Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals: 16U Sunday Observations
The final day of the Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals provided some good Platinum Division action. Hers’s a look at some of the 16U action. Up Next vs Grand Rapids Thunder The semifinal matchup between Up Next (KY) and…
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Continue ReadingThe final day of the Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals provided some good Platinum Division action. Hers’s a look at some of the 16U action.
Up Next vs Grand Rapids Thunder
The semifinal matchup between Up Next (KY) and Grand Rapids Thunder (MI) was an entertaining game with big momentum swings.
Grand Rapids raced out to a 17-4 lead to start the game only to see Up Next storm back to tie the game at halftime. Up Next kept things rolling by taking a 14-point lead only to see the Thunder fight back to tie the game with five minutes left.
In the end, Up Next came out on top with a 79-73 victory. Guard Kenyata Carbon (pictured) scored a game-high 22 points, mostly on twisting drives to the basket. Athletic 5’9 guard Daisjuan Mercer added 20 points. Mercer is an explosive leaper who excelled in the transition game. 6’4 2023 Marcus Eaves is a talented wing guard with plenty of upside. Up Next was smaller than most teams, but few teams played harder and competed with more intensity.
Grand Rapids Thunder was paced by its Dynamic Duo of 6’5 2023 forward Caden Pokorzynski and 6’4 2023 guard Javion Otten. They combined for 45 points in a victory over Tipping Point in the quarterfinals and 40 in the semifinals against Up Next.
Pokorzynski is a slender 6’5 combo forward with a soft shooting touch inside and out to 3-point range. Otten is an extremely talented offensive player with three-level scoring ability.
Who Else Caught My Eye
Myles Colvin 6’4 INB Elite: The 2023 Purdue commit led his team to the Platinum Division championship. He scored 28 points in a hard-earned victory over Indiana Game in the semifinals. He is a skilled athlete who can score at all three levels.
Brandon Trilli 6’4 Indiana Game: The talented wing scored 30 points in a victory over Dayton Elite in the quarterfinals. His feel for the game was excellent and he was a smooth operator as a ball handler, passer and three-level scoring threat. He played at his own controlled pace and did it very well.