#PHGauntletOnTheGulf 15U Standouts – Part 1

<p>It’s the most important time of the AAU season: teams are getting in some of their last May runs before June rolls around and grassroots takes a backseat. In Daytona Beach, some of the absolute best under-the-radar Florida AAU teams decided to use their weekend and play at Gauntlet on the Gulf, a Prep Hoops event featuring teams from all over the state. While the older guys did their thing, there was a host of 15U talent that really stood out. Here it the first batch of standouts from the weekend: </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1293280" first="CHRISTOPHER" last="MAXON"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1301752" first="Christian" last="Maxon"], 6-0, Fort Pierce Central, Athletes of Influence 2025</strong></p> <p>"The Maxon Twins" was the phrase on every scout and player’s lips all weekend long. I feel bad packaging them together in this article, but ultimately, both of them are so fundamentally solid in similar fashions. For starters, they are two of the best shooters in the state, not just for their age. They can hit shots of all types: step backs, tightly contested, off the dribble. You name, it’s in their bag. There’s no one thing that the twins can’t do at least decently. They were the engine behind an elite press break with their high IQs and great ball handling. On defense, they’re pesky on ball guys that can rebound effectively and even block shots when needed. They find the gaps, can finish, have enough athleticism to finish around the basket, and don’t get shaken easily against good defenders. They’re young, there’s no doubting that, and they’ve got a long way to go in terms of physical assets. But the foundation isn’t just there, it’s elite. They’ve got the blueprint to become Division 1 scholarship level players as they progress. After this summer, they may be in the conversation for top-10 freshmen in the state. </p> <p><strong>Alex McFarlane, 6-3, John Carroll, Ball4Lyfe United 2025</strong></p> <p>McFarlane is who stood out to me among a group of elite players on Ball4Lyfe United’s 15U squad (check out my defense article for a highlight on Jamar Browder). The 6-3 wing is a legit offensive and defensive threat. On offense, his lanky arms and smooth athleticism make him a physically interesting player. He’s a bigger guard for one of these events, so his size was able to get him to where he needed to be and finish over larger defenders at a high level. The John Carroll varsity guard was a big time defensive asset, as his length again helped him disrupt passing lanes and generate steals. He was able to handle the ball well and get shots off when needed. I could have highlighted a lot of the players on this really good team, but ultimately, it was McFarlane’s physical tools that helped him stand out from his fellow hoopers. </p> <p><strong>Caesar Wiley, Jr., 6-0, Fletcher, OTOD 2025</strong></p> <p>One Team One Dream’s 15U squad was led by Wiley all weekend. At only 6 feet, Wiley was one of the smaller two guards I watched. But that didn’t matter, because this kid is STRONG. He has an elite physique that aided in the aspect of his game that turned heads all weekend: his ability to get downhill. Wiley had his way going to the rim in the game I watched against ISA Elite. His strength gave him the ability to take contact and win most physical exchanges with bigger defenders. His handle is also good enough to help him get to those spots on the floor; he was able to cross pretty much any defender in front of him and get into paint and finish. He also was one of the best defensive guards I watched all weekend. His strength and lateral quickness made him difficult to go past, and opposing guards ended up giving the ball to him more often than not. This led to some easy runouts for quick points. I can’t tell where Wiley would fall in a guard ranking, but he’s a more-than-solid guard with a knack for fighting to get downhill. </p>