Grind Region Kickoff: Saturday P.M. Favorites

<p>EDMOND, Okla. -- Listed in the order they were observed by Prep Hoops Scouts, the best 17U players from Saturday evening’s Grind Region Kickoff sessions at Solid Rock Basketball.</p> <hr /> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffcf;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1211244" first="Rodney" last="Gray"]</strong>, Team Movement</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e6e6e6; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">6’2" G</td> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Westmoore (OK) ’24</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Playing up a grade for his second-consecutive summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit, Gray made an early statement Saturday evening with a 20-point performance against Crunch Time’s senior crew. Gray has sharpened his best skillset, his handle, since last summer. He called his Saturday-night outing the “quietest” 20-point game he has recorded, but defenders who guarded him may have not found his performance so obscure. He seemed to have corrected a number of the parts of his game — like his tendency to play outside of his control — that raised questions since the last time he was seen on the Prep Hoops Circuit by scouts. Gray could become a more significant prospect in the local recruiting landscape with continued improvements, like he displayed Saturday.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffcf; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918935" first="Mike" last="Karnisovas"]</strong>, Hoops Academy</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e6e6e6; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">6’7" SF</td> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Thunder Ridge (CO) ’22 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>In an alternate timeline — one that did not endure unprecedented liberty for returning college seniors and portal movement — the skills displayed by Karnisovas on an Oklahoma City Saturday night in April would immediately pick up attention from college coaches. Unfortunately, Karnisovas has to play unsigned for the time being as coaches at the Division I and II levels become increasingly occupied with bringing in established players from comparable universities. Regardless, the defending 5A Colorado state champion was the best player on the floor against 3Two Elite. He laid down two emphatic dunks in the first half as his team dug its way out of an 8-point hole, impressing spectators and prompting a teammate to taunt his way into a technical foul. If he made a mistake Saturday, it was making a play so explosive that it motivated his teammate to celebrate so excessively that it gave 3Two Elite extra free throws. He has the makings of a high-level Division II wing, and improving his shooting talents would help him to reach that level.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffcf; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><strong>Ty Brown</strong>, Hoops Academy</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e6e6e6; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">6’4" G</td> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Arapahoe (CO) ’23 SG</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Brown had a handprint on much of his team’s output Saturday. The athletic guard scored, passed, handled pressure and even defended the opposing five. The knock-down shooter displayed college-distant range and, in that regard, was instrumental in erasing 3Two Elite’s once-eight point lead early by playing three-for-two. He moved well laterally on defense. Brown should make his mission for the summer to develop a deadly handle, which was noticeably the biggest missing piece to his game Saturday. With more polished separation moves, he could have a fruitful recruiting season.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffcf; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><strong>Steffen Schattiger</strong>, Hoops Academy</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e6e6e6; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">6’1" SG</td> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Dakota Ridge (CO) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Schattinger served his team’s purpose well Saturday night. He knocked down four 3-pointers as his team defeated 3Two Elite. During the back stretch of the second half, it felt like he could not miss as his team erased an 8-point deficit it had to start the game and turned out a 26-point swing. He also penetrated and dished to the perimeter well, at times. The development of additional skills, such as becoming a standout defender, could do wonders for his recruiting.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffcf; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><strong>Prince Malonge</strong>, New Mexico D1</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e6e6e6; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">6’5" G-F</td> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">’22</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Even if Malonge was just the most explosive, bounciest player in the gym, his performance would have warranted a spot on this list. But the 6-foot-5-inch scorer showcased a dynamic skill set that included, yes, a highlight-worthy dunk package, but also shooting, floor general and defensive talents. He knocked down a few mid- and long-range shots out of the catch, brought the ball up the floor and defended the rim at a high level. His ball-handling is a bit raw, and he did not always play within control at high speed, but he has exactly the athletic talents that you can’t coach and that schools at the collegiate level are looking for. A more thorough assessment of his recruiting level will be published later.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffcf; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><strong>Kamden Snell</strong>, Oklahoma Swift</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e6e6e6; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">5’11" G</td> <td style="width: 50%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Riverfield Country Day (OK) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The 5-foot-11-inch scoring guard had one of the best games of the day, scoring 30 points against WeR1 Saturday evening. He scored at will in that game, knocking down five 3-pointers, getting to the rim and more. He has a great feel for the game offensively and is crafty around the rim, not to mention his sharpshooting skills out of the handle. Snell has an impressive catalog of scoring maneuvers that he can utilize at game pace, including a great euro step, moves for lateral separation, finishing skills with both hands and air time to adjust at the rack.</p>