War For The North: Standout Shooters
The Prep Hoops Next War for the North took place this past weekend in the Chicago area, with high level competition taking place across various age groups. I was in the gym covering the action all weekend, and these seven…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Next War for the North took place this past weekend in the Chicago area, with high level competition taking place across various age groups. I was in the gym covering the action all weekend, and these seven players established themselves as sharpshooting prospects!
JJ Sullivan (2025 G, D1 Minnesota – Sullivan)- Perhaps the top shooter I saw all weekend, JJ made defenders pay for leaving him with even just an inch of space. The lefty guard has a smooth release and moved well without the ball to find openings on the perimeter. His team’s fast paced style of play suited him well as he was constantly flying up the floor and beating defenders to open spots to get off a clean look. More than just a catch-and-shoot threat, JJ is able to pick his spot off the dribble and create the necessary space with ease to get off a pull-up jumper. He also impressed with some tough finishes through contact and he showed a knack for dropping dimes in transition.
Syncere Simons (5’8 2025 SG, EZ Work Elite)- Syncere Simons is a long and lanky guard who really helped stretch the floor for one of the top 14u team in attendance. In the game I watched he showed that his range extends to well beyond the high school three point line, and he was a capable shot creator off the dribble. He has a really smooth feel to his game, and he never seemed rushed by opposing defenders. On the defensive end his long frame was able to cause problems in the passing lanes, and he brought a ton of energy to his team’s full court press.
Darion Moore (5’6 2025 PG, Wisconsin SOYL Elite)- Darion started off the game excelling as a facilitator, getting two feet in the paint and then dishing it off to his post players for easy buckets. As time went on, he transitioned into a more scoring oriented mindset, and that led to him knocking down four 3’s in a variety of ways. He hit off the catch and off the dribble, looking comfortable even when contested. His quickness and handle allowed him to create space with ease, and he showed no shortage of confidence taking some clutch shots when the game was close in the end. Helped his team pull off a tight win on Saturday afternoon.
Brogan Madson (2025 G, D1 Minnesota – Dewey)- When Brogan gets going, there’s not much defenders can do to stop him. That was evident on Sunday morning when he nearly led his team to a miracle comeback against Wisconsin Crusaders, though D1 ended up falling just short. Brogan drained a handful of threes with a couple of minutes to play, in a Reggie Miller-like scoring flurry. He’s a lightning quick guard with an even quicker release on his shot, and although his shooting stands out, his defense is also more than impressive. Not many players compete harder on the defensive end, and he’s always the first on the floor for a loose ball.
David Bolden (5’9 2025 G, Kevon Looney – Fletcher)- David was playing solid all weekend, and then in the 14u championship game he absolutely exploded in the first half. He scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half, including draining four shots from beyond the arc all in a short span of time. Outside of his range beyond the arc, he has a strong frame and was always balanced when rising up to finish around the rim. He’s a hard working player with the skillset to match, and he should be an exciting 2025 prospect to watch for in the Milwaukee area over the upcoming years.
Cade Dirkse (2026 SG, Chapman-North)- In one of the most exciting games of the weekend, Cade went off for 25 points in an overtime win over Meanstreets. Cade has solid positional size, which allowed him to get his shot off over smaller guards with ease. He did a nice job of moving without the ball and coming off screens tight in order to get space on the perimeter, and his shot was hitting at a high rate. On the defensive side his length, athleticism, and frame allowed him to guard a handful of spots all while being equally effective. Although it ultimately didn’t count as it was released just after the buzzer, Cade hit a crazy bank shot three that would have given his team the win in regulation, though his team still went on to win in OT.
Jaiden Holloman (2025 G, NEBC Elite 2025)- One of the most electric scorers in the building, Jaiden was putting up big numbers all weekend long. Jaiden was lightning in a bottle with the ball in his hands, able to put up points in a hurry either attacking the basket or pulling up from three. His quickness forced defenders to take a step back when guarding him, allowing him to get off clean looks from three time after time. All weekend long he continued to get any shot that he wanted, and he scored with an efficiency that had him nearing 30 points on multiple occasions. One of the most exciting players to watch at the War For The North, Jaiden has a motor that just didn’t stop.