Madness in the Midwest: Day 2 17U Best of the Best

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hundreds of players went at it at the 17U level on Day 2 of Madness in the Midwest. Here were the seven that rose above the rest as my 'Best of the Best'!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"William Kelley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Florence","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Great Northern Elite 2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWilliam was dominant in Saturday's win over [program_tooltip program_id='2076027' first='Wisconsin' last='Blizzard']. The 5'11” guard did everything for his team, impacting the game drastically on both sides of the ball. He was flying around the floor on defense, picking up several steals by reading opposing ball handlers and getting his hands in passing lanes. Offensively, he could shoot from the outside, knocking down shots off the catch or off the dribble. A trait that also really stuck out to me was his rebounding. He crashed the boards hard, giving his team many second chance opportunities. Kelley was never the biggest player out there, but he played very smart and very hard, resulting in him looking like the best player on the floor the entire game. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9de2b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552934"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='1552934' first='Will' last='Brands'] took over in the game I was able to see, truly dominating on the offensive side of the ball. He possesses great size and athleticism for the wing or forward position and was using it to his advantage, finishing though contact for multiple three-point-plays. When he got rolling in transition, there was nothing the defense could do to stop him. He also impressed me greatly as a shooter. I saw him connect with 3 three-pointers off the catch and was so hard to guard with that versatility he brings. Totino-Grace loses many players to graduation for next season so I expect Will to have a solid role for his senior year. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9def1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1151841"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eMason found no trouble in creating shots for himself in the game I watched. He's a super crafty ball handler who is very unpredictable. He has the ability to play at different speeds, slowly bringing the ball up the floor, then blowing by his defender in a flash. He can step out and knock down shots from the outside but found major success in taking the ball to the rim. I really liked how he used his body to convert through contact and also had some acrobatic finishes as well. Kleinsmith is an unsigned senior out of Madison LaFollette. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9df68"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1874883"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eJavaris was a player that I was not very familiar with coming into the day but he blew me away with his performance Saturday morning. He has great size for a wing and was doing everything he could to help this team. He is an effortless scorer who specialized in attacking the rim and getting to his spots in the mid-range. His ability to hit tough shots was what I was most impressed with. He also had some nice assists inside to teammates for easy looks. He had no fear going right at defenders, commonly drawing fouls or converting the tough finishes. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9dfdc"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Paxton Krugman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lodi","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078831' first='JustAGame' last='Select'] 2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003ePaxton came away with two incredibly clutch shots in the two games I was able to see. He connected with a pull-up mid-range shot in overtime versus WOTN which ended up being a game-winner and also made a buzzer-beating catch-and-shoot three to defeat [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] at the last second. Krugman is a guard who can provide a scoring spark with or without the ball in his hands. He has a variety of moves he can use to create his own shot but also moves well off the ball. He is a junior guard out of Lodi who stepped up when it mattered most. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9e0af"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2050399' first='Gabe' last='Aamot']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dassel-Cokato","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Dedina 2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eGabe turned in a super solid performance in their matchup with JustAGame. They fell just short in the final seconds, but they were in that game because of his scoring and effort. I saw him diving on the floor for loose balls, as well as take the game over with his offensive skillset. He showed off his range with a deep three-pointer, taking advantage of defenders not constantly having a hand in his face on a couple different occasions. I also saw him make a tough contested take to the rim and fight for a second-chance layup. Aamot's game is silky smooth and I like what he brings to the table with the ball in his hands. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9e179"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1288817"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eMinnesota Chill is off to a fantastic 3-0 start to the weekend with some big wins in Pool A. Drew has been a huge factor why and brings a lot to the table at the point guard position. He did a great job at slowing down the Chill offense and getting into their sets when the game would get too sped up and out of control. He also scored the ball well, knocking down a tough mid-range jumper off the dribble and a catch-and-shoot three in the corner. Balentine was also key in Chill's full court press that shut down the Hoop Dreams offense in the second half. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644498eb9e1ee"} /-->