Jayhawk Summer Finale Recap: The Lefties
Last weekend’s Jayhawk Summer Finale in Overland Park, KS featured some serious southpaw ballers who could really play. Here is a look at some of those top lefties from last weekend:
Monty Johal 6’3″ Yanders Law 17U: One of the most potent scoring threats in the tournament. Had the ability to yo-yo the the basketball to create the space to set up his mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers. Already the all-time leading scorer at Springfield Glendale with one year left to play. Scored 30 points in his final game against the SYF Players in bracket play.
Mario McKinney 6’1″ Brad Beal Elite 16U: An electric combo guard who provides excitement and offensive ability whenever he steps on the court. He really excels in the open court where he can attack with reckless abandon. Also showcased a stop and pop jumper from 15 feet and a nice 3-point stroke.
Diego Bernard 6’0″ KC Pacers Blue 17U: An explosive point guard who brings plenty of heat on both ends of the court. He attacks the rim relentlessly and will finish with a slam dunk if you’re not paying attention. Has really improved his shooting from 3-point range. Enjoyed a big July.
Damien Daniels 5’8″ KC Run GMC 17U: The little dynamo was the floor leader of the 17U champions. He’s pound for pound one of the toughest kids around. He will attack the basket and score in the land of the giants. Daniels has now added a much improved 3-point shot to make him an even more potent offensive weapon. He sparkles in the open court.
D.J. Carton 6’1″ Quad City Elite 16U: One of the top young guards in the tournament, Carton is a smooth lefty who can get to the basket whenever he wanted to and pull up and knock down jumpers. He scored 20 points in a half in a game against Brad Beal Elite. He’s received many collegiate offers, but picked up a new one from Missouri after the tournament.
Yor Anei 6’10 Team Rush 17U: A towering force in the middle, Anei is an excellent rebounder and rim protector. He made Team Rush really tough to score on in the paint. He also showcased some improved offensive moves in the post and did a nice job getting up and down the court in the transition game for a big.
R.J. Lawrence 5’11’ Team Rush 17U: Talented combo guard who brought a big offensive spark off the bench for Team Rush. Has the ability to score buckets at all three levels as he can knock down 3-pointers and get in the lane and finish with both hands. R.J. also displayed some nice passing ability throughout the week.
Tayven Glasgow 6’0″ KC Magic 16U: A thick-bodied 2020 point guard who was playing up with the 16Us for the weekend. He is fundamentally sound with good handles and a nice stroke from 3-point range. He hit four triples on one game. He plays the game at his own pace and is never rushed. Has a high basketball IQ.
Donovan Moore 6’3″ Illinois Irish Elite 16U: A tough slashing wing player who led the Irish to the championship game of the 16U tournament. He was at his best when getting to the basket when he could finish with swooping finger rolls and slam dunks. He was an excellent rebounder for his size.
Sean Houpt 6’3″ Illinois Irish Elite 16U: An excellent 3-point shooter who made several timely long range bombs during the week. The biggest came in the quarterfinals when he sank a triple with two seconds left to force overtime against Team Rush when he team was down three points. The Irish went on to win the game in overtime.