UAA Rise Finals: Ramsey’s Notebook

<p>Before heading to Prep Hoops 2K21 to settle in at the Indianapolis Convention Center for the weekend, I first checked out some Indiana teams at the UAA Rise Finals in Westfield. Grand Park Premier 17u, 16u, and 15u were all in action today along with D1 Indiana 2022. Here is what went down up on the north side.</p> <h3>Grand Park Premier 16u Falls in OT</h3> <p>It may have been the first game I watched all day in the 11:45 a.m. time slot at the UAA Rise Finals, but this one was immediately anointed as game of the day. It was a back-and-forth affair with both teams holding a double-digit lead at different points, but in the end a near-buzzer beater from West Coast Elite-NorCal won it in overtime, 80-79.</p> [caption id="attachment_1187830" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Caleb-Washington.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1187830 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Caleb-Washington-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="868231" first="Caleb" last="Washington"] (Floyd Central 2023/Grand Park Premier 16u)[/caption] <p>In the first quarter, GPP did what they do best by connecting seven three-pointers to jump out to a 25-15 lead. [player_tooltip player_id="1042491" first="Sam" last="Orme"] (Carmel H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id="868231" first="Caleb" last="Washington"] (Floyd Central H.S. 2023), and [player_tooltip player_id="935727" first="Jaylen" last="Mullen"] (North Daviess H.S. 2023) each hit two a piece while [player_tooltip player_id="868240" first="Joey" last="Hart"] (Linton-Stockton H.S. 2023) added one of his own.</p> <p>The tides turned over the next quarter and a half as it was WCE-NorCal’s turn to get hot from beyond the arc as they would eventually build an 11 point lead at one point in the third quarter. However, [player_tooltip player_id="935736" first="Logan" last="Webb"] (Linton-Stockton H.S. 2023) took over late in the third quarter with a couple of really tough, strong finishes around the basket followed by a big three-pointer. Webb helped cut the lead to four heading into the final period.</p> <p>In the fourth quarter, a couple of late three-pointers by Hart and Orme got GPP within two points, 68-66 with just over three minutes to play in the game. Then, a nice lefty finish in the post by [player_tooltip player_id="935725" first="Jared" last="Bonds"] (Carmel H.S. 2023) followed by back-to-back big time buckets by [player_tooltip player_id="868231" first="Caleb" last="Washington"] put Grand Park back on top. The game would end up heading to overtime tied at 72.</p> <p>Overtime came down to a pair of made free throws by [player_tooltip player_id="935727" first="Jaylen" last="Mullen"] with less than 10 seconds left in the game that put GPP up by 1. However, WCE-NorCal tossed a running 20-footer with 0.9 remaining to steal the victory, 80-79.</p> <h3>The [player_tooltip player_id="769684" first="Branden" last="Northern"] Show</h3> <p>That was absolutely the best I have ever seen [player_tooltip player_id="769684" first="Branden" last="Northern"] (Silver Creek H.S. 2022) play. That obviously isn’t to say the Junior All-Star hasn’t always been impressive, but it goes to show just how well he played Friday afternoon in D1 Indiana’s win over Team Curry.</p> <p>In the second quarter, Northern strung together a run of 10 straight points that helped D1 Indiana come from behind to build a three point halftime lead. During that stretch the 5’11" point guard made a pair of really tough finishes at the rim with two three-pointers sandwiched in between.</p> <p>Later on in the fourth quarter, Northern calmly handled the ball against increased pressure and stopped the bleeding with a tough reverse left-handed layup to make it 57-53 with 1:30 to play. It was quite simply a BIG TIME performance from Northern.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="870278" first="Colin" last="Comer"] (Greensburg H.S. 2022) was also effective off of the dribble getting to the basket and finishing with both hands around the rim. Comer is a very good athlete as a 6’1" guard and doesn’t back down from anybody on his way to the hoop.</p> <p>D1 Indiana would go on to beat Team Curry 63-57 in their first game of the UAA Rise Finals. </p> <h3>Grand Park Premier 17u Rolls On</h3> <p>A trio of big guards led the way for GPP 17u in their 66-54 afternoon victory over DTO Elite.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="963906" first="Lane" last="Lauderbaugh"] (Moravian Prep 2022/South Decatur H.S. 2021) showcased a lot of offensive skill as a 6’5" wing knocking in a couple of tough, closely guarded threes while also finishing inside. He is a very intriguing prospect having now reclassified to the Class of 2022.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958397" first="Hagen" last="Knepp"] (Barr Reeve H.S. 2022) is as smooth as they come with the ball and you can always trust him to make the right decision based on what the defense gives him. The 6’4" lefty guard knocked in a three, showed off his excellent mid-range game, and flashed some of the state’s best court vision on passes to open teammates. Knepp is one to get eyes on here in the final evaluation period of July.</p> [caption id="attachment_1211087" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Kyle-Thomas3.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1211087 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Kyle-Thomas3-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="796015" first="Kyle" last="Thomas"] (Cloverdale 2022/Grand Park Premier 17u)[/caption] <p>Rounding out the group, [player_tooltip player_id="796015" first="Kyle" last="Thomas"] (Cloverdale H.S. 2022) is a physical 6’4" guard with a strong frame. Thomas attacked closeouts early in the game before settling in and knocking one down from beyond the arc later on. He cuts very hard off of the ball and comes off screens well which helps him get open as a scorer. He can fill it up in a hurry.</p>