AAU Preview: Manimal Elite 16u

<p>With an AAU season looking more and more likely in the coming months, it’s time to preview some AAU teams. We continue with a loaded 2022 Manimal team.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;"><strong>Name</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%;"><strong>Height</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%;"><strong>Position</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%;"><strong>Class</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%;"><strong>High School</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="926883" first="James" last="Jewell"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’6 </td> <td style="width: 20%;">PF</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Eastern</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="692942" first="Christian" last="Spalding"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’2</td> <td style="width: 20%;">PG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Eastern</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="801586" first="Turner" last="Buttry"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">5’11</td> <td style="width: 20%;">PG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Bowling Green</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="638847" first="Tim" last="Hall"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’5</td> <td style="width: 20%;">SF/PF</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Dunbar</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="926895" first="Cade" last="Stinnett"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’3</td> <td style="width: 20%;">SF/SG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Greenwood</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="692954" first="Kennedy" last="Hayden"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’3</td> <td style="width: 20%;">SG/PG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Ballard</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="926890" first="Colby" last="Fugate"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’3</td> <td style="width: 20%;">SF</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Paintsville</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="926899" first="Andru" last="Markham"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’4</td> <td style="width: 20%;">SF</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Fern Creek</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="801613" first="Tyson" last="Barrett"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’6 </td> <td style="width: 20%;">SF/PF</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Frederick Douglass</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 40px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 20px;"> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">[player_tooltip player_id="801616" first="Derrick" last="Tilford"]</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">6’1</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">SF</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">Ballard</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 20px;"> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">[player_tooltip player_id="801619" first="Lionel" last="Kumwinba"]</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">6’8</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">C</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%; height: 20px;">Dunbar</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Player to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="926883" first="James" last="Jewell"]. Jewell is long and athletic and holds 2 offers thus far. The immediate concern is that if he doesn’t grow, he has to transition and become a wing for the next level. With him being the lone post player on the Manimal roster, James is going to have to play the 5 spot a lot this summer. If he gets a chance to show some wing skill, his college stock could sky rocket. If he becomes known as a "tweener" or undersized post, he’s an OVC level player at best in college.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>X Factor:</strong></span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="692942" first="Christian" last="Spalding"]. Christian is probably my favorite player to watch in the state’s 2022 class and he will have a lot of responsibility when running the Manimal offense this summer. This group relied on [player_tooltip player_id="932772" first="Jack" last="Edelen"] a lot last summer to handle the ball, especially against pressing teams. With Edelen taking the summer off from AAU, don’t be surprised to see Spalding and Buttry split time at the point. Turner is one of the state’s top shooters in 2022 and could be off the ball more than on it.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Potential Surprise:</strong></span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="692954" first="Kennedy" last="Hayden"]. "Keno" has a lot of potential and it’s getting close to now or never for Hayden to start turning potential into production. This group has a lot of wings but Hayden can make a difference if he shows he is a capable secondary ball handler or even play the PG spot from time to time. With a big Junior season on the horizon, it’s time for Kennedy to rise to the occasion and this summer is the chance to start building momentum and possibly gathering his first offer or two.</p>