braxmeyer showed he can lead a team in a variety of ways. He’s always pushing the envelope, creating on offense with his athleticism and causing turmoil with his defense. He can rebound and flip the field by pushing the ball end-to-end. And he can knock down jumpers on the move or nail 3-pointers.
Jack Johnson Jack Johnson 6'2" | CG Andover | 2021 State KS , 2021, Andover:
The first-team 5A all-stater helped guide TBB 17U – Gaddis over the weekend. He’s an incredibly athletic guard, jumping nearly out of the gym at times. He handles the ball at point and runs the offense, but he’s also willing and able to be a force in the lane. He rebounds and guards against great athletes. And on offense, he’ll knock down open 3’s all day, and can create his own shot or find open teammates when he drives the lane.
Kellan Simoneau, 2023, Rose Hill:
Don’t let his size fool you. The 5-foot-11 Simoneau is a legit ball handler and playmaker who hit the winning shot at the buzzer in TBB 15U’s final game of the weekend. He makes great decisions with the ball, hits open shots and creates shots for himself. He’s a gamer and disruptive on the defensive end.
Charles Snyder Charles Snyder 6'5" | PF Emporia | 2021 State KS , 2021, Emporia:
The big scorer earned third-team all 5A last year, and he’s making his presence felt on the summer circuit. He can bang inside and convert around the rim, but he also can play the perimeter and run the floor. His size and physicality make him a tough guard for many elite forwards. He never stops fighting and battles relentlessly in the lane.
Cam Barnes and Gus Yalden, 2023s:
Arguably the two most impressive players from the Kansas-based clubs aren’t actually from Kansas, but they are certainly worthy of note. Oz Elite 15U from Wichita featured a couple of national stars.
Barnes is a five-star recruit out of Duncanville, Texas. He’s 6-foot-11 and freakishly versatile. He floats around the perimeter, knocking down 3’s with a deft touch. But he wreaks havoc in the lane, causing post players to alter nearly every shot. He’s incredibly thin, but moves remarkably fluidly for someone his size.
Like Barnes, the 6-foot-9 Yaldon is a top recruit who suited up for Oz Elite 15U. He has an impressive list of college suitors for just a rising sophomore. He can literally do it all – knocking down 3’s, handling the ball in the open court, dominating the paint and finding open teammates. Yaldon makes spin moves in the lane with the agility of a player a foot shorter. He will play high school ball in Ashville, North Carolina next fall.