The Platfom 15s Standouts (Day 1)

The first day of the Platform in Birmingham was filled full of action to say the least. While many of the Power 5 and mid major coaches attended showcase games on certain courts, there was enough action to keep anyone interested. The 15U teams had an abundance of talent on the courts in downtown Birmingham at the Convention center. In this PH article, we will take a look at 15U (class 2024) players who stood out on day 1 of this Prep Hoops Circuit live event. Aidan Burns (6’4" / CG / Hooplife Academy 2024) Burns had a masterful end of regulation and overtime against Arnold Elite National (24/25) in their overtime victory. When his team was down five in the waning minutes, Burns took the ball on consecutive possessions and made either a bucket or a pass for one. He uses his body well to penetrate the paint and either hits short jumpers or gets all the way to the cup. Burns is a smart player who can control an offense or being a calming presence in crunchtime. He is a great asset when he is on the floor. Hubert Caliste (6’4" / F / LivOn Fleur-de-Lis 15U) Caliste had a game of games in LivOn's first matchup against MPJ Elite. The St. Augustine (New Orleans) forward played a masterful game inside and out. He made three triples from various spots behind the arc. He showed that he could command the boards as well using his body as opposed to trying to jump over players. Caliste even displayed his mid-range feel with a couple of soft floaters in the lane. He was a jack of all trades and showed it on Day 1. Kyle Jorgensen (6’7" / PF / Minnesota Heat 2024 PBJ) Jorgensen was Mr. Inside and Outside in the two contest that the Heat won on Day 1. He showed the ability to dominate the boards on both ends of the floor creating opportunities for himself and others on the offensive boards. His touch from three was what set him apart from others on this day. While his mechanics and release is slow, his release point is high and 15s had a hard time contesting it. He nailed several triples in the two games which made him very hard to guard on Day 1. Micah Davis (6’1" / CG / EG10 2024) The lefty guard was cool and calm while showing off his game in their loss to Woodz Elite on day 1. Davis plays within the flow of the offense but knows how to pick his spots. He is good at attacking the rim on straight line drives when the ball reverses and will take hits on his way to the cup. Davis also has a smooth release and displayed range from well behind the three point line. He is very effective on or off the ball and can score from multiple points on the floor. Jonathan Mekonnen (6’4" / SF / Minnesota Heat 2024 PBJ) Mekonnen showed that he is an athlete with a big upside on day one at the Platform. He is not a player who is going to wow spectators with spin moves or a feathery jumper. However, he can rebound, run, and jump with the best of them on the 15s level. Mekonnen gets up high for rebounds and his first leap is explosive. When they got the ball ahead to him in transition, he finished with an emphatic one-handed dunk. Mekonnen has plenty of time to round out his game. What he did show, on day one, is that he has a lot of potential to work with. Javar Galbreath (6’4" / PF / MPJ Elite 2024) Galbreath was one of the better post players that I saw on day one. During their loss to LivOn Fleur-de-Lis, Galbreath displayed mature footwork for a post player on the 15s level. He knows how to drop set and pivot from either block. Galbreath has a low center of gravity and can back down taller players to get to his scoring areas. He also passed out of the post to shooters well also. Galbreath is a bit of a throwback but is very good at helping his team in the post. There is a lot of action left in the 15s as we are still early in day two. These players still have two or three games remaining for the weekend. If they keep playing at a high level, they will garner interest from the many coaches who are in attendance before the weekend is done.

The first day of the Platform in Birmingham was filled full of action to say the least. While many of the Power 5 and mid major coaches attended showcase games on certain courts, there was enough action to keep anyone interested. The 15U teams had an abundance of talent on the courts in downtown Birmingham at the Convention center. In this PH article, we will take a look at 15U (class 2024) players who stood out on day 1 of this Prep Hoops Circuit live event.

Aidan Burns (6’4" / CG / Hooplife Academy 2024)

Burns had a masterful end of regulation and overtime against Arnold Elite National (24/25) in their overtime victory. When his team was down five in the waning minutes, Burns took the ball on consecutive possessions and made either a bucket or a pass for one. He uses his body well to penetrate the paint and either hits short jumpers or gets all the way to the cup. Burns is a smart player who can control an offense or being a calming presence in crunchtime. He is a great asset when he is on the floor.

Hubert Caliste (6’4" / F / LivOn Fleur-de-Lis 15U)

Caliste had a game of games in LivOn's first matchup against MPJ Elite. The St. Augustine (New Orleans) forward played a masterful game inside and out. He made three triples from various spots behind the arc. He showed that he could command the boards as well using his body as opposed to trying to jump over players. Caliste even displayed his mid-range feel with a couple of soft floaters in the lane. He was a jack of all trades and showed it on Day 1.

Kyle Jorgensen (6’7" / PF / Minnesota Heat 2024 PBJ)

Jorgensen was Mr. Inside and Outside in the two contest that the Heat won on Day 1. He showed the ability to dominate the boards on both ends of the floor creating opportunities for himself and others on the offensive boards. His touch from three was what set him apart from others on this day. While his mechanics and release is slow, his release point is high and 15s had a hard time contesting it. He nailed several triples in the two games which made him very hard to guard on Day 1.

Micah Davis (6’1" / CG / EG10 2024)

The lefty guard was cool and calm while showing off his game in their loss to Woodz Elite on day 1. Davis plays within the flow of the offense but knows how to pick his spots. He is good at attacking the rim on straight line drives when the ball reverses and will take hits on his way to the cup. Davis also has a smooth release and displayed range from well behind the three point line. He is very effective on or off the ball and can score from multiple points on the floor.

Jonathan Mekonnen (6’4" / SF / Minnesota Heat 2024 PBJ)

Mekonnen showed that he is an athlete with a big upside on day one at the Platform. He is not a player who is going to wow spectators with spin moves or a feathery jumper. However, he can rebound, run, and jump with the best of them on the 15s level. Mekonnen gets up high for rebounds and his first leap is explosive. When they got the ball ahead to him in transition, he finished with an emphatic one-handed dunk. Mekonnen has plenty of time to round out his game. What he did show, on day one, is that he has a lot of potential to work with.

Javar Galbreath (6’4" / PF / MPJ Elite 2024)

Galbreath was one of the better post players that I saw on day one. During their loss to LivOn Fleur-de-Lis, Galbreath displayed mature footwork for a post player on the 15s level. He knows how to drop set and pivot from either block. Galbreath has a low center of gravity and can back down taller players to get to his scoring areas. He also passed out of the post to shooters well also. Galbreath is a bit of a throwback but is very good at helping his team in the post.

There is a lot of action left in the 15s as we are still early in day two. These players still have two or three games remaining for the weekend. If they keep playing at a high level, they will garner interest from the many coaches who are in attendance before the weekend is done.