Opening Day Standouts at Who Want The Smoke (15U)
Day 1 at Who Wants the Smoke presented by TheTB5Reports gave us some very skilled players and teams from all over Texas. Here we take a look at some of Dallas/Fort Worth’s best 15-year-old talent from the opening day of…
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Continue ReadingDay 1 at Who Wants the Smoke presented by TheTB5Reports gave us some very skilled players and teams from all over Texas. Here we take a look at some of Dallas/Fort Worth’s best 15-year-old talent from the opening day of the tournament.
B.J Hooper 6’1 Combo Guard – Triumph Gold 15UBrian Hooper Jr. was an absolute playmaker, whether it was rebounding, dropping dimes, attacking the basket, or hitting a jumper, Brian was always looking to make a play when the ball touched his hands. Hooper displayed superb body control when driving to the hoop and bouncing off of defenders. He excelled in transition where he was able to see the entire court and anticipate where everyone would be next. B.J Hooper had a crazy second-half in game two where he went off, started making everything, scoring 12 points, and finishing the game with 22 points in total. Hooper knew he had it going, called for the iso, and took advantage. There was nothing on the court that he couldn’t do. He already has a well-polished skillset and is only going to get a whole lot better. B.J looked like the best 15-year-old in the gym day one.
Connor Newton: 5’7 Point Guard – Triumph Gold 15UConnor Newton might just be one of the most hidden gems of the summer. Very tight and controlled handle, Newton has this smooth, crisp stepback or crossover blow-by move that he used effectively to destroy defenders when attempting to drive the lane or create space for a jumpshot; a marvelous jumper with picture-perfect form and balance. Connor showed off some good point guard skills with the way he was able to capitalize off the pick-and-roll and set his teammates up with open shots. In the closing minute of game one, Connor knocked down a clutch 3-pointer in the corner to put Triumph Gold up by 2 points. The very next play he went on to make a smart pass to Dylan Walker who hit the shot from deep, putting them up by 3 points with 4 seconds remaining and winning them the game. Connor Newton showed a lot of promise with his play, he may be a small guard but he has a strong sturdy build, and all the intangibles it takes to be successful.
Aiden Wall: 5’6 Point Guard – Texas Playmakerz 15U Navy
A pure pass-first, dime dropping point guard, Aiden Wall was a wizard with the ball in hand, he can make anything happen. A truly terrific passer, no assist is off-limits for him. Wall made some really tough passes that you just don’t see from kids this young and I think his body control, ball control, and court vision are the main reasons why; he can jump in the air, contort his body in any direction, and still make an accurate pass. Sick ball-handler, I can see Aiden breaking a lot of ankles in the near future, an unstealable dribble, not one player could get a clean rip on him. Wall stayed poised and didn’t get rattled by tough or intense defense even when he was pressured full-court and doubled teamed. He showed the potential to be a great orchestrator of the offense with the way he created plays for his teammates and got the flow going. Anytime Aiden stepped on the floor he changed the pace, the spacing, and also elevated the level play for the Playmakerz. He sees the game on a much higher level than the majority of kids his age. While watching Aiden Wall, you can’t help but get excited when he touches the ball, he has made an art out of the assist and as a basketball fan, it’s a thing beauty to witness. Wall was as impressive as anyone in the building day one.
Kelby Valsin – 6’1 Shooting Guard – PTW Elite NationalKelby Valsin made a big impression with he played. He’s a strong explosive bucket getter who used his speed, strength, and size exceptionally well when it came to defending, rebounding and scoring inside. Fearless when driving to the hole, Kelby looked like a master at scoring through physical play, he had no trouble absorbing contact and still getting the shot up and in, his ability to get to the rack led to multiple free-throw attempts in the second half. Kelby Valsin started the game off by hitting two 3-pointer in the first-half, then proceed to beat his man off the dribble in the second-half, finishing the game with 14 points total. Kelby’s game-changing effectiveness on both ends of the court was the main ingredient to PTW getting the win over the Playmakerz.
Mark Rucha: 6’1 Shooting Guard – Texas Playmakerz 15U NavyMark Rucha is a name that has been buzzing all summer and I finally had the chance to see why. He’s a very impressive offensive talent with a nose for scoring and a knack for getting into and scoring in the lane. Soft-touch on his shots in the mid-range area where he’s most efficient. Rucha has an old school playing style that really works for him, he’s kind of like Demar DeRozan with the way he’s able to flourish in the mid-range with pull-up and turnaround jumpshots. Mark was also an active participant on the offensive and defensive glass, he kept several possessions alive with his effort. Before sitting the rest of the game with a twisted ankle, Mark Rucha was on a tear, scoring 11 points in the first-half. His presence on the floor was missed, as soon as Rucha went down the team went with him, not only was he their best scorer but he was also the glue that held everything together.