Rumble in the Rapids: 16 U All Tournament Teams
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The Prep Hoops Circuit made its first and only scheduled stop in Michigan. While not the biggest field in terms of quantity of teams. The quality of talent was at a high level. Following are the first and second all…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit made its first and only scheduled stop in Michigan. While not the biggest field in terms of quantity of teams. The quality of talent was at a high level. Following are the first and second all tournament teams for the 16 and under age group.
Jake Stephens Jake Stephens 6'3" | CG Chelsea | 2024 State MI 6-2 Chelsea (MI) DV45 rolled to undefeated record. Earning a top 5 circuit ranking in the process. Those are the numbers. Now I’m going to throw them out. Because numbers don’t do justice to this players well rounded game. Has a game that defies positional categories. I’m going to settle on “point forward.” A pass first player who always has his head up. Has a thick and athletic build that allows to effectively play all five positions at the high school level. Plays a mature throwback style of basketball. The ball doesn’t stick in his hands and he is in constant motion off the ball.
Brayden Foster Brayden Foster 6'8" | C Highlands | 2024 State PA 6-8 Lands (PA) My “find” of the tournament. One the best parts of covering an AAU tournament is discovering a player you have never heard of that blows you away. This Pittsburgh area post might have been the best long term prospect I saw all weekend. The physical gifts are simply that tantalizing. A legitimate 6-8 athletic frame. Has room to add weight but won’t need to add too much. Fluid athlete who gets up and down the court well. Showed good hands by catching a few difficult passes. Had multiple two handed dunks. Completed with ease without the need for a power dribble. Seems to know what his position is. Didn’t venture out much on the perimeter. But didn’t need to. Led Coast 2 Coast-NY to an undefeated record on the weekend. A top 50 player in the state of Pennsylvania.
Nick Glover 6-5 Warren Central (IN) If this was a “two weekend” all tournament team. Glover would have a solo MVP designation. Earned second team all tournament placement last weekend at Havoc in the Heartland. Was even better in Grand Rapids. Four double doubles allowed INB Platinum Elite to post an undefeated record. This wasn’t a “mouse in the house” situation. Did this against two of the finer post prospects in West Michigan. Both Cameron Regnerus Cameron Regnerus 6'7" | PF Grandville | 2024 State MI (West Michigan Future) and Layne Risdon Layne Risdon 6'9" | C Zeeland East | 2024 State MI (see below- West Michigan Lakers) had significant length advantages. Glover neutralized with his aggression and strength. Had a nice finish out in transition against West Michigan Future. Showed a clutch gene in helping INB pull out close victories in both contests.
Evan Haverkamp 6-7 McBain (MI) Played up an age division for REAL Basketball. You would need a program to know that. Nothing about his thick athletic frame says 2024. Played well against a Grand Park Premier squad on Sunday. Aggressively established deep post position against a five man team that was missing its big guy. Plays at a storied high school program where defense and rebounding ability are a given. Is on quite an upward trajectory as a prospect. When I saw him last summer in a team camp. I would not have projected this level of development. Also had a rough start to the regular high school season as he adjusted to the varsity level. Finished with a flourish and a district title. With his recent grassroots performance will be one of the top big men in Northern Michigan regardless of class.
Justin Lifshay 5-10 Warren Cousino (MI) Unheralded Detroit area guard really made some noise with the Michigan Goonies. Not very big but shot the ball well all weekend. Standout contest was the Saturday opener. Netted 24 point in a decisive victory over Minnesota Magic. Formed a nice backcourt duo with 2025 Troy point guard Mason Parker Mason Parker PG Troy | 2025 State MI . Feels like it’s been a while since Cousino has produced a college prospect (Matt Balkema maybe) If Lifshay can increase his quickness and tighten his handle in the next two years. He could end that drought.
Second Team
Braylon Isom Braylon Isom 6'1" | SG Saginaw Heritage | 2024 State MI 6-3 Saginaw Heritage (MI) If Stephens is the engine under the hood of the DV45 machine. Isom is the sports car that passes you like you are standing still on the highway. Powerfully built athlete had his usual highlight reel dunks. But also showed continuing perimeter development. Defenders used to have two options. They could force him to shoot or camp out in the lane and summon the courage to try and take a charge. Isom has a improving perimeter shot. And he is now using his body control to elude contact in the lane.
Brayden Szamrej Brayden Szamrej 6'2" | PG Hudsonville | 2024 State MI 6-1 Hudsonville (MI) Point guard has been on my radar since an electric performance in a Christmas tournament this past year. While he has played well for West Michigan Future this spring. Sunday was the first time I saw a glimpse of the potential I think he has. Deeps threes, penetration, and precision one handed whip passes off the dribble. It was all there in two victories. Closed out the tournament with 20 points in a victory over God’s Gift 2023.
Larenz Walters Larenz Walters 6'2" | PG Kankakee | 2024 State IL 6-0 Kankakee (IL) Chicago area guard shot the ball well for Old Gold 2024 on Sunday. Nearly led a miraculous comeback against a good United Pesuit squad that has a few shooters of their own. Finished with 14 points in that contest. Also got some work in with the 2023 squad on the weekend.
Layne Risdon Layne Risdon 6'9" | C Zeeland East | 2024 State MI 6-9 Zeeland East (MI) Like Walters the tallest player in the field put in a little extra work on the weekend. In addition to playing with a 2024 squad that went 3-1. Tested himself by heading a few miles down the road and getting a run in with a short handed 2023 West Michigan Lakers unit. Dueled Nick Glover and INB down the buzzer. Had a chance to win it. But his reverse lay up fell just short. However this play highlighted how his extreme length makes him a threat in the post. If he establishes deep position he’s going to get a good luck. A ton of upside due to his physical gifts.
Wyatt Zepp 6-6 Northridge (IN) Tough to pick a player from a very balanced 5 Star-Landis squad that went undefeated and frankly untested on the weekend. I’m going go with the man in the middle. First caught Zepp last summer in the Grit Region Finals. He looked like a bit of project then. He’s obviously put the work in and has come a long way in a year. Posed 11 points in a victory against Michigan based Camp Darryl. Had a exclamation point dunk in that contest as well.