Spiece Run N’ Slam: 16U Standouts
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Breaking down the top individual standouts in the 16U Division from the 2021 Spiece Run’ Slam… Riley Brooks Riley Brooks 6'5" | SG Ripon | 2023 State #289 Nation WI – 2023 – SG – Phenom…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFORT WAYNE, Ind. — Breaking down the top individual standouts in the 16U Division from the 2021 Spiece Run’ Slam…
Riley Brooks Riley Brooks 6'5" | SG Ripon | 2023 State #289 Nation WI – 2023 – SG – Phenom University Team Herro
Brooks is one of the top shot makers in Wisconsin’s 2023 class. When he gets rolling, Brooks is very tough to stop. At 6-foot-5 with extended range beyond the arc, Brooks’ shot is very tough to contest. He can catch and shoot off screens or pull off the dribble with ease. Brook has some underrated playmaking ability as well. The Ripon standout doesn’t have tunnel vision when he puts the ball on the deck and still sees the floor. Given size, length, and shooting ability for the two-guard spot, think Brooks can be a coveted prospect at the Division 1 level.
Antwan Burns-Jones Antwan Burns-Jones 6'2" | SG Catholic Memorial | 2023 State WI – 2023 – SG – JH1 Elite
The Catholic Memorial guard has made some strong gains since last summer. Like his creativity and speed on the ball. Jones has a quick first step and blow-by ability as a slasher. He operates well in traffic, changes direction/speeds in transition, and can get coast-to-coast with the basketball. A two-way guard who can play the passing lanes and create turnovers, Jones often turns defense into easy offense on the other end. He’s improving as a shooter, but think Jones will make his hay as a bucket getter around the rim. He’s a very smooth and confident dribble-drive threat with excellent body control when he gets hit. A lot of upside here as well and think Jones’ best days are still ahead of him.
Finley Deischer Finley Deischer 6'0" | CG Verona | 2023 State WI – 2023 – G – Wisconsin Dynasty
An unranked player that likely played his way into the rankings, Deischer took over the second half during a win over Summit Elite. A smooth pull-up jump shooter, Deischer came down the floor and went to work in crunch time. In a low scoring, grind-it-out affair, Deischer blew the game open with some impressive playmaking. Deischer also got into the paint, drew defenders, and found open teammates for rhythm jumpers or easy buckets.
Colin Hardrick Colin Hardrick 6'3" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2022 State WI – 2022 – G – Wisconsin Playground Club
Hardrick is a 2022 prospect, but doesn’t turn 16 until August. That said, he may end up reclassifying. The Tosa West guard just went off against All-Ohio Red in Sunday’s gold semifinals. Hardrick is an explosive, three-level scorer that can put the ball in the hole in a variety of ways. He’s a blur in transition and has maybe the best layup package in the state, able to score off-balance and play the ball off the glass at different angles. Hardrick can shoot from 3-point or knock down the pump fake, one-dribble jumper. An instant offense type prospect, Hardrick can carry a team on that end of the floor. He’s pedal to the medal for every minute he’s on the floor and constantly putting pressure on the defense.
John Kinziger John Kinziger 6'0" | CG De Pere | 2023 State #257 Nation WI – 2023 – G – Phenom University Team Herro
Kinziger saved his best for last against Spiece Indy Heat. Facing a lot of fast and physical athlete, the De Pere guard was really able to break down the defense consistently and get to the rack. Kinziger had some crafty finishes against a team that had quite a bit of shot blocking. Although undersized (5-11), Kinziger is a fearless competitor and doesn’t shy away from playing amongst the trees. Adding that to his in-the-gym range shooting ability and quick trigger release, Kinziger has the potential to go off any time he steps on the floor.
Cal Klesmit Cal Klesmit 6'2" | CG Neenah | 2023 State #235 Nation WI – 2023 – G – Wisconsin Playground Club
A big scorer with a point guard’s feel, Klesmit exploded at various points during the weekend. The Neenah guard is very difficult to defend with his ability to beat defenses in a variety of ways. He’s similar to his brother, Max, now at Wofford, where he’ll light it up offensively as a scorer, but gives his team that playmaking on the ball as a dangerous passer who’s in-tune with his teammates and sees the entire floor. Klesmit got in a ridiculous zone against Ohio Basketball Club on Sunday, blowing the game open with a couple of consecutive 3’s. Klesmit isn’t fazed by a hand in his face, can extend his range beyond the arc, and when he hits one, it’s usually followed by a couple in a row. Defensively, he plays with noticeable intensity. His offense often sparks a different energy on that end of the floor.
Bennett McCormick – 2023 – W – JH1 Elite
McCormick didn’t finish around the rim as well as he would have liked on Saturday against a very good George Hill All-Indy squad, but the Catholic Memorial wing certainly knows how to get to the rim. An athletic, high-motor prospect, McCormick is constantly slashing to the bucket and almost never settles for a poor shoot. He’s very good at playing in traffic, able to spin around defenders with terrific foot quickness and fluidity. The 6-foot-3 sophomore is also a plus defender who rebounds well for his position. Also a standout football prospect, McCormick puts that open field speed to use, able to fly up the floor in transition and beat people down the floor. A guy that does a little bit of everything, McCormick led his team in scoring, rebounding, and assists last season.
Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI – 2023 – F – Phenom University Team Herro
Momcilovic played a lot better than I expected against some of the physical athletes that Team Herro ran into. The state’s top-ranked player, Momcilovic scored efficiently all weekend. He knows he needs to get bigger and stronger to defend on the interior at the college level, but I wouldn’t say he struggled to defend the paint or control the glass most of the weekend. Defenders have a very hard time with him, because getting physical doesn’t faze Momcilovic, who’s got a killer finesse game on the block or in the mid-range. Momcilovic has mastered that Dirk Nowitzki one-legged fall-away game that’s impossible to contest. Momcilovic is also a real problem in the pick n’ pop game and is getting a lot better at handling the ball in transition and getting coast-to-coast. He took over a game in the second half against gritty Beyond Ball squad to lead Team Herro to a win and came on very strong late against Spiece Indy Heat despite Sunday’s loss in the semifinals.
Reak Riak – 2023 – F – Wisconsin Dynasty
Riak was very impactful during Sunday’s win over Summit Elite. A long and lanky forward, Riak defended the rim and got on the glass at a high level. He’s a bouncy prospect who gets off the floor very quickly. With his length, Riak can grab rebounds away from his body, simply tipping the ball back to himself. Thought Riak also did a great job defensively when things broke down and opponents got clean driving lanes to the rim. Riak, who plays much bigger than his size, did a great job of staying vertical and altering shots without fouling. Including his willingness to create second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass, Riak had a lot of game-changing plays on Sunday.
Luther Smith Luther Smith 6'1" | SG Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State WI – 2023 – G – Wisconsin Playground Club
It’s obvious this kid just lives in the gym. Didn’t matter who the opponent was, Smith had no hesitation or reservations about the shots he thought he was capable of making. The Sussex Hamilton guard will likely be one of the bigger breakout players in the state next season. Smith has a mean pull-up game off the dribble and if a defender puts his hand down, there’s a good chance the shot is going up. He’s not a guy that attacks the rim a lot, but Smith can mix in a little bit of mid-range shooting off the dribble. Forcing defenders to crowd him, often well past the arc, Smith’s shooting ability also opens up a lot of driving lanes for his teammates.
William Whorton William Whorton 6'8" | PF Rufus King | 2023 State WI – 2023 – F – Wisconsin Playground Club
Whorton took some good steps forward this weekend in some high-level games. The Milwaukee King forward has always been intriguing as a very raw and athletic 6-foot-8 forward and he started to show up in bigger ways in Fort Wayne. A lot of skill work is needed, but what Whorton can do is make momentum-changing plays. When he plays with a motor and some aggressiveness, Whorton can block/alter shots, get on the offensive glass, and run the floor in transition, leading to easy buckets.
Mac Wrecke Mac Wrecke 6'5" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State #272 Nation WI – 2023 – W – Phenom University Team Herro
Wrecke just has a knack for slashing to the bucket and can power through contact or sneak the ball past lengthy, athletic defenders. A relentless wing prospect, Wrecke has a quick first-step and catches people by surprise with his explosive athleticism at the rim. Wrecke doesn’t settle for a lot of jumpers, but he’s certainly added a unique outside package to his skillset. Wrecke can face-up and shoot it from deep or hit defenders with step-back jumpers. Also like Wrecke’s approach on the floor. He’s not a guy that’s going to pump his chest or yell after a big play and let the defender hear about it. He lets his game do the talking.
Prentice Young Prentice Young 6'4" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State #273 Nation WI – 2023 – PG – Phenom University Team Herro
He suffered an injury in the final game on Sunday and was unable to put a bow on the weekend. However, this is a very recruitable prospect that brings a lot of different things to the table. A high-academic kid with excellent positional size (6-3), Young can run a team, defend at a high level, and score in spurts when needed. Young has the body and athleticism to get downhill and attack the basket. He’s just gotten better and better as a shooter over the last year as well. Love his court vision and awareness as well as the ability to lock his man up and cause havoc on the defensive end. Young is not a prospect that’s going to define how well he plays based on how many points he scores, it’s about a complete impact with him.