Adidas Gauntlet Spartanburg: Young Guns

I was able to catch a decent amount of 15U games this weekend, and I'm glad I did. There were lots of good young prospects who showed the potential to do great things throughout the rest of their high school careers. Here are some of the 2022 players who caught my eye. Team Loaded VA- The Loaded VA 2022 group was clearly the most impressive 15U team I saw in Spartanburg. They have size and skill everywhere, fly around on defense, and play well together as a team. The first game I saw of them was a complete obliteration of Garner Road, and then they ended the weekend with a good win over a talented Game Elite Big 5 team to finish 4-0. Maliq Brown and Tyler Nickel man the frontcourt spots for Loaded. Brown is a long, athletic post who isn't just one of those typical young, raw physical specimens. Instead of things falling into his hands because of his physical traits, he goes and makes things happen. Brown has active hands on defense, finishes and rebounds wells, and isn't afraid of contact. Nickel is a really good prospect with in and out capabilities. He has a solid build and is effective on straight-line drives from the wing, playing above the rim when he gets to the basket. Nickel has a good set of tools he uses from 10 feet and in, but can also stretch the floor. Justin Taylor is a great shooter who can heat up in a moment's notice. He gets clean looks often at 6'5”, but doesn't take a bunch of bad, contested shots either. Taylor is capable off the bounce when defenders fly at him, and will play through contact in the lane. Ihsan Duncan and Donald Hand Jr. provide loaded with two more backcourt threats. Duncan is a thick, physical guard who gets into the paint often and can finish with the best of them. He uses his strength to rebound, can connect on outside shots, and has good instincts on defense. Hand was particularly impressive against Garner Road, going for 25 points. He hit 3 3's and showed he can finish in a variety of ways around the basket. He picked his spots well while staying aggressive throughout. Kenyon Giles and Quanye Veney are pesky defenders who set the tone on that side of the ball. They racked up steals left and right, distributed at a high level, and proved to be capable scorers also. This team is one I need to see again over the next few months. I want to see them against some of the other top 15U teams around. [caption id="attachment_726086" align="alignnone" width="300"] Maliq Brown[/caption] [caption id="attachment_726088" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ihsan Duncan[/caption] Game Elite Big 5- There's been a lot of talk about the young Big 5 group, and I was finally able to catch them last weekend. Although they were without Joyful Hawkins for their game against Team Loaded NC, they still picked up a nice win. I really enjoyed watching Scoota Henderson, a do-it-all PG who plays with a quiet confidence about him. He balances scoring and facilitating well, keeping defenders guessing when he starts to create. Henderson can hurt you from deep, but looks to impact the game in other ways when his outside shot isn't falling. Henderson's poise and ability to impact the game in almost any way was very impressive. Sedrick O'Neal is a beast physically; not many players at the 15U level can handle the strength and athleticism he brings. O'Neal will go right up through you on the interior, adjusting and finishing even when multiple defenders are draped on him. Cameron Johnson is another strong freshman who showed good patience and a nice perimeter stroke. He can play on or off the ball, and doesn't force things. Juvon Gamory is an ultra-confident lefty who never hesitates when he has a chance to impact the game. He rebounded well for a guard his size and has deep range on his lefty shot. Gamory has quickness that he uses on both ends, getting by guys to create on offense and frustrating ball-handlers on defense. This team must be a scary sight when Joyful Hawkins is also in action. [caption id="attachment_726083" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sedrick O'Neal[/caption] Davis Molnar (Team Wall)- I only saw the Team Wall 15's once and they have numerous pieces, but I walked away feeling like Molnar was the best overall prospect on their team. He is more toned and muscular than a lot of the 17U prospects I see each weekend. His early physical development doesn't hinder his game either; he's able to move very well and isn't wild. Molnar is a good rebounder who can get boards in traffic and then start the break himself. I was really impressed with his ability to see the court and make accurate passes while going full-steam in transition. He also looked comfortable and confident shooting the ball, with range extending beyond the 3-point line. Molnar's overall versatility with his combination of size and skill at this age is very rare. J'Quan Broxson (Team Carroll)- Similar to Molnar, Broxson is physically mature as a freshman and has versatile skills. He is equally adept at slashing from the wing, going to work down low, or taking jumpers. Broxon plays with great patience and control for a young player; he had some impressive two foot finishes after working his way inside and drawing contact. He doesn't just put his head down and go into traffic without a plan. Broxson is an active rebounder who times missed shots well and crashes the glass hard on both ends. He has a smooth, respectable outside shot, can play above the rim, and does not force things. Broxson has a really well-rounded game already, I'm excited to see how he continues to develop and what else he adds to his game.