The Finale: Top Performers (Part 1)
There was plenty of talent that came through Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City, Missouri this past weekend at The Finale hosted by Prep Hoops. The 17U and 16U divisions were deep with teams and prospects while the younger divisions had…
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Continue ReadingThere was plenty of talent that came through Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City, Missouri this past weekend at The Finale hosted by Prep Hoops.
The 17U and 16U divisions were deep with teams and prospects while the younger divisions had some really good performances as well.
Here is a look at some of the standout performers I saw.
Aminu Mohammed Aminu Mohammed 6'5" | SG Greenwood Lab | 2021 State #19 Nation MO | 6-5 | MISSION MINDED/Missouri Greenwood Laboratory
Ranked No. 19 in our 2021 national rankings, Mohammed certainly lived up to the hype this weekend. He is a freakish athlete. Against Team KC Don on Sunday, Mohammed crossed a guy and made him fall and finished at the rim moments later. He dominated later in the day in a win over Team Buddy Buckets KS in the Grit Bracket Final. Indiana, Maryland, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Georgia and Georgetown represent some of his recent offers. Mohammed has room to fill out his long frame and he has a high ceiling. He was the top player overall in the gym.
Bryson Warren Bryson Warren 6'2" | PG North Little Rock | 2023 AR | 6-2 | Grind and Advance/Arkansas Little Rock Central
It is crazy to think Warren is only a sophomore. The 2023 guard felt right at home in the 17U division, serving as one of the best players in attendance regardless of class. With games of 30 and 20 points, Warren takes smart shots and handles the offense with ease. I really like his effort on the boards as well. He holds offers from Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Alcorn State and Oral Roberts already. The No. 32 ranked 2023 prospect in our national rankings, Warren has endless upside and is one of the most poised young point guards I’ve seen all summer.
Alston Mason Alston Mason 6'2" | CG Blue Valley Northwest | 2021 State KS | 6-1 | Mokan Select/Kansas Blue Valley Northwest
Whenever I turned my attention to Mokan Select 17U, it was Mason who made things happen. The fast pace and mature athletic ballhandler has all the tools. He proved his clutch trait on Sunday afternoon with a game-winning 3 in overtime in a 78-77 win over Grind and Advance. A high IQ leader and sound athlete, Mason is a bucket getter and a point producer. The No. 5 ranked 2021 Prep Hoops Kansas prospect makes life tough hard on defenses with his pure speed. He holds offers from Missouri Kansas City and Abeline Christian.
Jalen Hampton Jalen Hampton 6'7" | PF Link Year | 2022 MO | 6-6 | Carroll GoL1ve/Missouri University City
It was hard to ignore the full effort and energy that Hampton brought to the floor for Carroll GoL1ve. He’s a long bodied wing who is super unselfish and always plays with purpose on the offensive end. If he is not driving himself, he dishes it out like a guard and gets back defensively to be a pest and block shots. The No. 19 ranked 2021 prospect by Prep Hoops Missouri, Hampton is in for a monster senior year.
Maurice Walker II | 6-3 | Colorado Hawks/Pennsylvania Rocktop
With Walker, it didn’t take long for him to make his presence felt. In a loss to CarrollGoL1ve on Sunday, he proved his reliable outside jumper and leadership bringing the ball up the floor. He was making plays for the Colorado Hawks and my favorite part about his game is his confidence. He doesn’t back away from anyone on either end of the floor. Walker knows his strengths and it is a joy to see him flourish and succeed with that.
Xavier Glenn Xavier Glenn 6'4" | SG Bixby | 2021 State OK | 6-4 | Oklahoma Hustle/Bixby
A combo guard, Glenn was one of my favorite athletes I saw all weekend. He really gets up on the rim and creates space for himself on the break and in set situations. Glenn has a nice mix of speed and awareness which helps him score (VIDEO). A strong attacker and disruptor/tough-nosed defender, he plays endlessly hard. NAIA William Woods offered Glenn on Sunday after his strong performance at The Finale.
Dreshaun Doyne | 6-7 | Grind and Advance/Arkansas Maumelle
Doyne is a clean up artist, who does the dirty work inside, grabbing boards and tipping back buckets. The big bodied forward doesn’t always fill a stat sheet, but he is always active and noticeable. I love his effort level and there will be a college program that takes note of that. His strength and grittiness were true assets for Grind and Advance.