Summer Wrap Up: Top Ten Teams (16u)
At the 16u age, you will often find a mix of 15u players playing up for more of a challenge and to compete against guys that are more physically developed, and 16u guys that, for one reason or another, were…
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Continue ReadingAt the 16u age, you will often find a mix of 15u players playing up for more of a challenge and to compete against guys that are more physically developed, and 16u guys that, for one reason or another, were not able to make the jump to 17u. With that said, there was plenty of talent to be seen on this list of 16u teams that proved to be the state’s ten best.
- I-10 Celtics 16u: With the two 2019 stars from Shadow Mountain Jaelen House and Jovan Blacksher, along with high scoring Globe guard BJ Burries, this team can score with anyone. Then there is the interior size that may not be the type of players to throw the ball to on the block for a bucket, but they effect the game in other ways on both ends.
- Factory 16u: D’Maurian Williams led the charge for this team that used length and size with Steele Bennett and Dre Harris inside to overwhelm most opponents, even while lacking perimeter shooting at times.
- Alvin Gentry Elite 16u: Jared Martin, Brennen Davis, and Reed Myers were a formidable backcourt with good length on the wings and great decision making from Myers at the point. This team was very well coached and performed at a high level.
- Prospects 16u: With Jason Harris on the inside, being surrounded by snipers on the perimeter, Mark Brown’s bunch had a lot of success. Being a defensive minded team that could bomb three pointers with great accuracy on the other end proved to be a tough combination to beat.
- Power Elite 16u: The Desert Vista combo of Christian Anigwe and Aishwar Kumar led this team all summer, with “Ice” constantly making plays when they needed them and Anigwe being a walking double double.
- Team Bayless 16u: Fresno’s Lunden Taylor and Mesquite’s incoming freshman Xavier Dussell can both score the basketball in a variety of ways. Add in Deven Breckner, who is one of the most improved point guards in his class, able to shift past just about anyone on the perimeter, and you have a tough team to guard. Often plagued by stretches of turnovers and bad shots, this team lost a few close games that they were in position to pull out the win.
- Powerhouse Tucson Black 16u: While Jordan Green is one of the top 2018 players in the state, it was Dominic Mooney that was often the driving force that led this tough team from Southern Arizona.
- Powerhouse Black 16u: Solid team with a lot of individual talent and good size. Walter Talley picked up a couple of offers along the way.
- Tru Heat 16u: BJ Bryant is an athletic player that plays bigger than he is. He is able to block and alter opponents’ shots, and scores well on the other end.
- Team Zona 16u: With Joshuwan Johnson playing with both the 17u and the 16u, he had stretches of dominance at 16u. The talent around him was ofter not up to par after pool play, but he keeps you in the game single handedly.