#PHGatewayToTheWest 17U All-Tourney Teams
First Team Micah Johnson | 6’0″ PG | CYAL Rebels Nobody controlled the game at the point guard position better than Johnson this weekend. He pushed the pace without rushing, and made quick, accurate decisions. When he got himself into…
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Micah Johnson | 6’0″ PG | CYAL Rebels
Nobody controlled the game at the point guard position better than Johnson this weekend. He pushed the pace without rushing, and made quick, accurate decisions. When he got himself into the lane, he put his defender in jail with his backside, while scanning the floor and engaging the big. The moment the big committed, he immediately fired the pass to the right location. He blocked shots, terrorized ball handlers at the point of attack, and remained active off the ball in passing lanes. It was a complete performance from the Rebels lead guard.
Sam Slight | 6’5″ SF | Arena Basketball Club
The spatial awareness Slight showed over the weekend was quite impressive. He opened up so many opportunities for his team’s offense with his cutting. Slight does not waste opportunities. If the space to cut into is available, but the ball handler is not in position to deliver him the ball, he does not take the space. He patiently waits for his teammates eyes to come to him before quickly capitalizing on the opportunity. In addition, he rebounded at a high rate, shot the ball well from distance, and attacked pressure defense on the perimeter to finish at the rim.
Myles Thompson | 6’7″ PF | Kansas Players
Too many bigs these days have no clue how to utilize their size, but Thompson does not waste what he has. He will stick his back side into you and not let you move. He does work early to get deep post position, and offers up a large target for his teammates to get him the ball. After receiving the ball, Thompson showed excellent touch inside despite the contest. When he forced defenses to send extra help, Thompson calmly dissected the coverage and delivered the pass over the top easily.
Tash Lunday | 6’5″ PF | Sacred Hoops (pictured)
Tash experienced some disadvantages in height at the PF/C position this weekend, but he utilized his skill and craft to overcome that. He consistently beat his matcup down the floor, which led to some easy finishes in transition. A lot of bigs who set screens in the pick and roll just automatically roll to the same spot, or automatically pop at the same angle depending on their skill set. Lunday read the defenders involved in the screen and roll and chose his attack accordingly. He showed the same read-and-react ability on defense when defending the screen and roll. Sacred Hoops was not an automatic switching team, but when Lunday noticed his guard got caught up too far, he quickly jumped in front of the ball handler and had enough mobility to contain the drive and recover.
Jamison Gruber | 6’1″ CG | SW Iowa Impact Black
Gruber led his team to a 4-0 record in Omaha, and did it with an aggressive mentality when scoring and playmaking. A capable shooter, but he always looked for gaps to attack for looks at the rim. He is slippery in the lane, and can finish with either hand. If the defense stuck with his drive or sent extra help, though, he consistently made the next pass and relocated. One of the better micro skills Gruber showed was his ability to keep his dribble alive, even in traffic, and continue to scan the court. He probed and weaved in the lane until a cutter emerged, and he was able to deliver it accurately and on time.
Second Team
Mikele Kambalo | 5’10” PG | Sacred Hoops
Phillip Sheetz | 5’11” SG | Up North Elite
Ryan Dolphin | 5’8″ SG | Iowa Mavs Grey
James Gninefou | 6’0″ SF | Team Factory
Carson Woodford | 6’7″ C | SW Minnesota Stars
Third Team
Keyshawn Brooks | 6’1″ SG | Iowa Chill
Cahlese Lee | 6’2″ SG | Next Level Oklahoma
Riley Purcell | 6’1″ CG | Northstar Titans Barker
Cade Guinn | 6’6″ PF | Iowa Prep Red
Keeon Hutton | 6’4″ CG | Arena Basketball Club