NHR State Tournament: 15u Saturday Afternoon Standouts

<p>With the NHR state tournament underway, most 15U teams made their debut Saturday afternoon in Burnsville. A number of players provided impactful performances for their teams. See below which players stood out. </p> <p><strong>Buom Jock (2022), Fury Kaupa/ Mankato West</strong></p> <p>The first thing that stands out about Buom is his impressive size and length. At 6'5, Jock used his size and wingspan to disrupt a handful of shots against West Central United. Along with his defense, Jock utilized his athleticism, crashing the offensive boards for second-chance points. Most of all, I loved Jock's motor. Playing every minute, the Mankato West forward showed no signs of fatigue, hedging hard on every pick and roll, forcing turnovers that led to easy Fury buckets. </p> <p><strong>Noah Karschnik (2022), Fury Kaupa/Wayzata</strong></p> <p>Every time Fury Kaupa needed a basket, Karschnik delivered. The 6'3 wing from Wayzata showcased his silky smooth stroke, nailing three first-half triples against West Central United. The second half was no different. As West Central began to climb back, Karschnik took control, dribbling to the left then maneuvering back to his strong hand for an impressive right-handed scoop. A superb performance from Karschnik and the wing is definitely a prospect to watch this weekend.</p> <p><strong>Dane Lusky (2022), D1 MN Prospects </strong></p> <p>Standing close to 6'7, Lusky is about as physically imposing as they come at the 15U level. The big man displayed a nice touch around the rim, opening the game with an impressive drop-step reverse layup. At the defensive end, Lusky routinely swatted away opponents shots and never seemed to be out of position.</p> <p><strong>Gage Manahan (2022), MN Lightning Ellerbusch</strong></p> <p>I love Gage's leadership skills. On multiple occasions, I saw Manahan high-fiving teammates and also giving them words of encouragement.  As the primary ballhandler, Manahan led by example making smart decisions while also burying Select Rush with his deadly jump shot. </p> <p><strong>Emmanuel Manyuon (2022), MN Lightning Ellerbusch</strong></p> <p>Manyuon seemed to be too much to handle for the Select defense. In their first-round matchup, Manyuon led the way with 18 and found success using his quick first step to blow by the primary defenders. Manyuon was a nightmare for Select guards and used his length to create havoc on every possession. </p> <p><strong>TJ Jackson (2022), Minnesota Crown</strong></p> <p>One of the hardest working players in the tournament. Jackson is an undersized guard that plays much larger than his height. Jackson's energy and ball pressure led Minnesota Crown to a huge first-round win against Southwest Minnesota Stars. In the second round, even when Crown faced double-digit deficits, Jackson continued to play hard, using his speed to get out in transition and dished to his teammates for a handful of easy baskets.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>