Grassroots First Person: Tri City Thunder
In our “First Person Grassroots Recap” series we take a look at how the travel team
season went for one our state’s programs.
The latest edition of this series we focus on Tri City Thunder 16U team with Chris Conrad.
16U
Record:
31-15
Championship/Key Accomplishments:
2nd in Indy Spring Classic, 2nd in Chicago Classic, Elite 8 in KC Hardwood Classic, Battle of the lakes sweet 16
Key Wins:
-Michigan Mustangs, Team Nebraska Express, Quad City Elite, Indiana Elite Top Team, DTA Select
-Lost to SYF Players by 4 in Championship of Chicago Classic, Lost to PSA Cardinals by 3 in KC Hardwood Classic
Overall Thoughts On Season:
I am very proud of our 2016 AAU season for the Tri-City Thunder. We finished the year going 31-15 in some of the best tournaments in the country. All of our players are great role models for young basketball players on how to conduct yourself on the court, in the classroom, and in social environments. We made up for our lack of size by our toughness, playing together, and fighting hard every single step of the way. We had 3 double digit scorers (Kyle King, Eric Peterson, Zach Robinson) which is a testament to how unselfish these guys were. Our best wins consisted of beating Team Nebraska Express in Minnesota, beating the Michigan Mustangs in Fort Wayne, and beating Quad City Elite. We fought and held our own in 2 championship games against very good teams in SYF players and Wisconsin United. We finished on a very high note, playing in a power pool in Kansas City, and advancing to a loaded Elite 8. We ended up losing to PSA Cardinals by 4, and Team Portis by a few. Overall it was a very productive season for our team, finishing 16 games above .500 and getting better each week. We look forward to a great 2017 season on the AAU Circuit!
Standout Performers:
Eric Peterson (Batavia High School)
Eric Peterson is a coach’s dream on the floor. He impacts the game in so many areas. Every game we would lean on him to carry the scoring load, as well as guard the opposing teams best player. Eric never shied away from the challenge of guarding some of the best players in the country. Eric averaged 10.1 points per game during the season. He has serious range from the 3-point line, but Eric also developed different ways to score besides the 3-ball, with his mid range game and ability to finish in the lane. The last 4 tournaments Eric averaged 11.4 points per game, shot an unbelievable 52% from 2-point, and 44% overall from the field. As a guard, those percentages are incredibly impressive.
Kyle King (St. Charles North High School)
Kyle King was a very important piece for our team on both ends. He finished the last 26 games of the season averaging 16.6 Points per game, 8.5 rebounds, and had double digit scoring in 23 out of those 26 games. Kyle was very efficient for us as well shooting 54% from the field, and finished the season with 11 double-doubles.Kyle had a great season scoring the ball on the block as well as being a force in the rebounding department. He is a player who could have a major breakout on the high school season as an incoming junior.
Zach Robinson (St. Charles East High School)
Zach Robinson is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state of Illinois. He made 111 3-pointers in the AAU season, which is 49 more 3-pointers than anyone else on our team. Zach has incredible range and is very good at shooting with pressure and hands in his face. Zach continuously hit big shots in big moments for our team. He is more than just a long-range shooter though, as he shot a very efficient 46.3% from the 2-point. Zach has solidified himself as one of the best shooters in the state of Illinois.