Comets Shootout: Standout 16U Guards
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AAU season has officially begun for most programs and I was in St. Cloud for the Comets Shootout this past weekend. Many of the state’s top 16U teams were present and these guards showed out in the games I watched!…
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Continue ReadingAAU season has officially begun for most programs and I was in St. Cloud for the Comets Shootout this past weekend. Many of the state’s top 16U teams were present and these guards showed out in the games I watched!
Tian was very impressive conducting the Team FSA offense this past weekend and was doing a little bit of everything on the floor. He has ball handling and a basketball IQ well beyond his years and used that to work his way past defenders to either finish at the rim or kick out to an open teammate. He connected with several three-pointers, some coming off the dribble and others while taking advantage of an opposing defender not having a hand in his face at all times. The Totino-Grace freshman also played aggressive on-ball defense which led to many steals, one ending with a two-handed dunk in transition. Chatman is seen as one of the best 2026 prospects in Minnesota and I do not expect that to change.
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Joe was a player I was familiar with coming into the weekend, but this was the first time I had actually seen him play in person. He was as good as advertised and was an electric scoring option for Team FSA playing up a grade at 16U. He is so quick with the ball in his hands and was leaving defenders in the dust all weekend. Combining his advanced shot making ability with his speed, resulted in a plethora of isolation baskets for the freshman guard. The way he can create separation and pull up in a split second stood out to me the most. He also did well setting up his defenders, using similar moves to get all the way to the rim for a finish. Mitchell was Apple Valley’s lead scorer this past season as a 9th grader.
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Giordan really stuck out to me with his ability to knock down ridiculously difficult shots in the matchup I watched. I saw him hit an unguardable side step three, a three well behind the volleyball line, and a lightning quick catch-and-shoot three in the corner. He was also not afraid to attack larger defenders than him on his way to the basket, finishing through loads of contact in transition situations. Easley was a scoring spark that was extremely tough to stop when he got going. The 6’1” guard is coming off of a high school season where he averaged over 8 points per game as a sophomore at St. Cloud Tech.
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Tyson Moore Tyson Moore 6'0" | SG Hopkins | 2025 MN
Tyson Moore Tyson Moore 6'0" | SG Hopkins | 2025 MN
Tyson Moore Tyson Moore 6’0″ | SG Hopkins | 2025 MN was one of the best pure scorers I saw all weekend and was tearing up defenses all game. The combination of his smooth shooting from deep and aggressive finishes inside made him very unpredictable to guard. He connected with some tough shots off the dribble, showcasing his advanced handle and ability to create space. When he got downhill, he was going right at opposing players, finishing through contact and drawing fouls. He also came away with some steals and converted layups at the other end, always playing at full speed. Another piece to Hopkins’ loaded young core.
I just saw Duke come off of a productive sophomore season for a great Minnetonka team, getting minutes as an underclassman despite an extremely talented backcourt. He played a much larger role for Minnesota Select this past weekend and was making plays all game in the matchup I saw. He did not score a lot, but impacted the game with his strong and confident ball handling and decision making. Richardson can shoot it from the outside, but was also not scared to push the ball and create opportunities for himself and teammates in transition. One of the best guards in this 2025 class.
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Kyler was a force to be reckoned with when he was attacking the basket and was very smart with ways he finished through traffic. The 5’11” guard found success converting with either his right hand or his left hand, regardless if there were multiple defenders in his face at once. He did a great job fully extending his arms on finishes to get as far away as possible from opposing players attempting to block his shot. Pust had no troubles working his way around the opposition to eventually get into the painted area. He was a great addition for Team FSA’s stacked backcourt.
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Brogan was almost unstoppable when getting to his left hand this past weekend. The 6-foot guard was never taller than any of the players he was finishing over or around in the paint but found ways to avoid his shots from being blocked or altered. He also impacted the game as a facilitator, creating open looks for teammates. Madson saw big time varsity minutes for a solid Mankato East team this past season as he was their leading scorer and will have the keys to the offense again next year as a junior.