Grind Region Finals: Saturday Standouts

<p>On day 2 of the grind region finals, here is a list of players that stood out to us on a day full of basketball. From making winning plays, getting defensive stops, highlight reels, one possession after another, these players made sure to show out.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1385618" first="Mikey" last="Brand"] (Team Dream 2024)- What stands out about Mikey is how he runs the floor and doesn’t take any plays off on both ends of the trip. Mikey what seems to play the post for his team’s dream 2024 team, he has great size and uses it to his advantage without any hesitation. From post-ups, protecting the rim, setting great screens, there’s nothing he doesn’t use his body for. Brand showed to have great offensive skill sets. From 3s in the half-court set to finishing under the rim around great size and length, there just isn’t much you can do with him when he’s rolling.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1461438" first="Sam" last="Kemp"] (Team Dream 2024)- Kemp turned some heads on Saturday with his consistent play all day. Sam has a smooth game to his style and plays at a really good pace. He’s one you don’t have to draw up plays for he can get his in the midst of the offense. Sam has a smooth stroke from the mid-range area and beyond to the 3. He’s a joy to watch because of how disciplined he is and how mature he plays. Kemp will be on coaches’ radar very soon with this consistent play.</p> <p>Korbin Gunn (NLU 2025)- Korbin is an athletic finisher at the rim. Often times does a good job of not bailing players out and getting to the rim to finish through the contact. On Saturday he hit the game-winning layup and converted the and 1 at the free throw line to beat a good wolfpack team. After being down, Korbin led his team to a powerful comeback win to advance to Sunday gameplay. This wasn’t Gunn’s first game-winner and it won’t be the last. </p> <p>Devon Cork (Dream Leaders 2024)- Cork has to be one of the most athletic finishers here at the grind region finals. In one game alone we have seen 3 dunks from him all in the second half. It isn’t much you can do when he gets out in transition but get out of his way. Devon attacks the rim with no mercy when his team has numbers in transition. Using his athleticism he makes sure to contest lay-ups at the rim on the other end causing players to switch up their finishes. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1417295" first="Jasiah" last="Shields"] (Hunt United 2023)- Shields is one of the quickest and most explosive guards you will see. His first step is one of the fastest ones you will see. The guard for hunt united put on a show Saturday in front of coaches grabbing their attention heading into his senior season. In one of the games on Saturday he put up 19 points and scored the game-winner. Jasiah is a pest on the defensive end causing ball handlers to play at a pace they arent accustomed too. Whoever gets shields is getting a hidden gem that will contribute right away. </p>