Sunday standouts from The Last Dance

Sunday was the final day of The Last Dance and also the end of this summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit. With that being said, here's an article featuring some players I saw standing out on Sunday at Supreme Courts from The Last Dance tournament. Rhett Pieters, 6'4 PF 2023 NWI Tradition: Pieters had a put-back slam that got the crowd on their feet and was constantly working on the left block. Pieters finished through contact and the lefty hit a couple mid-range shots. Pieters simply outworked opposing team who only had 5 players and couldn't match his effort in the paint. Marquis Smith, 6'5 SF 2023 NWI Tradition: Smith is an athletic wing who dominated all weekend, but especially stood out to me at the end of the game on Sunday. Smith scored around the last 15 points of the game for his team and completely took over. In that span he had 3-4 breakaway dunks including one in traffic that had the entire gym buzzing. Smith is simply too big, too strong and too explosive to be contained for an entire game and when he broke out, the game was over for the opposing squad. [player_tooltip player_id='1049059' first='Christopher' last='Hammonds Jr'], 6'2 SG 2022 Team Rose: Hammonds scored very efficiently in the mid-range area for an undermanned Team Rose. Hammonds used pivots and spins to get open for 10-15 foot shots. Hammonds also made floaters and showed good touch around the basket. If there was one word I'd use to describe Hammonds' game, it would be smooth. Eduardo Chiquito Jr, 6'2 SG 2023 Brooktown Force: Brooktown Force's entire team went crazy but Chiquito was involved in knocking down 3-pointers and throwing dunks down in transition. Chiquito shot the ball extremely efficiently from behind the 3-point line and while the whole team had a dunk contest in transition, the ones by Chiquito got the entire bench hyped up. Brooktown Force fell just one basket short of 100, winning 98-44 in a blowout victory. [player_tooltip player_id='1207374' first='Lance' last='Grayson'], 6'3 SF 2023 Midwest Basketball Club: Grayson plays under control when attacking the basket and picked his spots well. Also knocked down a 3-pointer and took care of the basketball. Didn't try and do too much out there, playing within his strengths. Grayson also finished with both hands at the rim and had an overall solid performance. [player_tooltip player_id='1524799' first='Grant' last='Smethwick'], 5'10 PG 2023 Midwest Basketball Club: Smethwick played at his own pace and led his team from the point guard position. He had a big run early in the second half with three 3-pointers and a drive to the hoop. Smethwick also had two creative lefty scoops on the right side. Smethwick also shut the door with back-to-back 3-pointers to help seal the victory and help his team advance to 3-1 on the weekend. Jay Shockley, 6'3 PF Minnesota Grizzlies Basketball: While Shockley did score around the rim with finishes off dump off passes and rolls to the rim, I was more impressed with his motor and defense. Shockley was going hard after every loose ball and defensively battled against a much taller big. His activity on switched was also impressive as he forced some turnovers.

Sunday was the final day of The Last Dance and also the end of this summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit. With that being said, here's an article featuring some players I saw standing out on Sunday at Supreme Courts from The Last Dance tournament.
Rhett Pieters, 6'4 PF 2023 NWI Tradition: Pieters had a put-back slam that got the crowd on their feet and was constantly working on the left block. Pieters finished through contact and the lefty hit a couple mid-range shots. Pieters simply outworked opposing team who only had 5 players and couldn't match his effort in the paint.
Marquis Smith, 6'5 SF 2023 NWI Tradition: Smith is an athletic wing who dominated all weekend, but especially stood out to me at the end of the game on Sunday. Smith scored around the last 15 points of the game for his team and completely took over. In that span he had 3-4 breakaway dunks including one in traffic that had the entire gym buzzing. Smith is simply too big, too strong and too explosive to be contained for an entire game and when he broke out, the game was over for the opposing squad.
Christopher Hammonds Jr Christopher Hammonds Jr 6'4" | SG Lincoln Park | 2022 State IL , 6'2 SG 2022 Team Rose: Hammonds scored very efficiently in the mid-range area for an undermanned Team Rose. Hammonds used pivots and spins to get open for 10-15 foot shots. Hammonds also made floaters and showed good touch around the basket. If there was one word I'd use to describe Hammonds' game, it would be smooth.
Eduardo Chiquito Jr, 6'2 SG 2023 Brooktown Force: Brooktown Force's entire team went crazy but Chiquito was involved in knocking down 3-pointers and throwing dunks down in transition. Chiquito shot the ball extremely efficiently from behind the 3-point line and while the whole team had a dunk contest in transition, the ones by Chiquito got the entire bench hyped up. Brooktown Force fell just one basket short of 100, winning 98-44 in a blowout victory.
Lance Grayson Lance Grayson 6'2" | SG Wyoming | 2023 State OH , 6'3 SF 2023 Midwest Basketball Club: Grayson plays under control when attacking the basket and picked his spots well. Also knocked down a 3-pointer and took care of the basketball. Didn't try and do too much out there, playing within his strengths. Grayson also finished with both hands at the rim and had an overall solid performance.
Grant Smethwick Grant Smethwick 5'10" | PG Moeller | 2023 State OH , 5'10 PG 2023 Midwest Basketball Club: Smethwick played at his own pace and led his team from the point guard position. He had a big run early in the second half with three 3-pointers and a drive to the hoop. Smethwick also had two creative lefty scoops on the right side. Smethwick also shut the door with back-to-back 3-pointers to help seal the victory and help his team advance to 3-1 on the weekend.
Jay Shockley, 6'3 PF Minnesota Grizzlies Basketball: While Shockley did score around the rim with finishes off dump off passes and rolls to the rim, I was more impressed with his motor and defense. Shockley was going hard after every loose ball and defensively battled against a much taller big. His activity on switched was also impressive as he forced some turnovers.