Midwest Festival Teams – Top Standouts

<p>Who else stood out in Ames, Iowa this past week at the Midwest Festival of Teams? Here is another group of standouts. </p> <p><strong>Jay Dawson</strong> of Team Factory 16u/Omaha Central (6’3 SG).  Dawson is coming off of a nice season at Central playing a key role for a good team that only lost four games.  Jay is a top 15/20 level player in Nebraska’s sophomore class and if he continues to keep having aggressive scoring games like he had against a good team from Minnesota, the future will keep being brighter.  Dawson aggressively took 13 shots and made seven of them including three threes and another four buckets on his way to 17.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774868" first="Chance" last="Fazio"]</strong> of West Central United/Fergus Falls (7’0 center).  The interest factor in Chance is growing.  Everybody wants to see how agile he is because if the agility is there, opportunities will mount.  College coaches have called curious, a random film crew took video of him in Ames, and what they saw once again was a player with amazing hands and good feet.  Neared a double-double against a top Midwest team, Team Factory. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774751" first="Jacob" last="Hennen"]</strong> from West Central Wildcats/Minneota (6’4 wing).  After not playing this past year it was really impressive with how Jacob moved without the basketball and was crafty around the rim to complete plays. Took advantage of post players who were guarding him on the perimeter breaking them down and either shooting from the perimeter or getting past them to go finish or find the open man. This is a talented player who will someday be a good college basketball player. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774818" first="Brady" last="Kienitz"]</strong> from West Central Wildcats/MACCRAY (6’1 guard).  Brady was the most consistent player all weekend running the point for WC. Brady handled the pressure from opponents and was able to get his team into their offense. Averaged 14 points per game throughout the weekend with a lot of those coming from lefty finishes inside or from the perimeter. Averaged 20.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last year as a junior.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890471" first="Tyler" last="Sandoval"]</strong> of Team Factory/Millard North (6’7 PF). Team Factory played two games in Ames on Monday and in both games Tyler attempted nine shots.  He did not make the percentage he had hoped to but within those attempts I was able to develop an appreciation for his potential.  Sandoval was able to catch in comfort after getting position and was able to take balanced attempts after an agile turn, he just missed.  Tyler rebounded well in Ames and that is another way he was able to get shots.  The potential looks to be there. </p> <p><strong>Matt Thomson</strong> from West Central Wildcats 16U/Hancock (6’7 PF).  Matt averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds last year as a junior. This is a player that came out of nowhere. Super raw right now but he has potential. A Matt is a player who is learning and improving every game from inside and the perimeter . Has a very nice jump shot as he shot 38 percent from the three this past year. Definitely a kid who college coaches will get to know soon if he continues to improve his game.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958638" first="Demarion" last="Watson-Saulsberry"]</strong> of Grassroots Sizzle 16U/Minnehaha Academy (6’6 SF).  Thoughts of Demarion coming in is that this big wing has the agility and developing skill to be something special.  Leaving Ames I noticed a player that has worked on his jumper and made over half the catch and shoot/one-dribble pull-up jumpers he attempted.  I noticed a transition player that when he gets a run at the rim there is little a guy can do to get up and contest him.  And I noticed Demarion rebounded more than I expected him to. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850709" first="Willie" last="Wilson"]</strong> from Grassroots Sizzle 16U/Minneapolis North (6’2 guard).  [player_tooltip player_id="850709" first="Willie" last="Wilson"] was full of high octane fuel flying baseline to baseline in all the Sizzle games I watched.  If Wilson had a d-board in his hands the other team needed to be back in position or the transition standout that was [player_tooltip player_id="850709" first="Willie" last="Wilson"] was able to get to the rim.  Willie played the role of a leading scorer in each game and what I really liked was his aggressive approach to be a main player.  Wilson sat down in a stance and aggressively defended the best players in the event and then came back at them attempting to put up numbers (which he did scoring four or more field goals in all games). </p>