17U Standouts at Fury/Heat Shutdown 2022

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1491768' first='Zach' last='Close'] - 6'7 - Wing - Orono/[program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Close showed some flashes of playmaking bringing the ball up in a point-forward role and making passes to teammates for close lay-ups and one cross-court pass for a 3. Close in the games I witnessed there weren't many defenders bothering him while driving as he moved very fluidly on the dribble drive. In transition he finished a few different plays with dunks and was a solid weak side defender blocking a few shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='962308' first='Hayden' last='Niebuhr'] - 6'7 - Forward - Maple River/Minnesota Lightning</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hiebuhr used his size and foot mobility to assert himself, scoring four inside five feet baskets in the game I watched him play. He was also active on the offensive glass including one possession where he rebounded to keep the possession going and made a pass to an open shooter. While in screen and roll, he short rolled and caught a pass, and quickly turned to make a direct pass to the left corner for an open shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1288821' first='Dillon' last='Engen'] - 6'0 - Guard - MN Heat Bohrer/Minneapolis Southwest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Engen displayed his shooting in a game versus MN Fury Hayes where he made five 3's, three of them from well beyond the 3-point line for a 19-point performance. His quick release really seemed to surprise defenders when he rose up and made the shots, especially from the distance he was shooting. In the half-court he penetrated the defense on drives for solid bounce passes for easy lay-ups for teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1492601' first='Patrick' last='Smith'] - 6'8 - Center - Duluth East/[program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The six-foot-eight-inch Smith took care of smaller defenders inside of the [program_tooltip program_id='2075681' first='Minnesota' last='Magic']. Smith didn't rush in the post, allowed teammates and defenders to clear, took one dribble and scored a couple times over right shoulder. A few other possessions he set a couple solid screen assists for [player_tooltip player_id='962209' first='Asher' last='Zubich'] helping him get space for perimeter jumpers, and other times made himself open in the short roll. Smith also gave a glimpse into his 3-point shooting as he knocked down a right corner jumper in the 2nd half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1436471' first='Jack' last='Lang'] - 5'11 - Guard - Austin/Minnesota Lightning</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lang had opportunities to push pace at times for the Minnesota Lightning and he took full advantage of defenders on their heels. Two separate possessions the five-foot-eleven-inch guard scored in such ways and another made a simple effective pass for an assist. Lang also helped stretch the floor for the Lightning by knocking down spotted up 3's with his smooth release.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1288773' first='Tanner' last='Thomson'] - 6'1 - Guard - Stillwater/[program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Hayes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomson was one of the benefiting guards playing with [player_tooltip player_id='1491768' first='Zach' last='Close'] over the weekend. As Close drove and prodded the defense, Thomson spaced along the perimeter to be ready to shoot away. Versus [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Bohrer is a tightly contested back and forth game, Thomson hit a couple 3's. He also showcased passing vision by hitting cutters on multiple possessions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221118' first='Jobe' last='Juenemann'] - 6'2 - Guard - Duluth East/[program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game versus [program_tooltip program_id='2075681' first='Minnesota' last='Magic'] Juenemann's multiple offensive skills were on full display. Scored while spotted up from 3, cut backdoor for a reverse lay-up, and in transition pushed while the defender was on his heels for a lay-up in the first and second half. Juenemann finished with 11 points in the match-up versus the Magic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->