#PHGrindRegionFinals: 15U Top Downhill Guards
Fort Worth, Texas — The Grind Region Finals, presented by Prep Hoops was the final stop on the Prep Hoops Circuit and it lived up to all of the hype. This tournament brought out 50 teams from all over the…
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Continue ReadingFort Worth, Texas — The Grind Region Finals, presented by Prep Hoops was the final stop on the Prep Hoops Circuit and it lived up to all of the hype. This tournament brought out 50 teams from all over the South and Midwest to compete to be the Grind Region Finals Champions. This action-packed event was filled with 4 and 5-star recruits, dynamic scorers, slam dunkers, floor generals, up-and-coming big men, and future nationally ranked prospects. Here we’ll take a look at the top slashers from the 15U division.
Kemar Cyrus | 6thman Oklahoma 2024 | Oklahoma City, OK
This score-first point guard was a terror coming downhill, anytime Cyrus attacked the basket with a full head of steam he was destined to get a bucket. Kemar Cyrus displayed phenomenal open court speed that allowed him to consistently put up points in transition. This Oklahoman was by far one of the fastest point guards of the event and there’s no debate about it. Not only was he extremely quick and speedy off the dribble with solid explosion, but Cyrus also ate defenders up with his impressive footwork on the drive where he continuously displayed multiple ways of stepping, sliding, and spinning through and around men with ease. Kemar sliced through defenses using his shifty crossovers and in and out moves before capping the possession off with one of his many crafty layups. This kid displayed pro-like finishes underneath the rim all while absorbing contact from much bigger and stronger opponents.
D.J. Johnson | Victory Academy 2024 Gold | Fort Worth, TX
The Victory Academy combo guard proved to be an all-around ballplayer that scores in bunches and can rack up foul calls the entire game. Johnson is an excellent athlete with very fluid motions on the ground as well as in the air where he showcased his amazing body control. Very graceful when taking flight, Johnson did an exceptional job of drawing and absorbing contact while finishing the play in mid-air. His knack for making off-balance shots often got opposing teams into foul trouble early on, created and-one opportunities, and kept the defense honest. D.J. Johnson is full of upside and he showed the talents of a complete guard as he consistently excelled while playing at a fast pace, usually looking to take or create high percentage shots for the offense.
Cody Lechlider | Tulsa Hawks 2024 Blue | Owasso, OK
Cody Lechlider is a promising player that impacted each game with his elite dribble penetration skills. His smooth blow-by along with his lengthy strides gave him the capability to take off past closing out defenders or get around players when tightly guarded. The Tulsa Hawks guard displayed some impressive shiftiness to his dribble in the half-court set, constantly changing directions, shifting gears, and using deceptive body movements in order to get through the lane. This 6-foot-1-inch prospect also showcased great athleticism on the fast break with his full-court speed and high flying leaping ability.
Malachi Schilreff | Oklahoma Basketball Club 2024 | Byng, OK
6-foot guard, Malachi Schilreff was a slasher like no other. He showed terrific scoring instincts when working his way into the teeth of the defense for the layup. The most impressive thing about his ability to attack the lane was that he didn’t always need the screen to get free, Schilreff used a couple of between the legs dribbles followed by a crossover or behind-the-back move before finishing the job. Anytime Malachi met resistance at the rim he powered his way through the defender and often times converted the shot.
J’ylon Nobles | Young Pro Basketball 2024 | Waco, TX
Nobles was a big-time breakout performer that put his full scoring skillset on display when he burst out with a 22 point performance against Victory Ministry. This pure bucket getter played with a score-first and second mentality. J’ylon Nobles looked like an expert when attempting to create his own shot off the bounce. He easily got through the lane when attacking the hoop from the top of the key and proceeded to either make a tough shot or draw the foul call. Nobles’ knack for drawing contact resulted in him being at the free-throw line all game, anytime this point guard got inside the lane he threw his body into the chest of the defender on his way up. This Young Pro Basketball prospect did an excellent job of getting downhill to his spots and also sizing his man up before swiftly blowing by them. J’ylon Nobles displayed a great way of getting clean looks in the mid-range area by utilizing pump fakes and side steps, any shot he took around the elbows was easy money for him.