Spring Kick Off (2017): Friday Night Take Aways
The Spring Kick Off is off and running. Although not all of the teams played on Friday, there was enough fire power to make everyone excited for what is to come today. Here are my thoughts and take aways from Friday night:
Colorado Hawks Nations 17U
The Colorado Hawks Nations 17U were largely untested in their first competition as they over powered the New Mexico Spotlight. The Hawks stood out to me the most due to their length and strong guard play. They are a very well built team and should be a tough out in this tournament.
As far as players who stood out, Jon’il Fugett, a 5’10 PG 2018 from George Washington, was one of them. I was really impressed with his aggressiveness on the defensive end. He has great anticipation and an ability to make an energy changing play on that end of the floor. On the offensive end, Fugett is strong and fast. He uses his physical skills as a means of getting him into the paint and creating for himself and others.
In addition to Fugett, Daylen Kountz had a strong evening. He put the ball on the floor and attacked the rim relentlessly. The big men for the Hawks are more than just big. They attack the glass with a sense of urgency, run the floor well, set good screens for the guards, and seal hard on the block. Keep an eye on William Becker and Brenden Larose.
KC Spurs Black 16U
The team I was most impressed with yesterday was the KC Spurs Black 16U. In their game with a solid Billups Elite squad, they were able to pull off a 16 point win. Their players play with a relentless mentality and are tough. Specifically, Dalen Ridgnal was huge last night. He was all over the place on the glass and played with a demeanor that is largely uncommon for a 16 year old.
In addition to Dalen, I liked the game of big man Siler Tschirhart. Tschirhart has a good motor, length, and passing ability. Much like Ridgnal, he does not rely on his height to secure rebounds. Rather, he is willing to get into the mix and get mean. Furthermore, his passing skills were the most impressive skill to me as he was doing a great job of bringing the defense in and kicking to the open teammate.