Players to Watch at the Grassroots Showdown

Steve Quattrocchi July 16, 2021 @ 09:42 AM

College coaches were out at AAU events for the first time in 2 years last weekend and will be back on the road this weekend. Louisville’s Expo center is holding a big event called the Grassroots Showdown. Here’s a quick look at some players to watch this weekend at the Expo. These are not the only players to watch this weekend but we don’t have rosters for most teams in the event.   17u: Kentucky Select Blue has a very solid player with [player_tooltip player_id="1009764" first="Brant" last="Smithers"] from Walton Verona. Louisville Storm Mucker is a talented group that is fun to watch. [player_tooltip player_id="1065571" first="Lavonte" last="Harris"] and [player_tooltip player_id="926931" first="Sam" last="Powell"] lead the charge for that group. Louisville Storm Ellis is another good group. [player_tooltip player_id="1133844" first="Kam" last="Jones"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1133843" first="Justice" last="Cummins"] bring the firepower on offense. Cave Gym Elite has a strong core of Lexington kids led by [player_tooltip player_id="801613" first="Tyson" last="Barrett"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1065572" first="Cade" last="Hilt"]. Louisville Legends are led by [player_tooltip player_id="801598" first="Miles" last="Franklin"] and [player_tooltip player_id="926917" first="Donovan" last="Robinson"] and have a really good core of players. F.O.C.U.S. Select has a lot of talent. They’re anchored by [player_tooltip player_id="926882" first="Maker" last="Bar"] and [player_tooltip player_id="926920" first="Tucker" last="Blanford"]. 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="932766" first="Gabe" last="Sisk"] is another star on that squad. Kentucky Future Elite has a fantastic backcourt as 12th region stars [player_tooltip player_id="638866" first="Jaxon" last="Smith"] and [player_tooltip player_id="926889" first="Luke" last="Imfeld"] lead the way for them. Manimal Elite Black has a good group with several talented players. Landon Elmore of Central Hardin has a high ceiling. Griffin Elite has several scholarship level players with [player_tooltip player_id="926893" first="Darien" last="Lewis"], [player_tooltip player_id="801588" first="Justin" last="Becker"] and [player_tooltip player_id="801625" first="Tanner" last="Walton"] at the core. Manimal Elite Gold is a super talented team led by [player_tooltip player_id="801586" first="Turner" last="Buttry"], [player_tooltip player_id="926883" first="James" last="Jewell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="926895" first="Cade" last="Stinnett"]. Vision Elite has some nice players with Loon Gaye being their leader.   16u: F.O.C.U.S. Select has a budding star on their roster with Male’s [player_tooltip player_id="1065569" first="Meechie" last="White"]. Griffin Elite Hardewig has D1 prospects in [player_tooltip player_id="1116655" first="Teagan" last="Moore"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1110297" first="Caleb" last="Brooks"]. Manimal Elite Gold is led by [player_tooltip player_id="932782" first="Kenyon" last="Goodin"] and [player_tooltip player_id="932772" first="Jack" last="Edelen"] and are coming off an undefeated weekend. Cave Gym Elite is a fun squad led by [player_tooltip player_id="1184584" first="DeJohn" last="Blunt"]. Griffin Elite Moses has 7 footer [player_tooltip player_id="1088851" first="Reece" last="Potter"] and point guard [player_tooltip player_id="932769" first="Dallas" last="Roberts"] on a talented group with several scholarship level players. Kentucky Select Blue has big man [player_tooltip player_id="1126610" first="Nolan" last="Hunter"] at the core of a good team that won their event in Louisville last weekend. Griffin Elite Bordas has big man [player_tooltip player_id="1043602" first="Jaden" last="Biggers"] and guard [player_tooltip player_id="1124021" first="Gerard" last="Thomas"] as a quality 1-2 punch at their core. UpNext has [player_tooltip player_id="1191947" first="Marcus" last="Eaves"] on their 16u group of talented kids from the Hopkinsville area.   15u: Kentucky Select Blue has a talented group with Avonte Payne and Seth Hickerson at the core. UpNext has Darrell Bateman of Christian County as the biggest piece of a good group of West Ky kids. Griffin Elite Hatton has been a top 15u team all season. [player_tooltip player_id="1110323" first="Vince" last="Dawson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1088805" first="Hudson" last="Blank"] are two key pieces there. Louisville Legends have a good group led by Fairdale’s [player_tooltip player_id="1148614" first="Jacob" last="Tucker"]. Manimal Elite 2024 Gold has a really good group with [player_tooltip player_id="939716" first="Kade" last="Unseld"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1197227" first="Jaylan" last="Rigdon"] leading the way. Griffin Elite Stinebruner has a tough group with [player_tooltip player_id="1191990" first="Abram" last="Stinebruner"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1229147" first="Josh" last="Darst"] being two key pieces. Louisville Prospects Melton has been one of the best Kentucky teams all season. [player_tooltip player_id="1119447" first="Jacob" last="Hand"] is their leader and top prospect. Manimal Elite Black went 5-0 last weekend and will bounce back this week hoping to go 5-0 again. [player_tooltip player_id="1122204" first="Riley" last="Brown"] is an underrated scorer.