GRMC 16U All-Out Effort
In this article:
There were plenty of long-range bombs, high-rising dunks, and crafty crossover dibbles at the Grind Region Memorial Classic in Kansas City. But nothing brings a smile to a coach’s face quicker than a dive on the floor or a sprint…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere were plenty of long-range bombs, high-rising dunks, and crafty crossover dibbles at the Grind Region Memorial Classic in Kansas City. But nothing brings a smile to a coach’s face quicker than a dive on the floor or a sprint out of bounds after a loose ball, a drawn charge, or a fearless contest at the rim.
Effort makes a good player great, and it wins everyone favor in the eyes of a coach.
Here are some guys who stood out for their all-out effort in the 16U ranks of the GRMC (in alphabetical order):
Sam Leatherwood, 5-foot-9 guard, GABL Future – Hoisington, Rockhurst HS:
Does this guy get after it or what? Leatherwood plays with extreme passion, leaving everything he has on the floor. Once he contested a ball in the air and wound up going entirely over the back of an opponent, coming down in an impressive handstand on the other side. He runs the floor, dives for every loose ball, and defends with intensity.
Isaiah Lyons, 5-foot-8 guard, KS 94×50 Elite, Topeka West:
Lyons is tough. A 2024 who played up in KC, Lyons plays the game at high speed and with a quiet intensity. His facial expression never changes, but he battles at both ends, drawing fouls driving through contact, moving the ball quickly, and battling bigger players when the ball goes up. Lyons is a gritty guard who does all the little things.
Devin Owens, 5-foot-8 guard, Go Hard Basketball STL, Parkway West HS:
Owens had to lead the Go Hard club because it was forced to elevate a bunch of 15U’s to fill in. He took charge, and gave everything he had for the team. He is a hard-driving guard who likes to pull up for jumpers. With a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, he showed off ability to score on drives, drop floaters, hit step-back jumpers, and just about everything a guard has to do to get shots off.
Cole Peppenhorst Cole Peppenhorst 6'4" | PF Breese Mater Dei | 2023 State IL , 6-foot-5 forward, Illinois Bears 1, Breese Mater Dei HS:
One of the most fun “effort guys” in KC, Peppenhorst plays with an impressive abandon. He attacks the rim so hard, bodies are often strewn on the floor when it’s over. Same goes for defensive rebounding. He plays through a ton of contact and draws a lot of fouls. Peppenhorst is a well-rounded, talented player, but his effort takes the talent to another level.
Max Templeman Max Templeman 5'10" | PG Carthage | 2023 MO , 5-foot-9 guard, Victory Ministry, Carthage HS (pictured):
Another really enjoyable player to watch not just for his skill, but for his all-out style. Templeman is a really effective guard, scoring a lot of points on his own, running the offense and getting the ball to shooters. He slashes into the lane and hits acrobatic shots from all angles. As for effort, he probably spent more time on the floor than just about anyone at KC. His quickness and intensity leads to a lot of scrums and loose balls, and Templeman is the first to hit the deck.