Battle at the Lakes: TJ’s Friday Standouts (16U)
Reece Hazelton, 6’6 SF (Northern Exposure)
Certainly one of the best college prospects we saw tonight (and there were a lot), Hazelton — a Glen Lake product (MI) — was utterly outstanding in his team’s hard-fought win over Illinois program Full Package. He’s got a butter stroke from deep and handles it adeptly, but did most of his damage in the paint and on the defensive end. When his team needed a bucket or a stop, he was the man. Hazelton finished with a game-high 26 points.
Brian Dowdell, 6’1 G (Full Package)
He was going toe-to-toe with Hazelton for much of his team’s gutsy performance against the bigger and more talented Northern Exposure squad. Dowdell finished the game with 23 points, and contrary to the current climate of hoops, all of this guard’s points came inside of the 3-point arc. He’s got a knack for getting to the rim and scoring, and he’s a tough and fiery competitor.
Brendan Choinard, 6’1 G (Northern Exposure)
He was second-fiddle to Northern Exposure teammate Reece Hazelton in their win over Full Package. Choinard poured in 14 points in that win, and showcased his ability to score the ball in a variety of ways. One of many snipers on the Michigan 16U unit, Choinard was a steady offensive threat throughout his team’s opening night W.
Jonathan Koo, 6′ G (Full Package)
Koo is a savvy and clever guard with a Steph Curry-like approach to his game. He’s not afraid to let it fly from deep, and is certainly confident in his outside jumper. He’s got a slick way to finish once he gets to the rim. A lot of fun to watch, this Illinois guard is going to have a big weekend.
Jared Mattley, 6′ G (Kingdom Hoops Elite)
Every time we watch this Omaha product play, he performs very well. Mattley led Kingdom Hoops with 19 points during their triumph over Wyoming Power, notching an impressive 19 in the win. He’s best when shooting off the bounce, that’s something a lot of guys can’t to. And simply put, he’s just got a knack for scoring in bunches.
Cooper Nally, 6’5 PF (Kingdom Hoops Elite)
Nally will dominate small-school Southern Iowa basketball for the next two seasons, and it’s good that he’s getting out here to compete against the Midwest’s best players. He shined in a win over Wyoming Power, using his high motor and active hands to be a pest on defense. Offensively, he was versatile, flashing some slick passing for a big-man, and using his lanky frame to score at the rim.
Dain Dainja, 6’8 PF (Grassroots Sizzle)
An utterly impressive big-man for the best team we saw tonight. Dainja has the ability to put the ball on the floor and overpower opponents while getting to the rim for a good look. And he also threw down some alley-oop jams over the inferior opponent. The Park Center product is ranked 4th in Minnesota’s 2020 class. Dainja has a very high ceiling.
Chet Holmgren, 6’11 C (Grassroots Sizzle)
He blocked shots on shots on shots against Iowa’s Showtime Hoopers squad. His wiry frame is accentuated by his 7’5 wing-span, and he uses it very well. Offensively, he showcased a beautiful stroke from beyond the arc, and though the shot didn’t drop, the pure approach was telling. He’s going to be a very hot commodity, very soon.