PH Easter Classic: 16U Saturday Standouts

<p>The Prep Hoops Easter Classic is absolutely loaded with talent. I had the opportunity to see some really competitive matchups on day two of this PH Circuit stop. I was also treated to some fantastic individual performances. With that in mind, here are eight Saturday standouts from the 16U division:</p> <p><strong>Jeremiah Lewis | | 2024 | Combo Guard | HP Ballers 2024 | <span class="school-name">Ponchatoula</span> HS</strong> – Lewis rolled out of bed and dropped 32 points in his 8:00 AM game. He is a fluid athlete who hangs in the air when he leaves his feet. The Ponchatoula guard is dangerous when attacking off the dribble but can also make you pay if you leave him open from deep. He got it done defensively too, illustrated by a steal in the closing seconds of action that ultimately led to him drilling a pair of go-ahead free throws to seal his team’s victory.</p> <p><strong>Ahmad Abualneel | 2024 | 6’4’’ Shooting Guard | Hard Hoops 2024 | Plano East HS</strong> – Although his team came up just short in their early morning matchup, Abualneel had his fingerprints all over the game in the final minutes of play. He scored with some great-looking floaters, and also showed some fearlessness from behind the arc by burying a deep contested three late in the contest.</p> <p><strong>Royal Watson Jr. | 2025 | 5’11’’ Point Guard | Mansfield Power Elite 2024 | Cedar Hill HS</strong> – Watson Jr. scored from all three levels on his way to a 30-point outing. He displayed the ability to knock down the triple from all around the three-point line, both off the dribble and from the catch. He was also relentless when attacking off the bounce in isolation, showing some real toughness. Furthermore, he made some beautiful pocket passes.</p> <p><strong>Trey Morgan | 2023 | 6’1’’ Shooting Guard | JEB Elite 2024 | Edmond Santa Fe HS</strong> – Morgan’s motor was on full display whenever he was in the game. He got to the rim at will, knifing through the defense and splitting double teams on countless occasions. The 2023 guard is a crafty finisher once he gets inside and has no issue scoring through contact. He ended up with 18 points when I saw him on Saturday.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1417098" first="Kasen" last="Hastings"] | 2024 | 6’0’’ Point Guard | DC Kings Denton 2024 | Krum HS</strong> – Hastings displayed a terrific feel for the game, producing both as a facilitator and a scorer. He navigated the floor well enough to get inside consistently for close-range buckets, but also showed that he can knock down the three when spotting up. His instincts were fantastic as well. The Krum guard plays with outstanding pace and makes smart decisions.</p> <p><strong>Brandon Beard | 2024 | 6’3’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Victory Academy 2024 Blue | Allen HS</strong> – Beard got off to a slow start when I saw him but exploded in the second half for 18 points. He was extremely consistent down low, showing a soft touch when finishing with either hand. In addition, the Allen forward was a sneaky good passer out of the post, finding open teammates with accurate deliveries.</p> <p><strong>DeMichael Chew | 2024 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard | Cenla Storm 2024 | Peabody Magnet HS</strong> - Chew proved to be a consistent threat as a shooter. He got it done both from behind the arc and in the mid-range area. He also utilizes his sturdy frame to contribute on the boards at both ends of the court. He led all scorers with 16 points in his afternoon matchup and helped lead his team to a dominant win. </p> <p><strong>Dominick Harris | 2024 | 5’11’’ Combo Guard | Team Devoted 2024 | Flower Mound Marcus HS</strong> - Harris was certainly one of the best three-point shooters I saw on Saturday. The 2024 guard displayed deep range and the ability to hit the triple off the bounce and when spotting up. He has a pretty jumper and was great about getting his shots off in rhythm. Beyond that, he made some fantastic passes and probably should have finished the game with more assists than he actually ended up with. </p>