Six prospects that caught my eye on the opening night of the Summer Challenge:
Ty Pflughaupt Ty Pflughaupt 6'4" | SG North Linn | 2024 State IA — F — Iowa Prep — 16U
I really love Pflughaupt’s overall game. There isn’t much on the court that the forward doesn’t excel at. He is an excellent shooter, creative ball handler, underrated passer, and great on defense. He has very quick feet, which he uses to stay in front of opposing offensive players. Pflughaupt also uses his length to block shots and protect the paint.
Griffin Gerdes — PG — Iowa Prep — 16U
Gerdes is a very fun prospect to watch. The point guard is super flashy and really talented as a scorer. The Iowa Prep standout has a tight handle and a beautiful jumper. If opposing defenders give him an inch of space, the PG is going to get a shot up, and it is probably going to go in. He is also very skilled as a slasher. He has a super quick first step, which he uses to blow by defenders. Keep an eye on Gerdes moving forward.
Aiden Bruce — G — KC Red Storm — 16U
Bruce was all over the place on Friday night. The guard was making some big-time plays on both ends. He has an effective stroke from deep, as he made multiple threes on Friday night. I thought that he was also very active on defense. The guard is super scrappy and always giving 100 percent effort. Overall, I thought that Bruce had an extremely impressive showing in the first night of the Summer Challenge.
Efe Yardimci — G — Full Package 16U
Yardimci was really impressive on Friday night for Full Package. The 5-foot-11 guard did a little bit of everything. He made shots and showed off his smooth three-point stroke, passed well to open teammates, played very hard on the defensive end, and overall, just made the extra effort on both ends. He probably isn’t going to develop into an elite scorer or defender, but Yardimci is certainly someone who I would want on my squad.
Alex Loomis — SF — Gallo Sports Center 16U
If Loomis continues to develop and puts together all of his skills, I believe he could become a college prospect. The forward has all of the attributes that college coaches are looking for. He can stretch the floor, score well in isolation, and finish at the rim. If he continues to work, the SF also has potential to lockdown the opposing squad’s best scorer.
Alex Vincent — PF — Team Rose 15U
Vincent is a prospect with endless potential. The Team Rose prospect is a big body who knows how to use his size. He rebounds really well and rarely misses layup attempts in the paint. If the power forward works on his game and improves, look for him to become a true impact player.
