Prep Hoops Live: 16U Standouts

<p>Breaking down some of the top performances from the 16U Division at Prep Hoops Live in Kansas City...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="981201" first="Levi" last="Birkholz"] - 2023 - SG - Wisconsin Crusaders</p> <p>College coaches -- do not let this guy fly under your radar. Birkholz is a big-time athlete that’s just getting better and better with his overall offense.  Maybe gets knocked a bit, because you don’t see him taking a lot of jump shots, so it’s assumed he can’t  knock them down or create his offense, but it’s because Birkholz doesn’t settle and can live at the free throw line or right at the hoop with his ability to attack the bucket and play above the rim.  Birkholz is a high motor wing that either gets downhill with the basketball or hits defenders with back-cuts.  He’ll bring that same energy on the defensive end as well. </p> [caption id="attachment_1180098" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Sam-Coulthard.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1180098 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Sam-Coulthard-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1023721" first="Sam" last="Coulthard"][/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1023721" first="Sam" last="Coulthard"] - 2023 - SG - Wisconsin  Crusaders Select</p> <p>Coulthard hit  some tough shots during a win over Central Florida Heat, sparking a balanced scoring effort. Playing for a loaded Neenah program, Coulthard hasn’t emerged at the varsity level yet, but showed some very intriguing things. He had a couple of pull-up, mid-range jumpers where he was able to play low to the ground, hit defenders with a crossover, and rise up with ease -- sometimes knocking it down with a hand right in his face.</p> <p><strong>Kenyon Davis - 2023 - PG -  Chapman Basketball Academy</strong></p> <p>Wasn’t a great offensive performance for CBA against Minnesota Select, but thought Davis was able to create some easy stuff for himself and his teammates.  A quick, speedy guard, Davis plays with patience and picks his spots well.  If there’s a chance to attack in transition, he’ll take it. If not the sophomore floor general will pull the ball out and set up the offense. Defensively, the Port Washington product flies around and gets his hands on the basketball.  He’s not glued to his guy and anticipates well, especially when one of his teammates is about to get beat.  Thought Davis also made it a real priority to get back on defense and eliminate some of the stuff Minnesota Select was getting in transition. </p> <p><strong>Mateo Jimenez - 2023 - PG - Wisconsin Crusaders Select</strong></p> <p>Jimenez is a player we’ve been considering adding to the rankings. The Madison Edgewood guard is a quick, crafty prospect with playmaking ability.  Jimenez looked really confident shooting the ball against Central Florida Heat, knocking down some quick-trigger and even off-balance triples.</p> <p><strong>Isaac Knoll - 2023 - SG - Wisconsin Crusaders Select</strong></p> <p>Knoll got in a nice little zone against Central Florida Heat. He hit five triples en route to game-high 15 points. Against the zone, Knoll  was extremely effective and showed a great understanding of how to get himself open. Knoll made a consistent effort to get the ball into the high post and areas where the zone is vulnerable. From there, he’d move immediately to the corners and set himself up for rhythm catch-and-shoot 3’s. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1043749" first="Emmett" last="Lawton"] - 2023 - SG -  Team 1848</p> <p>Lawton has a knack for getting to the rim and creating high percentage opportunities.  The Notre Dame guard has a quick first-step, slashes to the bucket, and gets from the 3-point line to the rim often in two dribbles or less. When defenders shut off his drive, Lawton counters with a nice mid-range stroke and can knock it down even if he’s not square to the hoop.  Like Lawton defensively as well. He can chase people through screens, always closes out with a hand up, and slides his feet while playing with a wide base.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1024443" first="A.J." last="Lieuwen"] - 2023 - G - Team 1848</p> <p>Kid is playing some real high-level ball this spring. The Bay Port standout is a quick, smooth guard that’s playing with sky-high confidence right now.   Lieuwen looks really good at creating step-back jumpers, even from 3-point range. Off the ball, Lieuwen  has terrific feet and a sweet shooting stroke, able to get right into his release and give defenders no chance. On the ball, Lieuwen can be explosive. He doesn’t need a lot of dribbles to shake people in the halfcourt and has a deadly pull-up game from mid-range.  With his quickness and utilization of very good shot fakes, Lieuwen makes defenders uncomfortable and allows the 6-foot guard to get a lot of clean looks.  Just watching Lieuwen carve up Texas Impact,  there was no answer for the offensive onslaught. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1024438" first="Alex" last="Sherwood"] - 2023 - SF - Wisconsin Crusaders</p> <p>Looks like Sherwood is starting to find his footing with his new team and his teammates are starting to get in tune with him as well. Loved Sherwood’s activity off the ball against Minnesota Fury. He was excellent in pass-and-cut action, hitting the defense with a couple of explosive back-cuts.  The Crusaders don’t have an overly big lineup and ask Sherwood to do some things defensively that might be out of his wheelhouse as a prospect, but thought Sherwood did a nice job of challenging shots and protecting the rim when the defense got broken down and grabbing contested rebounds. A 6-foot-7 swingman, Sherwood is an excellent catch and shoot 3-point threat, can handle the ball and take people off the dribble in the halfcourt, and is now showing some good versatility defensively to match up with 3-4 different positions. A lanky wing prospect who can also serve as an extra ball handler and make decisions in transition, Sherwood  isn’t close to filled out physically, which should be very attractive to Division 2 programs.</p>