Gateway All-American Shootout (Friday Night Standouts)
The Gateway Adidas All-American Shootout in St. Louis got underway on Friday evening with pool play competition. After bouncing around from court to court, here are some of the players who caught my eye on opening night.
Mitchell Fairless 6’4″ T.E.M. Select 17U: The athletic 2018 wing from Duchesne High enjoyed a big performance in a win over the Jets-Ramey United in a real competitive game. Fairless displayed some outstanding finishing ability at the rim, especially in transition. He has plenty of bounce and a high motor and he did an excellent job of scoring on contested drives to the basket in heavy traffic. He is also a state level high jumper in track and field.
Leon Perry 6’6″ Showtime Elite 17U: The 2018 combo forward from Confluence Academy was very active from the moment the tournament started. He grabbed six rebounds in the first four minutes of action in the first game. He loves to attack the offensive glass. He is long and athletic and he continues to improve his overall skill level.
Cameron Hester 6’7″ SEMO Storm 17U: The 2018 power forward from Jackson, Mo. is a tough and physical low post player who brings a meat and potatoes approach to the game. He rebounds strong and he finished well around the glass with both hands. He also passed well out of a double team to open shooters on the perimeter.
Avery Taggert 6’4″ STL Express 16U: The 2019 wing player from Eureka has a big body and an excellent skill set. He handles the ball well on the perimeter and can knock down jumpers from 3-point range. He has a good feel for the game and he plays with confidence.
Sada Kalle 6’9″ Gateway 15U: The 2021 post was dominant in the second half of Gateway’s win over the Illinois Bears. Gateway trailed at halftime, but this long athletic kid went to work in the second half with an impressive array of dunking, rebounding and shot blocking in the paint.
Jordan Holmes 6’0″ Gateway 17U: An impressive 2018 combo guard from Columbia, IL, Holmes has the ability to get buckets in a variety of ways. He’s small, but he has a strong body which enables him to finish on the drive through contact. He is also cash money from 3-point range. Very confident player.
Jason Montgomery 6’3″ Arsenal Hoops 16U: Caught the first five minutes of his team’s one-sided victory in pool play and was very impressed with his overall skill set and fundamentals. He is a strong performer in the lane as a scorer and rebounder, but he can also step out and knock down mid range jumpers off the catch.
So, that’s a little taster to start you off. Tomorrow will definitely be a long day at the Center of St. Louis Sports.