The Proving Grounds – Day 1 Recap
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Winter Haven, Florida. An eclectic, smaller town which is essentially a suburb of Central Florida’s largest city: Orlando. It’s nothing super fancy to look at. There aren’t tons of travelers flocking to Winter Haven to experience the sights and sounds…
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Continue ReadingWinter Haven, Florida. An eclectic, smaller town which is essentially a suburb of Central Florida’s largest city: Orlando. It’s nothing super fancy to look at. There aren’t tons of travelers flocking to Winter Haven to experience the sights and sounds of its petite downtown. But there are people flooding in for a different reason. One that may seem strange to one who didn’t enjoy the Danish toy brand as a child. Winter Haven is home to Legoland.
This is a fact I’ve been reminded of many times throughout my short stay (I’ve been greeted my Mr. Legoworth every morning walking into the hotel lobby). And while it may be a stretch, I feel like the basketball programs who have been working their hardest to prove their worth this weekend resemble a Lego set. They’re a combination of seemingly random pieces who have come together to create some incredible basketball magic. There’s the struggle to put it together sometimes, but when all of the pieces align, it creates a colorful, fantastic work that transcends all other artforms. We’ve turned the AdventHealth Fieldhouse into our own Legoland this week. So, welcome in. We’re excited you’re here.
Here’s your recap of Day 1 here at the Proving Grounds:
17U: Talent galore shone throughout the day in the oldest division at the tournament. Here are some of the individuals who really made their mark:
Karlo Colak Karlo Colak 6'5" | SG New Trier | 2022 State IL from Hoops 4 Health had a great day. He proved to everyone once again that he is one of the absolute best scorers available at the high school level, and can kill from all 3 levels. His midrange game feels like a page out of a textbook while he slashes and gets to perfect spots to elevate for jumpshots. If you’re matched up with Colak, be aware of his abilities and try to think of some way to stop him, if you can.
Muhammed Mbye from MVA Outlawz is one of the stranger prospects I’ve come across in recent memory. The big guard plays like a guard with the size of a wing and the build of a football player. Add an automatic 3-point jumper to the mix, and you’ve created a chimera guy that is both strange but also incredibly scary. His MVA Outlawz are 2-0 to start the weekend.
Aaron Barton Aaron Barton 6'1" | SG Southeast | 2023 FL from Blacktop Basketball. Blacktop had a rough super Saturday with a 0-4 record, but Aaron Barton Aaron Barton 6'1" | SG Southeast | 2023 FL turned the heads of players and scouts alike all over the gym. Barton can shoot the ball at a high clip and can get to his spots well, but where Barton really stands out is his electric finishing ability. He’s crafty and can finish over players of all statures, making him a real offensive threat against all levels of competition.
16U:
Aidan Singleton Aidan Singleton 6'1" | PG John Carroll Catholic | 2023 FL from Ball4Lyfe United 2023 was on a mission all morning. His ability to get to the basket and finish was second to none in his age division, and he was by far the best finisher in the entire gym at times. Singleton put up 25 points in a big win against Team TMac 2023 and should be a guy to watch for all weekend.
Nehemiah Turner Nehemiah Turner 6'8" | PF Auburndale | 2023 State FL from Team TMac. The big man is the heaviest and tallest guy in the 16U division, making him an immediate threat. Turner can finish on the interior with ease and can always be in the right spot for an easy finish. And despite his size, Turner spent the early morning showing that he can get up with ease, making him a scary guy to see coming down the lane.
15U:
Luke Goldman from SSA Soldiers. The kid just can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. He’s a great shooter, can move and shift defenders to get to the basket. And can finish over bigger defenders with both hands. He’s a big reason why the SSA Soldiers have been a scary matchup for most of the weekend.
Reggie Reinhardt from Stampede Elite. Reinhardt can shoot the ball very well and score against all kinds of defenses. He score 24 points in a big win over 16U Ocala Impact in a cross-division game. He average 22.5 PPG over his first 2 games at the Proving Grounds and is expected to continue his tear tomorrow morning.