NHR State 15U: Best Hustle Players
The NHR state tournament was loaded with high-level talent across all levels. At the 15u level, so many prospects put together great performances. These are the players who may have not put up big numbers or had the most talent…
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Continue ReadingThe NHR state tournament was loaded with high-level talent across all levels. At the 15u level, so many prospects put together great performances. These are the players who may have not put up big numbers or had the most talent but had the heart and hustle to stand out.
Eli Hoelz– 5’10” guard- Central MN Cougars/Brainerd
Eli did a great job of playing his role for the Cougars. His team made a deep run in the tournament and he was a big reason as to how they did it. He has a solid pull-up jumper and he knocked down multiple threes. On defense, he did a good job of rotating over for charges and he played very actively with his hands to get plenty of steals. I liked how simple he kept the game and how he never got too high or too low. He never tried to force anything or do too much with the ball in his hands, and he never got down on himself if he made a mistake. I want him to work on his handle so that he can be more confident as a point guard or as the ball-handler in pick-and-roll.
Aydan Helder– 6’2″ wing- MN Heat Bohrer/Stewartville
Aydan is a classic glue guy for Heat Bohrer. He’s not the tallest or the strongest, but he plays so hard and he’s constantly aggressive. My favorite part of his play from this weekend was how willing he was to crash the offensive glass or dive on a loose ball. You never had to question his effort. On top of that, he’s a solid finisher that is very capable of finishing in traffic and through contact. On defense, you could constantly hear his talk as he communicated screens and positioning to his teammate. I want him to continue to develop his jumper as that will add more scoring opportunities to his game. With how hard he plays, Aydan certainly has the capability to be a valuable player for Stewartville over the next few years.
Timmy Guler– 5’11” guard- MN Comets Elite/Pelican Rapids
Timmy might have been the best on-ball defender I saw the whole weekend. He gets into a good stance, keeps his hands off, and moves his feet to cut off defenders. He did a really good job of blowing up screens and using his quickness to make opponents do things they weren’t comfortable doing. What’s even more impressive is how he does it against opponents bigger or smaller than him. On the offensive end, he showed he could handle the ball and run the offense. I want to see him be more assertive as far as scoring, but I appreciate how patient and methodical he plays.
Jevon Kiros– 5’10” guard- MN Rush/Champlin Park
If Timmy was the best on-ball defender I saw, Jevon was a close second or third. He has a really strong frame and long arms that he uses to his advantage. On offense, Jevon is a floor general. He knows when to push the pace and when to slow the game down. His passes are always crisp and on time. He’s crafty about how he gets into the paint and finishes off attacks with runners or floaters. He rebounds well on both ends for his position. I’d like to see Jevon develop his ability to shoot the ball as that will open up opportunities to drive and distribute.
Aloyisius Nyapan– 6’1″guard- MN Heat Fleury/Coon Rapids
Aloyisius had more steals than I could count in the game that I watched him play. He shows great anticipation and timing when he jumps the passing lane. Then, he turns on the jets and attacks his opponents in transition. His end-to-end speed was some of the best I saw all weekend. He finished off a lot of opportunities around the basket through his use of floaters and euro steps. I want to see him more patience. He tended to force the issue which led to bad possessions for his squad.