Hustle SZN Kickoff Recap: Sleepers
Spring is here and that can only mean one thing. It’s Circuit Season! The Prephoops Circuit is upon us. I will be covering and providing exposure for the Hustle Region Circuit. The Hustle Region Circuit consists of AAU Programs from…
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Continue ReadingSpring is here and that can only mean one thing. It’s Circuit Season! The Prephoops Circuit is upon us. I will be covering and providing exposure for the Hustle Region Circuit. The Hustle Region Circuit consists of AAU Programs from California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico. The circuit features 10 stops including the Hustle Region Final in Irvine July 15th – 17th. Stop number one got underway this past weekend in Seal Beach California, with the Hustle Season Kickoff. The event which took place from Saturday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 3rd featured 46 teams ranging from 15U to 17U. The event also featured several under-the-radar players. In this article, we take a look at our top Sleepers from the event.
Dalton Norvell 6’2 SG Coastal Elite 2023 (featured image) – I like Norvell’s game. He is good off the bounce and has a nice in-between game. Norvell displayed the lost art of the mid-range, showing that he can score off 1 or two bounces. The pull-up specialist was one of the better players but is a relative unknown, after missing all of last season with an ACL injury. He looked fully recovered this weekend, showing why he was one of the top sleepers at the event.
Peyton White 6’4 SG BTI 2025 – White might not be making many more sleepers list. He has an impressive frame, so much so that I was convinced that I was looking at a D2 prospect at best when I first approached. When I found out he was only a freshman, he became even more intriguing. White uses his frame to attack downhill, as well as scrap around the basket for putbacks. He was coming off an 18 point effort when I caught up to him. The fact that swimming was his previous sport, and he is relatively new to basketball, makes him a clear-cut sleeper from this weekend.
Tristan Drake Tristan Drake 6'11" | C ABC Prep | 2025 State NM 6’9 C Rebels New Mexico 2024 – Drake was one of the biggest players at the event. The 6’9 forward is a big body. He moved decently, displaying the ability to change ends effectively enough. It’s fair to label him as raw, but I was intrigued by the effort he gave and his hands. The big fella caught several tough passes leading to easy finishes throughout the weekend.
Jacob Lucus 5’11 PG Gamepoint 2023 – Lucas was an all-or-nothing type player. The good news is that his all was pretty good. He’s quick and displayed that by using a quick first step to get by defenders. He also has some shiftiness and wiggle, showing the ability to shake free from defenders. He can sometimes be out of control, as Lucus probably led the event in Charges, however, rein that in a little, and you’ve got yourself a nice sleeper.
Isaiah Pomare 6’4 PF Coastal Elite 2024 – Pomare caught my eye with his energy, effort, and willingness to rebound. The hybrid forward seemed to be everywhere in the game I watched, rebounding in traffic, taking charges, and hitting the deck for loose balls. He was really good, and his play helped Coastal to an undefeated record during the weekend.
Michael Azinge 6’2 SF BTI 2022 – Azinge was another player that played with terrific effort and energy. He had a terrific block on a play where he stayed stride for stride with a speedy PG. Although he’s only 6’2, his long arms allowed him to play bigger. The rangy wing can defend multiple positions and will give you max effort. When you combine in his over 3.0 GPA, you’re looking at a nice sleeper that could probably help a program of some level.