15U players who caught my eye on Day 1 of Grit Memorial Classic
Camden Thompson, Hardwood Midwest 2025, SF, 6-4 – This kid was without a doubt the hardest working player on the floor, despite being one of the most talented. Seriously. He was everywhere. You name it and he was there –…
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Continue ReadingCamden Thompson, Hardwood Midwest 2025, SF, 6-4 – This kid was without a doubt the hardest working player on the floor, despite being one of the most talented. Seriously. He was everywhere. You name it and he was there – battling for rebounds, slicing and dicing down the lane for a nice teardrop bucket or layup, spacing the floor then shooting a dagger 3, or bringing the ball up and down the court … he did it all. This freshman will only build his attention base as he matures.
Kailin Destin, Castle Athletics, CG, 6-0 – Talk about a mature freshman. Destin displayed a level-headed and even-keeled approach when I saw him. There were no herky-jerky moves or start-and-stops. He was deliberate and confident in everything he did. Several times he waved his teammates off a potential screen or pick and took his defender off the dribble instead. Guess what? He finished at the rim more times than not. You can’t put a price on the ability to create. If you add all that to his quick-hands, always-looking-for-a-steal approach and his heads-up, helper attitude on offense, you have one mean freshman.
Aiden Black Aiden Black 6'0" | PG Laurels Highlands | 2025 State PA , Coast 2 Coast, PG, 5-9 – My favorite part about his game is his vision. For a freshman, he sees the floor extraordinarily well. Not many passing lanes or options are taken away from him. Even if you think you have him stopped, he gets creative and finds a way anyway. This ability to create happened over and over again. Whether he through a bounce pass through the legs of the opponent to break the press or got his teammates wide open shots before they knew they were open, it was always something good when the ball was in his hands.
Hunter Streb Hunter Streb 6'5" | C Spencerport | 2025 State NY , Team Cray 2025, PF, 6-4 – This wiry, but strong forward stood out with a solid inside-outside offensive attack on Saturday. He used his long arms as a buffer between his opponent and his shot. He was accurate from inside three feet to the foul line extended, with some post points throw in for good measure. He knows how to shoot and beat a defense, and with his great defensive instincts, he should be in high demand when schools can start offering him.
David Cartwright, Team Takeoff 2025, Wing, 6-3 – Athlete. That’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw Cartwright for the first time. He wasn’t just athletic, though. But he was daring and bold. He saw shots few other players saw, and he was willing to take them, even if it required some circus moves to pull off. In one of the evening games, he went up and under, then on another shot he flew through the lane for a smooth lay-in off the class.