UA Super Select 16 Recap: Team Scout (St. Louis Bearcats)
The St. Louis Bearcats 17U have done quite well for themselves on the grassroots circuits. At the end of May, the Bearcats advanced to the championship game of the Prep Hoops Show-Me Showdown, losing a very close game to a talented Hoops 4 Health team from Illinois. They returned to the grassroots circuit in a big was last weekend as they won the Platinum Division championship at the UA Super Select 16 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Here is a look at the top personnel for the Bearcats.
Dominic Mitchell 6’3″ (St. Mary’s): The crafty combo forward was a difficult player to match up with because of his ability to play just about anywhere on the floor. He is a little undersized, but he works well in the post with his good footwork, head and shoulder fakes and the ability to make shots from different angles. He also handled the ball quite and bit and facilitates the offense like a point forward. As I talked about him before, his game is more old-school, but still very effective as he constantly keeps defenders off balance.
R.J. Wright 6’1″ (Webster Groves): The slender wing player has broken out during the grassroots season and a really nice scoring threat. He has always had a nice stroke from 3-point range, especially off the catch and in transition. I was even more impressed with the amount of hustle plays he made throughout the weekend. On several occasions, he ran the floor and scored on offensive rebounds and moved without the basketball for more buckets.
Tony Burks 6’2″ (St. Mary’s): A tough, athletic player who enjoys taking and making big shots, Burks can really get things going when it turns into a transition game and he can get into the open court. He attacks the basket and can finish at the rim and in the lane, plus he will also knock down contested short jumpers. His defensive work also creates turnovers, which leads to more transition opportunities for he and his teammates.
Lavel Harris 6’0″ (St. Mary’s): A quick and speedy point guard who’s calling card is on the defensive end with his ability to harass opposing ball handlers and hawk the ball in a trapping situation. Offensively, he showed the ability to beat his man off the dribble and get to the basket and score. He is tough, aggressive and plays with an insane amount of energy. He is a player any coach would love to have on his team.
Jack Gieseking 6’7″ (Parkway West): A big-bodied post player who provides most of the size for the Bearcats. Gieseking is a solid role player who will bang inside for rebounds and low post position. He did a good job of picking up a lot of loose change on the weak side and converting a lot of offensive rebounds for put backs.
A.J. Sommer 6’5″ (Parkway South): A new addition to the team, Sommer brings another solid player to the mix because of ability to play a lot of different roles. He is an excellent defender who plays with good position and anticipation. He will battle a big inside in the post or move his feet and guard the perimeter. He passes well and keeps the ball moving and he knocked down a couple of nice 3-pointers in a victory over Dig Deep in the quarterfinals.
Donnovanne Austin 6’2″ (St. Mary’s): A solid combo guard who brings a lot of energy and toughness on the defensive end, where he does well in a trapping and run-and-jump situation. He is a solid ball handler who is capable of knocking down the corner 3-point shot.
Ryan Rusan 6’0″ (Webster Groves): A good role player with athleticism and a high motor. He is capable of playing excellent defense at several positions and he was good at making a number hustle plays, whether it was a steal, an offensive rebound or taking a charge.
Marlon Pratt, Jr. 6’0″ (Soldan): Another solid guard who played an ideal role for a winning team with his hustle and high energy on both ends of the floor. He was solid with the basketball and was always in good position to make the right play.