Hard Work Region 15U Finals: Best Inside Presences
There were plenty of lengthy, strong, and athletic forwards competing in the 15U bracket at the Hard Work Region Finals this past weekend. Here are some bigs that stood out to me. Robert Booker– 6’6″ Forward- Wisconsin Academy Elite/Waunakee Robert…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere were plenty of lengthy, strong, and athletic forwards competing in the 15U bracket at the Hard Work Region Finals this past weekend. Here are some bigs that stood out to me.
Robert Booker– 6’6″ Forward- Wisconsin Academy Elite/Waunakee
Robert has a great frame as he stands 6’6″ and has a good amount of muscle on his frame compared to other prospects his age. He’s an athletic leaper and he is really quick up and down the floor for how tall he is. He does a good job of finishing around the rim and was particularly good at powering up and through any sort of contact. I liked his willingness to roll to the rim on pick and rolls as well as his energy on the offensive glass. He’s going to have the chance to be a versatile defender down the line as he’s already quick enough to stay with guards and his length can bother opposing shot attempts so easily. He’s comfortable putting the ball on the floor and playing on the perimeter, but I want to see him develop more range on his jumper since that will allow him to play the role of the stretch four or oversized wing.
Kardeair Ellis– 6’7″ Forward- Kevon Looney Power 5
Kardeair is a super raw but huge post prospect. He’s super strong and he’s fairly mobile. he’s a great screener and it felt like he was always looking to set them. He runs to the screen, seeks out the defender instead of the spot, then opens up and looks to roll or crash the boards. On the defensive end, he’s not quite quick enough to effectively switch, but he does a good job of staying long and finding ways to alter any offensive player’s shot that he can. He needs to develop more touch around the basket to finish off more of the scoring chances he gets. I’d also like him to look to post up on the low block more often since he’s so big. However, he has plenty of time to develop his skill set and his measurables are pretty great.
Kenny Jones– 6’3″ Forward- MN Chill Elite/Coon Rapids
Kenny is slightly undersized for the position he plays, but he’s super athletic and lightning-fast. He’s a super exciting defensive prospect because his combination of long arms and quickness allow him to guard pretty much anyone. He can fight around in the post to take away a passing angle or he can switch onto a guard in a pick-and-roll and force a tie-up or a 5-second call. Then, when he gets the chance to run the floor, he just takes off. He doesn’t always get the ball, but he seems to always fill the right lane, which gets either him or a teammate open. He can handle the ball and attack the rim, but he needs to tighten up his mechanics on his jumpshot since he’s too undersized to be solely a low-post presence. His defense and athleticism are exciting, and his offensive skill set will come along as he continues to mature, especially if he works as hard as he did this weekend.
Kyle Jorgenson– 6’6″ Forward- MN Chill Elite/MPLS Washburn
Kyle has a bit of classic big man style to his game. He’s not the fastest guy or the highest jumper, but he’s smart and skilled. He had one possession where he grabbed a defensive board, dribbled around a few defenders, then finished with a high step-through layup in traffic. A few minutes later, he catches in the high post, faces up, then knocks down the 15-foot jumper over a defender. He’s got good touch from the low block, good hands, and enough mobility and length to cover ground defensively. He needs to add some strength and get better at finishing through contact as he missed a few easy chances, but his skill set will provide him with the opportunity to play a key role this winter for Washburn.
Richard Lindsey– 6’4″ forward- Swish Chicago/Simeon
Richard is listed at 6’4″ but his long arms and great leaping ability make him seem even taller. He played mostly the 4 spot with Swish Chicago this past weekend, but he can slide up to the 3 as well. His biggest strength this weekend was rebounding. He does a good job of setting himself on the opposite side of the hoop and then finding a body to box out so that he can secure the board. Once he goes up and gets it, there’s no taking it from him. He’s strong and unafraid to put the ball on the floor to get it up the court. His jumpshot and decision-making need to develop a bit more, but his raw strength and athletic ability make him a player to keep an eye on.