<p>The #PHLive event got started in Kansas City, MO, on Friday, and we were in the building to catch a few teams from in-state get in on the action. Day 2, teams seemed to find a rhythm, and our teams found some success and picked up a few wins. Here are some 16U standouts from Day 2.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968823" first="Silas" last="McCurnin"] – Rocky Mountain Fever</strong></span></h2>
<p>Rocky Mountain Fever is blowing teams out in the #PHLive event in Kansas City this weekend. They are 3-0 so far, and that is with a 64, 22, and 32 point win, and they do not look to be slowing down. Fever is a team that plays the right way, is an unselfish bunch, and knows how to put points on the board. The player that allows it all to come together is point guard McCurnin. McCurnin is typically known for lighting up the scoreboard as he has s smooth shooting stroke and if he gets a second for an open window, just get back on defense. We got to see the natural scoring abilities with multiple 3-pointers in his first few games and his willingness to play unselfishly. He is making the right passes, moving without the ball, and finding holes in the defense. He scores with ease, runs the offense, and is a perfect fit with the group—solid day for him on Day 2. </p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Modelo Geng – College Bound Elite</strong></span></h2>
<p>Standing at 7’3, Geng was a player that many eyes were on in College Bound Elite’s early game on Saturday. His arms are long, he has a relentless motor, and he has size as a disruptor that nobody in 16U could match. In CBE’s loss to Young & Reckless, Geng showed that while he is raw, he has intangibles that cannot be taught and has massive upside. He grabbed around 15 rebounds in the game, got multiple blocks, and altered even more shots. Geng ran the floor and established position, got the ball on the perimeter, and quickly got rid of it and seems to know where to be on the floor. He is a player that has plenty of things to work on, but he also has a ceiling that is through the roof. Excited to see him continue to progress.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Brady Greene —Rough Riders 2023</strong></span></h2>
<p>Greene is a player that we did not know much about heading into the event, but how he played in Day 2 against a talented Arizona Factory squad with size, proved that he belongs. He has great size, does not shy away from contact, and competes on both ends of the floor. Greene kept his hands high and made their big man work. He was active on the boards, kept plays alive, and also had a few finishes in contact. He’s a hard-working big man for Roughriders that does not have to have the ball to be effective. He does not mind screening and rolling, starting the offense with dribble handoffs and going straight up when he has it in the post. Greene is a young player that gets after it and does the small things, and is a player to watch moving forward.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1137874" first="Charlie" last="Dortch"] – Rocky Mountain Fever</strong></span></h2>
<p>I’ve seen this movie before. The one where Fever’s unselfishness and willingness to make the extra pass just extends the lead, and the smothering defense opens it up even more. What they also do is understand the importance of feeding their big man. Dortch worked hard on both ends of the floor, and the Fever guards made sure to reward him. They threw it to Dortch in the post and let him go to work. There were spin move finishes, back downs, and hooks. Dortch was finishing through contact on the smaller defenders and ran the floor for a basket or two as well. He knows where misses are going, puts his body on the nearest guy, and makes the quick pass to get the break going. Dortch is a high IQ big man with a great motor and on Day 2, showed that if a team does not have the big men to match him, it is going to be a LONG day. Fever is 3-0 so far in the tournament.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="973010" first="Khafre" last="Garrett-Mills"] -- Roughriders 2023 </strong></span></h2>
<p>Khafre is Roughriders' most skilled player, and his team made sure to run the offense through him. He has a great understanding of the game, is never sped up, and plays with complete control. In his team's win over Arizona Factory, he showcased his mature game with finishes both inside and out. He knocked down a couple of 3-pointers, attacked the long team inside, and either finished or got to the FT line. Khafre is a player that can break a defender down off of the dribble and finish by himself. He calls for picks and gets downhill, attacking in PnR sets, and excels in isolation situations. Garrett-Mills is a taller guard that uses his size to his advantage and has a great handle. He’s a player who played on multiple teams this weekend, which shows his love for the game and eagerness to keep going—solid Day 2.</p>
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