Adidas Gauntlet LA: Top non-So-Cal 16U Performers
Momentous Sports Center in Irvine played host to the Adidas Gauntlet’s west coast regional stop, drawing the top adidas-affiliated travel ball teams in the region for the three-day event.
There was a plethora of talent and plenty of top prospects on display from the 17U level on down to the 15U level, and the following non-So-Cal area players were among the best at the 16U level.
Nimari Burnett, Dream Vision
Burnett is a jack-of-all-trades type of player. The 6-foot-2 sophomore can play either guard spot effectively due to his ball skills, shooting and passing abilities, and overall feel for the game. Burnett operates under control, plays within himself and with a high basketball IQ, always looking to set teammates up both in half-court and transition settings.
Xavier Dusell, Team Harden
Dusell is a legitimate scorer from all three levels of the floor. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is a consistent catch-and-shoot threat from 3-point range, can snake his way into the paint off the bounce and hit the floater or mid-range stop-and-pop, or use his size, strength and speed to get to the basket where he finishes with finesse or power.
Dallin Hall, Exum Elite
Hall is yet another true point guard making his way through the Exum Elite program and looks to be modeling his game after 17U standout Rylan Jones. The 6-foot-3 sophomore has good size and length for the position, but it’s his natural instincts as a pass-first guy that makes him standout so much. Hall doesn’t have any flashy dribble-moves or passes, but he’s always making the right decisions and passes in both the half-court and transition settings.
Coleman Hawkins, Dream Vision
Hawkins’ skill set features an all-around game where he scores with power or touch finishes in the paint, but he can also step out and knockdown a step out or pick-and-pop 3-pointer with range. The 6-foot-8 sophomore proficient passer of the basketball out of both the low post and high post areas. Hawkins takes his time to survey the defense when the ball is in his hands and can pick them apart with the pass.
Compton Magic wing Dalen Terry displayed a high basketball IQ and dynamic playmaking ability over the weekend.Mitchell Puttkammer-Saxen, Team Lavine
Any conversation about skilled big men has to include Puttkammer-Saxen out of Ingraham High in Seattle. The rangy 6-foot-9 forward/center works well with his back to the basket where he has various post moves in his arsenal, but he can also step out and hit a catch-and-shoot perimeter set shot.
Isael Silva, Team Lillard
Silva plays well-beyond his (freshman) years, operating with poise, pace and high level decision making with the ball in his hands. He’s not the biggest, fastest or strongest guy out there, but he gets where he needs to with deceptive changes of speed and direction. The Jesuit High standout has one of the craftier finishing packages we’ve seen, complete with off-hand floaters and body-contorting finishes to avoid contact.
Dalen Terry, Compton Magic
Terry has all the “measureables” a high-level college program looks for in a potential impact wing. He’s long and athletic at 6-feet-6 with good end-to-end speed, vertical athleticism and body control. But what makes the Corona del Sol standout different is the fact that he’s not a volume scorer, but rather a point forward type of player who can make plays for himself just as well as he creates for others. Terry is a deft and willing passer who slashes his way into the paint where he can finish in a variety of ways.