Hankamp’s Top 20 From The Grit Region Kick Off
I was lucky enough to make the trip from Michigan to Louisville, Kentucky for the Prep Hoops Circuit’s Grit Region Kick Off. There was some terrific teams and talented players in attendance. I’m going to give you my Top 20…
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Continue ReadingI was lucky enough to make the trip from Michigan to Louisville, Kentucky for the Prep Hoops Circuit’s Grit Region Kick Off. There was some terrific teams and talented players in attendance. I’m going to give you my Top 20 from the event. These are the best players and/or individual performances that I saw at the event. I watched mostly games from the 2025 field and some from the 2024 bracket. I will order the players from #20 to #1.
#20
Jeremiah Neely (The UN1T 2024)
Neely hit a couple clutch buckets. He played a big part in his UN1T team extending their lead and separating themselves on the scoreboard. He was calm, cool, and under control throughout the game.
#19
Bryson Whitlock (Southern Indiana Blaze 2025, Providence)
Whitlock was very impressive at the Grit Region Kick Off. He did a nice job of drawing contact, shredding it off, and getting to the line. Whitlock was very efficient with the ball every time I looked in his direction.
#18
Bo Morse (Kentucky Vision Elite 2024, Ohio County)
Morse moved really well for a 4, both horizontally and vertically. His solid hip movement allowed him to be quick with his help defense. Morse is a strong player that can match up physically with players beyond his height.
#17
Grayson Hall (Kentucky Vision Elite 2025 Select, Betsy Layne)
Hall was an impact player for this Kentucky Vision squad. In what seemed to be Vision fashion, he was a strong and physical forward that had well above average footwork on both ends of the floor.
#16
Zahmeil Pelt (Air Assault Athletics 2024, Niles North)
I really liked the way Pelt played downhill on the offensive end. He pushed the ball in transition with the dribble and had a knack for drawing contact and getting to the free throw line.
#15
Ty Glasper (865 Elite 2025, Gatlinburg Pittman)
Glasper got it done on both ends of the floor. He was excellent playing nose to nose defense and beating the offensive player to his spot. On offense, Glasper utilized his athleticism and solid body control near the rim.
#14
Zane Whitaker (Kentucky Vision Elite 2024, Magoffin County)
Whitaker turned some heads at the Grit Region Kick Off. He was an excellent passer, looking over top of the defenders. He rebounded, looked down the floor, and delivered the ball with accuracy. Whitaker was an efficient scorer that recognized and finished good looks at the rim.
#13
Noah Redd (The UN1T 2025)
Redd made his difference off the ball. It seemed like he grabbed every single defensive rebound. I counted 16 total rebounds in the second half of a game alone. He also brought energy to the defensive end. Redd was disruptive when he picked up and pressured the ball at half court.
#12
Jerrell Green (The UN1T 2024)
Green really left his mark on the defensive end of the court. He was an energy defender that was always moving and rotating properly. Green’s defense was an absolute game changer.
#11
Kristian Gerton (Team Mack 2025)
Gerton was one of the best passers that I saw all weekend. Best of all he threw the passes out of the paint. He caught post entry passes, found shooters, and hit them in the shooting pocket with a firm pass. Gerton was also very active on both the defensive and offensive glass.
#10
Xialin Lenoir (Big 6 O’Neal 2024)
Lenoir was a quick twitch scorer with a nice get up and go off the bounce. He could score from multiple levels and his jumpshot looked smooth and pure. Lenoir proved that he could put up points in bursts.
#9
Lual Ayiei (Kentucky Vision Elite 2025)
The 6-10 center has potential written all over him. Like with most young bigs, his defense is way ahead of the offense. He blocked 6 shots in one half, with 7 total before I lost count. As he gains strength and develops an offensive post move, his game could blossom into something VERY special.
#8
Trevarion Paige (Kentucky Vision Elite 2025)
Paige was the spark plug on offense for his team in the game that I watched. He could play on or off the ball and his activity seemed to spark movement in his team on offense. Paige has a nice combination of strength and athleticism.
#7
Chris Wright (Team Mack 2025)
Wright was a terrific facilitator for his team. He was incredibly fast down the floor which made him a menace in transition. When in the open floor, Wright could finish and dish the ball off with precision. He could also defend from baseline to baseline.
#6
Peyton Byrd (EG10 2024 Red, Center Grove)
Byrd was a silky smooth athlete that had good length and knew how to use it on D. He could engulf a defender when they picked up their dribble as well as go straight up with good vertical defense. Bird was willing to body thicker players in the paint and he showed some bounciness under the rim. He even stepped out beyond the arc and showed some 3 point range,
#5
Ryan Hill (The UN1T 2025)
Hill showed that he knew how to get buckets. He had 20 points in one game and it seemed like every time he scored, it was in a new way. Hill multiple triples, a mid range bucket, put backs, and even scored from the free throw line.
#4
Keondre Harrison (865 Elite 2025)
Harrison was a powerful 6-8 post player. He bodied for position under the rim and most often won that battle. Harrison was physical on the glass. both offensively and defensively. He challenged and blocked shots with his arms straight up. Harrison was always a threat for a put back bucket.
#3
Eric Hopson (EG10 2025, Decatur Central)
Hopson was a problem for EG10 opponents all weekend long. He was an athletic playmaker that excelled in transition. Hopson could grab a board and go coast to coast with the ball, beating the defense back. He was solid on both ends of floor as well. Hopson anticipated passes, jumped the passing lanes, and created turnovers.
#2
Steven Reynolds (D1 Indiana 2025)
Reynolds is technically a 2026, but let’s be real, he had to be here on this list. Reynolds was lights out when I saw him. He had a 30 point first half in which he hit leaners, step backs, and set jumpers from all over the place. Reynolds ended the game with 32, spending the second half looking more for his teammates and making plays away from the ball.
#1
Hudson Horvath (EG10, North Central)
This young man is the floor general that every coach wants. He leads his team with a calm and cool demeanor. Horvath has a deceptively quick first step on the dribble drive and rebounds extremely well off the perimeter. Horvath is a terrific perimeter defender who hustles back on D, limiting his opponent’s transition opportunities.