Gateway All-American Shootout (Saturday Standouts)
Here are some of the standouts from Saturday’s action at the Gateway All-American Shootout at the Center of St. Louis:
Amorey Womack 6’0″ Missouri Impact 17U (2019): This young guard is playing up at 17U, but he has been one of the most impressive bucket-getters in the first two days in the tournament. He averaged more than 20 points in two victories on Saturday to get his team to the Elite Eight. He has tremendous strength to get to the basket and finish through contact. Combine that with a few mid-range jumpers and long 3-pointers and you have a guard that has been very tough to defend this weekend.
Hayden Sprenkel 6’2″ SEMO Storm 17U (2018): The guard from North County is the best perimeter shooter in the tournament. Not only does Sprenkel shoot it with accuracy, but he was knocking down some shots from well beyond the 3-point line. He nailed three is breathtaking succession to break open a game against the Nets in the first round of bracket play.
Dominique Hardimon 6’2″ SEMO Bulls 16U (2019): The young forward from Poplar Bluff is a beast of a performer who plays much bigger than his size. He can’t be defined by a position because he gets results and high productivity through his physical strength and high motor. He consistently outplays bigger opponents in the post with his scoring and offensive rebounding. He is also a matchup problem with his ability to put the ball on the floor and score in transition.
Cameron Van Leer 6’4″ Gateway 17U (2018): The point guard from Pacific High is one of the best passers in the tournament. Cam has the ability to score and knock down 3-pointers, but he was really displaying some exquisite court vision in the game that I watch in the early afternoon. He was throwing no-look dimes to open teammates in the post and on the 3-point line.
Trent Champagne 6’2″ T.E.M. Select 16U (2019):A talented young point guard from St. Charles West, Champagne has good size and good skills and they were on display. He handled the ball well against pressure and dropped some nice dimes. Champagne knocked down a couple of 3-pointers in bracket play, plus he has a nice stop and pop jumper from the mid-range area.
Josh Pritchett 6’3″ South Central Fury 17U (2019): The shooting guard from Rolla led the Fury to a near-comeback victory over the SEMO Storm with his scoring and playmaking ability. He has a nice feel for the game, whether he’s knocking down perimeter jumpers or getting into the lane and drawing contact, which he was very good at.
Evan Aslesen 6’0″ Arsenal Hoops 16U (2019): The point guard from DeSmet had a real nice game in his team’s victory over the St. Louis Hardwood Hunks in bracket play. Aslesen scored 20 points in the win as he displayed his excellent 3-point shooting off the catch and coming off screens, which he does very well. He moves very well without the basketball.