Hustle Region Finals: 16u Day 1 Standouts

<p>The Hustle Region Finals in Seal Beach kicked off tonight and while focusing on the 16u division there was some great competition and talent on display. These are some of the guys whose play really stood out to me on day 1</p> <p>Deuce Sims | 6-0 G | - | Coastal Elite 2024 |</p> <p>Sims was great for Coastal on both ends of the ball. On defense, his size and length for a guard made him a nightmare to deal with in traps and zones as he has a knack for getting steals. Sims was also very efficient on the offensive end finishing at the rim through traffic in transition and in half-court sets off the dribble as well as knocking down catch and shoot threes. Sims has the tools to be a great modern guard and looks to continue his strong start to the tournament</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1423837" first="Mazen" last="El Bissat"] | 6-4 SF | - | Coastal Elite 2024 |</p> <p>Bissat played the role of a center defensively for Coastal today as he seemed to always be in the right spot in help defense contesting and blocking shots and dominating the boards. Bissat did a little bit of everything on offense as he hit jumpers, took the ball all the way to the rim off the bounce, and turned dump-down passes and lobs into dunks. He is one of the most versatile players in the tournament with the ability to play 1-5 for his team and a skill set that will translate to the next level</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1253530" first="Jaylen" last="Wheeler"] | 6- 2 G | - | Team Rampage Elite 2024 |</p> <p>Wheeler was the lead ball handler for Rampage and their diving force offensively. Wheeler has a very quick first step and excels in breaking down his defender. He had some crafty finishes at the rim and through contact and knew when to stop on a dime and take pull-up jumpers. His scoring ability leads to the defense keying in on him allowing him to become a solid playmaker and one of the best combo guards on the circuit, especially with how athletic he is</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1420900" first="Reuben" last="Lewis"] | 6-3 F | - | Team Rampage Elite 2024 |</p> <p>Lewis is a very promising young player who physically checks all the boxes off with his lengthy wingspan, growing height, and athleticism. He had his moments today with some good post moves and finishes under the rim but shined as a shot blocker and rebounder. As he grows into his wiry frame he will only become better and better as he continues his basketball career</p> <p>Cian Phipps | 6-2 G | - | Gamepoint Inland Empire 2024 |</p> <p>Phipps came out strong for Gamepoint today and was constantly making things happen off the ball. Phipps is always making the correct cuts and gets to his spots as a shooter. He shot at a high clip from catch and shoot threes and finished passes from his cuts but also showed the ability to make things happen with the ball in his hands taking and making jumpers off the dribble. Phipps plays the role of a shooting guard very well.</p> <p>Jacob Casillas | 5-10 PG | - | Gamepoint Inland Empire 2024 |</p> <p>Casillas was the purest point guard I saw today and in a while. It was very rare to see him make any mistakes with the ball in his hands as he hit cutting teammates on the money and initiated the offense as their floor general, it felt like he was always making the right play. Casillas has great touch using floaters and nifty finishes to finish around bigger defenders and is constantly flying around the court on defense and going after every loose ball. Casillas is a great leader on the court and a true playmaker with a high basketball IQ.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>