Run N Slam: Great Eight
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Where to start with the ridiculously talented field at the Run N Slam tournament in Fort Wayne? At the beginning of the week I gave you the Elite 11 performers from the class of 2023. Today we’ll move into the…
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Continue ReadingWhere to start with the ridiculously talented field at the Run N Slam tournament in Fort Wayne? At the beginning of the week I gave you the Elite 11 performers from the class of 2023. Today we’ll move into the classes of 2024 and 2025. As with Monday’s column I covered a fair amount of the top players from theses two classes in my Saturday Superlatives column. I would encourage you to check that out.
It doesn’t feel right to leave these eplayers out. So I dropped a completely arbitrary All Tournament First Team. Followed by some brief quick hitters on each player. A new batch of “Great Eight” players from the field follows.
2024 and 2025 All Tournament 1st Team
PG Tayshawn Bridges Tayshawn Bridges 6'2" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2024 #86 Nation GA 6-2 2024 Milwaukee Academy of Science (WI) Super explosive guard with a really tight handle and big time bounce
SG Trey McKenney Trey McKenney 6'4" | CG Orchard Lake St. Mary's | 2025 State #27 Nation MI 6-4 2025 Orchard Lake St Mary’s (MI) Already owns a varied and refined scoring skill set
SF Jalen Haralson Jalen Haralson 6'7" | PG La Lumiere | 2025 #8 Nation IN 6-6 2025 Fishers (IN) So much athletic upside in this wing. But also has a skilled and mature game.
PF Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6'8" | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN 6-7 2025 Heritage Hill (IN) Big time finisher at the rim. Along with Haralson made noise playing up a grade level with Indy Heat
C Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN 6-10 2024 Kokomo (IN) A veritable pogo stick around the basket. If it was in his hands anywhere near the paint. It was a powerful dunk
2024
Travis Perry Travis Perry 6'2" | PG Lyon County | 2024 State #115 Nation KY 6-1 Lyon County (KY) Had arguably the finest individual performance I witnessed on the weekend. Did it all in a dramatic two point victory over a very good Indy Heat squad (see above) Like fellow Buegrass backcourt prospect Reed Sheppard Reed Sheppard 6'3" | PG North Laurel | 2023 State #22 Nation KY doesn’t pass the initial eye test. I wouldn’t call him the quickest point guard prospect I have seen. But more than made up for it with an intelligent floor game and guile. Also kept defenders honest with a knock down outside shot. I’m not sure if I saw him miss all weekend. Was good at finding teammate Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN on lobs for several big finishes. The Kentucky guard has already accumulated a staggering number of points in his short high school career. But I saw the makings of next level floor general in his play this weekend for Indiana Elite.
Jaquan Johnson Jaquan Johnson 5'10" | PG Pius XI | 2024 State WI 5-9 Pius XI (WI) While fellow Wisconsinite Tayshawn Bridges Tayshawn Bridges 6'2" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2024 #86 Nation GA came in with more press. It was Johnson who went home with the hardware. Pint sized point guard prospect led Wisconsin Playground Club to the Platinum Bracket Championship. Powerfully built frame that sheds defenders as he drives. Relentless penetrator is always in attack the basket mode. But was a willing and able passer when the shot wasn’t there. Used said frame to draw fouls and was very good at getting to line. Clutch performer as virtually all of WPC’s games came down to the wire. There is a certain amount of charisma and moxie one needs to be a big time prospect at his size. Johnson has this and is a player to watch in the next few years.
Stevie Clark Stevie Clark 6'6" | SF Oshkosh North | 2024 State #322 Nation WI 6-6 Oshkosh North (WI) The beneficiary of many of Johnson dishes. Clark is a skilled and versatile scorer. Has a slender frame. But has the size, length, and more importantly the competitiveness to play down low. Doesn’t get pushed around and provides plenty of punishment back. Is a good spot up shooter who rises easily above his opponents. A big time threat in the open court as well. Is a long strider with with enough elevation to play well above the rim.
Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL 6-5 Compass Prep (AZ) (pictured at top) Has been off the radar in the Midwest a bit after transferring to the national prep powerhouse in Arizona. The Chicago bred forward was back playing with the Mac Irvin Fire. And he made himself right at home. I was impressed with his defensive ability a in dramatic victory over Power 5. The Wisconsin team was guard oriented and not very big. Riddle hedged out on the perimeter aggressively against their backcourt and caused problems. But also used his size and length to be a presence around the rim. Compass is slated to play on the NIBC in the upcoming season. So his national profile could begin to rise.
Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL 6-7 2024 Peoria Notre Dame (IL) A prototypical modern stretch four. Has solid well put together frame. Able to bang down low. But skilled and had a very soft touch from the perimeter. Range easily stretched out past the three point line. Not a stationery shooter and showed good off ball movement. Rare for a player his size and age. Used good footwork to get into his shooting motion quickly and efficiently. Also used pump fakes effectively as defenders began to close out on him quickly.
2025
Malachi Moreno Malachi Moreno 6'11" | C Great Crossing | 2025 State #21 Nation KY 6-10 Great Crossing (KY) Where to start with an Indiana Elite squad that went undefeated on the weekend against a buzz saw of competition. I’m going to single out the presence in the middle. Moreno is the type of prospect you don’t need a roster identify. Has eye opening measurements. A legitimate 6-10 with a well put together frame. Doesn’t need grow into his body and is quite mobile and coordinated already. Was a dominant presence around the rim in the decisive championship victory over All Ohio Red. Powerful early finish set the tone for the game.
Mark Zackery Mark Zackery 6'0" | PG Ben Davis | 2025 State #398 Nation IN 6-0 Ben Davis (IN) I have watched this point guard wreak havoc all spring with Team Teague on the Prep Hoops Circuit. More of the same in Fort Wayne. An elite ball handler who moves around the court at a different pace than everyone else. Almost like a hockey player with how gracefully moves around the court. Weaves easily in and out of traffic. Not very tall. But has very long arms that allow him to play larger than his listed height. Had an excellent game against The Family on Saturday morning. Showed his elevation by finishing off that victory with a dunk.
Carson Vis Carson Vis 6'3" | PG Grand Rapids South Christian | 2025 State MI 6-3 Grand Rapids South Christian (MI) This prospect has been on my radar since catching him at two separate exposure events last fall. Didn’t put up the counting statistics as much this season as he plays in a deep program. That changed this weekend. For my money the best 2025 program I have seen this spring is the Mac Irvin Fire. Vis put up 29 points in a Sunday afternoon elimination victory over that squad. An effortless three level scorer who plays with no fear. Finishes well at the rim despite not having the thickest frame. Aided by seemingly being ambidextrous around the basket. Trending towards being a big time recruit from the west side in the state of Michigan.