PHSpringKickoff: 16U All Tournament Team
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DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV – West Coast Select 2023 DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV is a name that quickly became known, throughout the…
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Continue ReadingDJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV – West Coast Select 2023
DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV is a name that quickly became known, throughout the weekend at the SpringKickoff. He was the most explosive and interesting players to watch. Thomas is a high-scoring guard that really got whatever he wanted offensively. He shot the ball efficiently all weekend long and where we knew he would be a player to watch is in a game that he exploded for 25 points in the first half. As great of a scoring performance as he had, what stood out also was his willingness to get teammates involved. What flew under the radar this past weekend was his desire defensively. He was scoring at will but also dug deep defensively. He’s a pesky defender that applied constant pressure to opposing teams’ guard and solidified himself as a top player at the event.
Kadyn Betts Kadyn Betts 6'7" | PF Huntington Prep | 2023 #90 Nation CO – PLUTO Prospects
Kadyn is an all-around special talent and put it all on display this weekend. Pluto was a perfect 4-0 on the weekend in the best bracket. Pluto Prospects is a loaded team, and it allowed Betts to do what he wanted and lead his team. Offensively, he was able to showcase his ability to score from all 3 levels of the floor consistently, which stood out with his size. He took over on the low post, played with his back to the basket, and was able to face up and make a move when guarded by a slower defender. On defense, he changed shots at the rim and showcased his speed and athleticism when having the switch out and defend guards on the wing. With his performance this weekend, Kadyn goes from a stellar high school season to putting it on display against the state’s top players.
Silas McCurnin Silas McCurnin 6'2" | PG Poudre | 2023 State CO – Rocky Mountain Fever
McCurnin picked up right where he left off for the high school season, and it is fun to see him surrounded by talented players that complement his scoring style. Silas torched nets all weekend and has become the poster boy for “hand down, man down.” It doesn’t take much to get Silas going, especially when his team needs a timely basket. By the time teams realized he needs to be guarded, he was already in a rhythm. He was the heartbeat of the Fever’s offense all weekend cause of the attention he demanded, which lead to an opening for other players to get easy looks at the rim. As the summer approaches, it’ll be interesting to see how much better this team can get.
Charlie Dortch Charlie Dortch 6'7" | PF L'anse Creuse North | 2023 State CO – Rocky Mountain Fever
Charlie was a force in the paint for Fever; he is a clean-up guy that does the dirty work and has an offensive game to go with it. On top of intimidating teams with his physical appearance on the block, he also stepped outside and knocked down the occasional 3-ball. Dortch caused mismatches and forced teams to try to give him different looks. His real work was on the defensive end this past weekend; whether it was altering shots at the rim or getting a deflection In the passing lanes, he was everywhere.
Aiden Peck- Collective 16U-Ware
Aiden was a player that took people by surprise this weekend while leading his team to an undefeated record. He is a high IQ player with a balanced game. His ability to shoot the 3 off the dribble or spotting up makes him a tough cover. At 6’5, his handle catches defenders by surprise as he gets past them for an athletic finish at the rim. Aiden is also a monster on the glass; he outrebounded opposing team’s bigs, leading to fast breaks for easy layups. It will be exciting to watch the growth of Aiden this summer as he can only get better from this point.
Jalon Blackwell- Emerald City Basketball Academy
There aren’t too many hard-nosed do-it-all-type guards in grassroots tournaments anymore, so it was refreshing seeing Blackwell bring it on both sides of the floor. He’s only a freshman but has a maturity to his game that stands out and clearly proved that he is a big-time player this weekend. Jalon played guards tough every game, taking away what they did well and forcing them into bad shots. On offense, he knocked down countless shots from all over the floor with confidence, as well as getting into the lane for crafty finishes around the rim. I liked what I saw from his as one of the top standouts on the weekend.