Star City Classic: Kansas Forwards
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Continuing to feature players from the Star City Classic representing the state of Kansas with their Grassroots teams at one of the premier invitationals in the Mid West hosted by Nebraska and Lincoln Supreme. We will be taking a look…
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Continue ReadingContinuing to feature players from the Star City Classic representing the state of Kansas with their Grassroots teams at one of the premier invitationals in the Mid West hosted by Nebraska and Lincoln Supreme. We will be taking a look at the forwards who made impacts for their clubs.
Fred Criqui Fred Criqui 6'7" | C St. Marys | 2022 State KS , 6’7, SSA Elite 2022 Black: Had his best weekend of the spring playing against some of the highest level of competition in the post he has faced. The big man slowed himself down in the post, showed a variety of back to the basket moves featuring a right hook to the middle, right hook off the glass, and a turn around jumper. Criqui also knocked down a couple of face up jump shots, layups being the roll man, and scores on offesnive rebounds. Posted lines of 14 points and 8 rebounds, 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 points 6 rebounds in 3 of his 5 games this weekend.
Taj Manning Taj Manning 6'6" | PF Bishop Miege | 2022 KS , 6’8, Run GMC 2022 (Pictured): Constantly a difference maker on the basketball, Manning helps bring an aggressive, physical presence to Run when he is on the floor. He can live at the rim in transition, dives to the rim, and off screen and roll. Played some more on the perimeter in spots this weekend which is an added bonus to his game. Manning is a constant double double threat and high level prospect, his impact on the floor in the painted area on both ends is noticeable both when he is on and of the floor.
Bryce Beisner, 6’4, SSA Elite 2024 Black: The young big man from Beloit is slight of frame, but really long and can use his body well. Another guy who sealed well in the post all weekend, and as he continues to get comfortable catching contested post entries, should be able to get more touches. Beisner finished well with either hand in the post, sets high quality screens, and can pass out of the post. Beisner competed with some of the best 2024 posts from this spring and battled and showed flashes. This grassroots season should do wonders for the development of his game.
Aiden Sulliven, 6’8, Drive 5 2023: A well rounded forwards who does a great job on the defensive end of the floor as a rim protector, help side defender, and walling up offensive players. He is a nice compliment to Mlynek who is also featured, and provides great size, IQ, and touch aroud the rim.
Will Mlynek Will Mlynek 6'9" | C Free State | 2023 State KS , 6’9, Drive 5 2023: The big man was tremendous in the post all weekend and dominated at the 16U level in their basketball games that I watched. He is really good at sealing and using his body with his back to the basket, and if the double team did not come, he was working himself into getting an angle and getting a quality look up at the rim. He has tremendous length and size but moves pretty solid on the court. I liked how he would demand the ball in the post, communicate with teammates, and play with a chip on his shoulder.