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This past weekend, we held the Southwest Kickoff Showcase in Edmond, Oklahoma. It featured 30 14U teams and 12 13U teams, ranging from a variety of different states. Among the 42 teams that showcased their talent, this article will talk about the gamechangers, the players that impacted the game the most. These are the most valuable players from the event. Now lets find out who made the list and why.
Daylan Williamson was a scoring machine all weekend. He had performances of him scoring 20 points, 21 points, and 15 points. That 15 points might have been more, but his team was blowing out the other team. He showed a knack for shooting the ball, knocking down mid-range pull-ups and contested threes. That is not the only thing that he can do, as he sometimes got inside for a finish at the rim. His impact expands beyond his scoring ability, as he grabbed several rebounds, some of which he turned into points at the other end. He played great defense, locking down the perimeter and deflecting passes out of bounds. He also came away with a couple of steals. His performance was a gamechanger for his team, as he impacted every area of it.
Miles Jackson made his biggest impact with his defense and rebounding, but also made an impact on offense. His defensive impact consisted of him utilizing good length and athleticism to lock down the perimeter, help protect the rim, and to disrupt shots. In the game that I watched him play, he had a couple of steals and a block. One thing that I loved most about his game it that he had the heart and I.Q to fight through the screens on defense. He dominated the glass, grabbing one rebound after another, despite having two guys boxing him out at times. He would tuhese rebounds and steals into fast break points. On the offensive end, he drove the gaps multiple times and showed the ability to finish through contact. This led to him being able to cap off an and-one. He showed the ability to stretch the floor and knock down the three, as well. His impact to be a disruptor on the defensive end, as well as contributing with his rebounding and ability to score offensively is why he is a gamechanger.
Malachi Hardiman made his presence known with a double-double against FTK (For The Kids) 2027. He was all over the glass, finishing with around 12 rebounds. Multiple times he turned some offensive rebounds into second-chance points, finishing through contact inside. He had a mid-range pull-up, as well. He has solid size and utilized that to his advantage. There were a few times that he grabbed a rebound and threw a great outlet pass for an assist. On defense, he played great interior defense, locking down the paint. It was an impressive performance, as he helped his team finish 3-1 this weekend. That is why he is a Gamechanger.
Marquell Robinson was a monster on the offensive glass. He continually turned these rebounds into second chance points. His offensive game expanded beyond that, as he showed the ability to finish through contact and to act as a playmaker. Multiple times he drove the gaps and kicked to an open shooter once the defense collapsed. On the defensive side of the ball, he played great and made a big impact. His defense was lock down , as he showed the ability to defend in the interior and on the perimeter. He was able to come away with a steal and translate that into points. He came out of the gate and set the tone early for his team. It was an impressive game by him, as he was a game changer in his team winning.
Jaeron Banton has great size for his age and put that on full display. Listed at 6’4, he grabbed one rebound after another. I witnessed him palming rebounds without jumping. He provided great interior defense for his team and provided a powerful scoring burst inside. He had several putbacks, scoring inside one time after another. Multiple times he grabbed a rebound and threw a great outlet pass to a teammate for an easy assist. His ability to rebounds, score inside, and play defense in the paint makes him a gamechanger. It was fun and impressive to watch him dominate on the court.
Hudson Poe was an important part in helping his team win. He set the tone early, hitting back to back jumpers that were contested from mid-range. He would score several other times after this, but they were mainly in the paint. He grabbed multiple rebounds throughout the game and played great defense. He was effectively contesting shots and boxing out well. He guarded the perimeter and interior well throughout the game. It was an impressive performance and was a gamechanger by how he set the tone early, contributed with his scoring, and played great defense.