#PHProvingGrounds 15U Standouts – Part 1
Was able to get out to the #PHProvingGrounds much closer to my home in Central Florida this weekend to watch some of the best of the best FL AAU teams duke it out. I specifically kept an eye on some…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWas able to get out to the #PHProvingGrounds much closer to my home in Central Florida this weekend to watch some of the best of the best FL AAU teams duke it out. I specifically kept an eye on some of the region’s newest young talent! Here’s the first batch of my favorite 15U guys I watched throughout the weekend.
Alexander Springs, Florida Kings 2025
In a pretty funny moment I shared with Alexander, I told him he was a freak athlete before asking for his name. When he told me his last name was “Springs,” I couldn’t help but laugh. Springs was one of the better players on a Florida Kings squad that absolutely demolished every opponent they faced this weekend. With an average win margin of almost 45 points, the Kings were absolutely an unstoppable force. While their defensive scheme and awareness were what gave them success, someone has to put the ball in the basket if you want to win by that large of a margin. Springs was one of their better finishers due to his freak athletic ability and length. When the ball was pushed up the floor, Springs was always there to receive the pass and jump over the nearest defender. His rebounding and shot blocking both benefitted from his physical tools as well, as he was an effective defender. Springs didn’t have to do much finessing to get buckets off in this one, but nevertheless, he did a fantastic job at serving his role on a great team and will no doubt make noise on the Circuit for the rest of this season.
Jeremy Penner, Florida Kings 2025
For every Alexander Springs, there’s gotta be a Jeremy Penner. Penner was a force in the softer aspects of the game. The skilled 6-3 guard was an above average threat from distance, splashing home 3 triples in a 13-point performance against Heart N’ Hustle 2025. He’s got the strength and handle to move the ball forwards on the floor and not just stand and watch from the three point line, which forced defenders to respect him beyond the triple and opened the floor up for him a lot. Penner, defensively, had the physical toolset to be an issue and create steals for a Kings team whose primary method of scoring is on the fast break. He has the lateral motion of a guard and the length of a high school forward, making him a dangerous asset in the full court press. Penner will no doubt turn heads as he contributes to this powerhouse squad.
Ryan Almeda, Florida Suns 2025
No jersey? No problem. Almeda showed up less than casual with no jersey for his game against Ocala Impact 2025, but left the game without going unnoticed (maybe unaccounted for). Almeda was clearly the best player on the floor, with a raw basketball instinct that seemed to overpower his opponents. A smaller guard standing at about 5-11, Almeda’s strength made all of his opponents unable to stop him going downhill. He had his way going to the rim against bigger defenders who simply couldn’t curtail his knack for going to the basket. While he wasn’t shifty or flashy, Almeda had a fairly deep bag of tricks he used to fool defenders and leave them in his dust. Almeda and the Suns will hopefully be fully clothed and ready to go for the rest of the Circuit, and with Almeda at the helm, should be very successful.