Team Scout: Gateway Basketball Club 16U
The Gateway Basketball Club 16U enjoyed a very productive grassroots season this summer. During the spring, they won the championship of the Adidas All-American Tournament. In July, Gateway also finished as runners-up at the Adidas Three Stripes Alliance and had a 3-1 record at the Las Vegas 48 Tournament. Here is a look at some of the key players on the Gateway 16U team:
Jamonta Black 6’3″ (Rock Bridge): A smooth shooting guard who knows how to get buckets at all three levels. He handles the ball well and can get to the rim and finish. He can pull up from 15 feet and knock down 3-pointers. Black has good size and a high ceiling.
Keyyaun Batchman 6’2″ (Chaminade): A strong, physical point guard who set the tone for the team on the defensive end during the summer. He was the MVP of the Adidas All-American Tournament. He puts in a strong effort on defense with his high motor. He is at his best on offense when he is attacking the basket.
E.J. Bellinger 6’3″ (Fort Zumwalt South): A talented offensive player with the ability to score in a variety of ways. He is an excellent shooter off the catch, plus he can get buckets moving without the ball with good cuts. His improved athleticism was showcased with several transition dunks throughout the summer.
Jeramy Shaw 6’4″ (Valley Park): An athletic and versatile combo guard who is capable of playing all three positions on the perimeter. He can handle the ball and facilitate, which he usually does for his high school team. He is a plus athlete who attacks the rim and had many explosive finishes.
Will Shumpert 6’5″ (CBC): A physical young power forward who is a very explosive player around the rim. He is a strong rebounder on both ends and can change the momentum of the game with an emphatic dunk, either in transition or off of a rebound follow.
Idris Mitchell 6’6″ (Henderson, KY): An athletic combo forward who attacks the offensive glass with intensity and fury. He has a high motor and he’s explosive around the basket as shown by his dunking ability. He is productive on offense without having plays run his way.
Hayden Thomas 6’2″ (Twin Rivers): A very capable shooting guard with a good set of skills, especially the ability to execute the shot fake to his advantage. He handles the ball well and can knock down 3-pointers off the catch to open the court.
Easton Null 6’0″ (Jefferson): A small-school standout who served as the team’s designated perimeter shooter throughout the summer. Has the ability to knock down a bunch of 3-pointers when he is on a roll.
Seth Beussink 6’9″ (Jackson): A young, improving post player who continued to show positive strides throughout the summer. He has size and good length and pretty good mobility. He also has a nice shooting touch around the basket and out to 12 feet.