Event Preview: Adidas Gauntlet (Dallas, 16s & 17s)
The first spring live period is upon us, and that means we are previewing the tournaments Colorado teams are playing out of state this weekend. First up: The Adidas Gauntlet out in Dallas. This season, three Colorado teams are on…
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Continue ReadingThe first spring live period is upon us, and that means we are previewing the tournaments Colorado teams are playing out of state this weekend.
First up: The Adidas Gauntlet out in Dallas. This season, three Colorado teams are on one of the top grassroots circuits in the country. The Colorado Hawks, a long-time Gauntlet team, are being joined by Billups Elite (Gold Division) and the Colorado Chaos (Silver).
Each club will send it’s top 17U and 16U teams onto the circuit. We were able to examine each of those teams closely at the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off last weekend, and each had strong moments. So let’s take a closer look things to watch for with each team as they hit the road and head to the Lone Star State.
Billups Elite 17U
Pool Play Schedule (Times local)
vs. Atlanta Celtics, Saturday, 10:20 a.m.
vs. Team Bradley NW Panthers (Renton, Wash.), Saturday, 3:40 p.m.
vs. Hoop Dreams (Lexington, Kent.), Sunday, 9:20 a.m.
vs. Wisconsin Playground Warriors, Sunday, 1:20 p.m.
What To Watch
This squad showed impressive toughness last weekend, going 5-0 with only seven players. The backcourt of this team impressed. Elijah Blake and Jaizec Lottie can be trusted to make smart plays with the ball in their hands, whether in the halfcourt or in transtion. Kyle Lukasiewicz, the 6-3 lefty, was the recipient of the guards’ playmaking abilities, knocking down open corner looks off their penetration. He’s a big-time stock riser and a player to watch.
With great athleticism throughout the circuit, shotmaking will be critical for Billups, and having those two running the show and being able to distribute is a solid start. It will be interesting to see how this team fares at full strength, notably with the addition of two of Nebraska’s top players: Aguek Arop, a Nebraska commit, and David Wingett Jr., who were unable to make the trip out to Colorado last week.
X-Factor: Ravel Moody. The lengthy and spring 6-5 wing is playing a more mature game.
Billups Elite 16U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. Team Bradley NW Panthers (Renton, Wash.), Friday, 7:20 p.m.
vs. Basketball University (Houston), Saturday, 2:20 p.m.
What To Watch
After an undefeated run through the Spring Kick Off, Billups coach Elton Davis had reason to be pleased with his team’s start to the spring. “It was good for us because we’ve got some new guys on the team and everybody is still learning about each other,” Davis said. “But we’re a team that likes to move the ball, share it and put a lot of defensive pressure on teams. Seeing it all come together with the guys we have was real good.”
Sam Bannec is one of those new players, a 6-2 guard with good length whose fundamentals allow him to affect the game in many ways. Another player who had a coming out party for Billups was Deon Barfield, a 6-3 guard who consistently finishes above the rim. “Anytime you have a guy as athletic as him, he does stuff that really changes the game,” Davis said.
X-Factor: John Harge. The versatile 6-7 forward can create a lot of matchup problems, and he’s improving daily after missing much of his sophomore season at Smoky Hill because of a knee injury.
Colorado Hawks 17U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. Team Lillard (Oakland, Calif.), Friday, 7:20 p.m.
vs. New England Playaz, Saturday, 11:40 a.m.
vs. Stackhouse Elite (Suwanee, Ga.), Saturday, 5 p.m.
vs. Gateway Basketball Club (St. Louis), Sunday, 8 a.m.
What to Watch
With a talented team full of a lot of new pieces, it’s no surprise it took the Hawks just a little bit of time to work out some of the kinks last weekend. They also quickly showed the kind of potential they’ll have when things are clicking. On the cutthroat circuit, size is crucial. Antun Maricevic showed a lot of promise in his first tournament with the Hawks. The 6-9 big from Croatia is grown-man strong, and he is pretty agile on his feet. He pairs with Brendan Boatwright (6-9) of New Mexico to form a pretty formidable front line. They will need to be big for the Hawks. If they can demand attention, it will open some opportunities for shooters like Braxton Bertolette, Tyrei Randall and Jordan Phillips, all of whom had strong moments from behind the arc last weekend. Another thing to watch: How will Kick Off MVP Jervay Green shine on the big stage?
X-Factor: Nathan Davis. The 6-7 wing can play multiple positions and really stretch the floor if he hits like he did last weekend from long range.
Colorado Hawks 16U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. MBA Hoops (Madison, Miss.), Friday, 8:40 p.m.
vs. Yes II Success (Dallas), Saturday, 10:20 a.m.
Vs. Team Magic Elite (Memphis), Saturday, 2:20 p.m.
What to Watch
The Hawks had tremendous success last weekend in large part because of their ability — and willingness — to share the basketball. This squad always knows where to find each other in transition, and Sam Masten and Daylen Kountz are near automatic finishers on the break. Where this team really gets it done is defensively. Point guard Jon’il Fugett was fantastic on the perimter last weekend. He held top-10 2017 guard Kolton Peterson to only one point in pool play, and he did a great job on Gatorade player of the year Colbey Ross in the quarterfinal victory. Then they have the defensive ability at the rim with 6-7 protector Will Becker, who also is rapidly improving with his perimeter jump shot, allowing the Hawks to spread the floor.
X-Factor: Momar Fall. The 6-7 forward is still a big raw, but he is as physical as they come and brings a great does of inside toughness.
Colorado Chaos 17U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. Jets/Ramey United (Alton, Ill.), Friday, 8:40 p.m.
vs. Texas Bluechips, Saturday, 10:40 a.m.
What to Watch
Kayden Sund, a 6-6 forward out of Golden, showed right away that he will be an impact player for this team. He’s long and athletic and can really shoot it. He’s an energetic defender and just a real versatile player. This is a team that will only continue to improve as it integrates its new pieces. We’d look for Jake Belknapp to have a big weekend. Possibly the class’ top big, the 6-8 forward demonstrated toughness in the paint this weekend. Meanwhile, the backcourt pairing of Colbey Ross and Jamison Washington really seemed to work well together last weekend. Both are aggressive on the attack, giving defenses little time to rest.
X-Factor: Corey Seng. The 6-4 guard is simply shooting lights out right now.
Colorado Chaos 16U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. D-Favors Celtics (Atlanta), Friday, 8:40 p.m.
vs. I-90 New York, Saturday, 4 p.m.
What to Watch
Tyson Gilbert has firmly entered himself into the conversation about Colorado’s best 2018 point guard. Gilbert was brilliant from the opening tip of Chaos’ first pool game last Friday and kept surging from there. He’ll turn heads this weekend, especially if he continues to knock down outside shots at such an efficient rate. Speaking of outside shots, Tylor Trinh might be one of the state’s best shooters. The guard from Monarch is undersized, but he makes up for that with a great court IQ. Watch for Michael Wright out of Eaglecrest to really establish himself as this team’s do-all-the-little-things player. He’s a strong rebounder and can finish tough baskets underneath.
X-Factor. Goy Wang. The 6-4 forward has athleticism to spare.