#HardWorkSZN Kickoff: Playing the Role

<p>Five players who I thought had strong weekends playing their role consistently and helping their team each contest. </p> <p><strong>Joey Bruggers</strong> of Minnesota Crossfire Jorgenson (Mounds View).  In watch Joey Bruggers I thought about how this young man can help the Mustangs in the coming year.  In research I learned he is also a good football player, he played Mounds View JV last year, and I noticed he had a strong 16u year last season as a scorer.  And Joey showed last weekend that he can be a multi-shot maker each game at the arc and he appeared to be a quality team defender disrupting his opponents last weekend for the Crossfire. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850718" first="Evan" last="Dushek"]</strong> of Minnesota Select Ohnstad (Owatonna).  Game one Evan looked to be finding his groove which led to some up and down play, but also a lot of affective ball screens that opened teammates up.  The next game I watched Evan he was getting the deep post touches and showing how rugged his shoulder touch is smashing into the defender on his back and moving him for a touch score.  And as games move forward we should be able to see even more of Evan facing up and showing off his touch with range. </p> <p><strong>Caleb Hiatt</strong> of SD Venom 16U (SF Lincoln). Caleb is such an efficient rebounder and I’eve enjoyed watching him play as an active position player that slows or stops an offense by getting to his spot over on a ball screen or fighting to the spot to cut off a potential drive.  He also had a huge stretch against PGC that led to a run as he rim ran for scores and then won his low post battles.  </p> <p><strong>RJ Jioklow</strong> of Minnesota Select Davis 16U (Simley). I love his mix as an attacking player for his own offense as well as his ability to make the right call on where and when to move the basketball.  Most players are not able to move their body to spots keeping RJ in front of them so his speed to the attacking turn as well as his leverage often allow for the right kick out or lead to a cutter.  Makes the simple pass too not worried about over imposing his own offense.  And RJ can produce offense for a regular 4-5 scores a game at this level of AAU play. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774783" first="Jordan" last="Stone"]</strong> of Minnesota Crossfire Stone (PACT Charter). At 6-foot-6 Jordan continues to plug gaps, and he seemed to plug gaps for Crossfire all the time.  And when you are a talent that plugs gaps, your stat line is full of this, some of that, and on other days full of that, and some of this.  Jordan beat guys off the dribble to playmake, he jumped passing lanes, led the break, Jordan chased down long boards, and deflected/blocked some shots.  It was like he was always producing but in many different ways. </p>