Grind Region Finals: 16U Top Point Guards
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The Prep Hoops Circuit came to a conclusion this past weekend at the Grind Region Finals in Dallas. Some of the best grassroots programs from a variety of states took part in the event to see who would be crowned…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit came to a conclusion this past weekend at the Grind Region Finals in Dallas. Some of the best grassroots programs from a variety of states took part in the event to see who would be crowned Grind Region champions, with 68 teams competing in the 16U division. I was able to see a bunch of them in action, and will be highlighting standout prospects from the tournament throughout the week.
With that in mind, here are seven of the best point guards from the 16U division:
Max Templeman Max Templeman 5'10" | PG Carthage | 2023 MO | 2023 | 5’10’’ Point Guard | Victory Ministry 2023 | Carthage HS – Templeman’s ability to blow by defenders was on full display as he aggressively attacked the basket, finishing confidently and consistently with both hands. His foot was always on the gas, finishing his Sunday game with 22 points, most of which came at the rim. He plays downhill, possesses a quick first step, and handles the ball well against pressure. Beyond that, the Carthage guard made some excellent passes in transition and displayed overall toughness at both ends of the floor.
Jordan Saunders | 2023 | 5’9’’ Point Guard | Buddy Buckets Bahamas 2023 | Sunland Baptist Academy – Saunders started off the tournament with a bang, knocking down six triples on his way to a 24-point performance. He is a twitchy athlete who can change speeds and direction on a dime. The 2023 floor general was brilliant offensively, scoring with his outside shooting while not neglecting his role as a facilitator, showing that he is an unselfish passer. Defensively, he utilized his quickness to get into passing lanes and deflect or steal numerous passes. It was a productive all-around outing by him.
Dajon Brown | 2023 | 5’10’’ Point Guard | Family Elite 2023 | Maumelle HS – Brown put together an outstanding two-way performance on Saturday, ending the contest with 16 points. He showed off a nice collection of floaters and runners when driving to the hoop, as well as a soft touch when deploying those attempts inside. That said, it was his on-ball defense that impressed me the most. The Maumelle prospect constantly harassed opposing ball handlers, scrapping and clawing for every inch with his relentless pressure. His instincts at that end of the court were terrific.
Kaysen Gipson Kaysen Gipson 5'10" | PG Edmond Santa Fe | 2023 State OK | 2023 | 5’11’’ Point Guard | Team RUN 2023 | Edmond Santa Fe HS – Gipson is a high-level ball handler who navigated the floor beautifully on the opening night of the event. The Edmond Santa Fe guard showed good speed with the ball and was effective shooting from deep, hitting jumpers off the bounce and from the catch from beyond the arc. He always looked under control and really turned it on in the second half, hitting key shots to help his team down the stretch. Gipson ended up draining four threes and scoring 18 points in his Friday night matchup.
Camden Stewart | 2023 | 5’10’’ Point Guard | Oklahoma Swarm Elite 2023 | Southmoore HS – Stewart put up 16 points in his first game of the weekend, doing so with his jump shot from inside and outside the three-point line. He showed that he can stop-and-pop from mid-range with efficiency while also hitting some spot-up threes. The Southmoore lefty is a solid shot-maker. He got to his spots and executed, which is what you want to see from a young lead-guard looking to score. Furthermore, he played with good pace and never appeared to be too ball-dominant on offense.
Dawson Parker | 2023 | 6’1’’ Point Guard | Next Level Oklahoma 2023 | Bishop McGuinness HS – Parker looked extremely poised whenever he stepped on the court. He can really fill up the scoring column, and did exactly that on Sunday by scoring 21 points in his teams’ final game of the weekend. The 6-foot-1-inch guard played with a bit of an edge and seemingly had an answer for every run that the opposing team put together. His scoring off the drive as well as his timely three-point shooting were key to his team closing out the tournament with a victory.
Joey Brimeyer | 2023 | 5’8’’ Point Guard | State 38 Basketball 2023 Elite | Rocky Mountain HS – Brimeyer displayed fabulous decision making on Saturday. The Rocky Mountain floor general was great as a playmaker, exhibiting good vision and stellar accuracy when delivering dimes to his teammates, highlighted by an alley-oop assist off the backboard in transition. Additionally, he showed good skill by using the glass to hit tough shots from difficult angles when attacking off the dribble, as well as the ability to drill the three ball from the catch.