Grassroots Team Spotlight: Gateway Knights 17U

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri continues its features on Missouri-based grassroots programs with a look at the Gateway-Knights 17U team.</p> <h4>Roster</h4> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824156" first="Kyle" last="Conkright"] 5’11" Ellington: An excellent all-around combo guard who was a stat-sheet stuffer for his high school team. He is an excellent 3-point shooter who broke open some games last summer with his perimeter stroke. He has a solid body that enables him to attack the basket through traffic. As a junior, he averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three steals a game.</p> <p>Gabe Ducey 6’6" Vianney: A solidly built Stretch 4 who does a nice job of knocking down 3-pointers. I remember vividly a big trey that he hit in a tournament last summer at the buzzer to send a game into overtime. He does an excellent job of spacing the floor. As a junior, he averaged six points and three rebounds a game.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824180" first="Lance" last="Hackney"], Jr. 6’7" Lutheran-St. Charles: A physical post player with nice moves around the basket. He is very good at finishing with both hands with equal effectiveness. He uses his big body to get good position and bull his way inside for offensive rebounds. As a junior, he averaged 10.3 points, seven rebounds and three blocks a game while shooting 58 percent from the field.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824166" first="Carter" last="Hoog"] 6’2" Valle Catholic: A versatile wing player who is comfortable with the ball in his hands as a facilitator or playing off the ball. He has a solid body that is built for contact with a nice feel for the game to go along with it. As a junior, he averaged 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824141" first="Jack" last="Pronger"] 6’7" MICDS: A versatile Stretch 4 who has a nice stroke from 3-point range and a one-dribble pull up jumper to compliment his deep ball. He is a solid rebounder who really does a good job of getting on the offensive boards with his length and activity. As a junior, he averaged 11 points and five rebounds a game while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range for a conference championship game.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824175" first="Nick" last="Roper"] 6’7" MICDS: A versatile wing player who emerged as a quality prospect after a productive junior season. He is an excellent shooter from downtown as he hit 39 percent of his 3-point shots. He also improved on his ball handling and ability to attack off the dribble as well as his overall athleticism. He averaged 12 points and five rebounds for a 23-win team that won a conference championship.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824127" first="Jeremiah" last="Walker"] 6’2" DeSmet: A talented combo guard who is one of the best when it comes to attacking the basket and creating offense in the lane. He has a variety of escape moves off the dribble which enables him to create room even in tight spaces and he can finish over opposing bigs with regularity. His 3-point stroke is also solid. He averaged 10.9 points while shooting 46 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point line.</p> <p>Isaiah Williams 6’2" Lutheran North: A potent southpaw offensive threat who had a big summer at the 16U level last year. He is very good at attacking the basket for layups and he compliments it with his float game and mid-range jumper. He has also developed a reliable stroke from 3-point range. He averaged 12 points a game in helping the Crusaders to a district championship.</p> <p>John Wilson 6’6" St. Charles West: A wide-body post player who is an offensive tackle on the football field, but also can get it done on the basketball court. When he establishes his position in the post, he is very difficult to move and he catches the ball well in traffic and finishes. He does an excellent job of using the backboard on offense. He averaged 14.2 points and eight rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field.</p>