The Stage Act 1: 2024 Standouts, Part 1
The folks at Open Gym Premier and the Compton Magic teamed up for a second year to bring The Stage to Anaheim for the live period. This year’s event featured a number of quality teams and prospects from the 15u…
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Continue ReadingThe folks at Open Gym Premier and the Compton Magic teamed up for a second year to bring The Stage to Anaheim for the live period. This year’s event featured a number of quality teams and prospects from the 15u to 17u levels.
In my first report, I break down some of the 2024 prospects who stood out among the crowd.
Brycen Mackenzie, 6-2 G, Gamepoint Elite
The best word to describe Mackenzie is steady. He scores it with very little wasted effort, and showed marked improvement as a playmaker, using his paint touches to create plays for open shooters and advancing the ball in transition without dribbling.
Kyle Lemke, 6-9 C, SUSA 17u Gold
Lemke was dominant throughout the weekend. The St. George (Dixie HS) product has excellent hands, footwork and touch around the basket, but can bang with the best of them and is an excellent rebounder and position defender, as well as an underrated shot blocker.
Nathan Ahner, 6-5 W, San Francisco Rebels
Ahner was one of the event’s revelations for me. The sturdily built wing handled the ball a lot on the perimeter for the Rebels, using his strength, handle and quickness to create mismatches and score getting downhill in the paint. He went to the foul line 10 times down the stretch in a close game against the Punishers and hit all 10, showing solid shooting touch.
Isaiah Pomare, 6-5 W, Coastal Elite
Pomare stands out on one of the most connected teams in the event due to his length, athleticism and motor. He rebounds and defends the paint effectively for his height, and showed flashes of slashing ability from the wing. He can hit the occasional set shot from three, but his offensive game is mostly predicated on his downhill scoring and offensive rebounding.
Demaree Collins, 6-2 G, NW Greyhounds
If there was a “no, no, yes” player in the gym, it was Collins, a guard who oozes with supreme confidence, and whose coaches give him the green light to shoot from just about anywhere on the court – and he will. He took — and made – several shots from well beyond NBA range and dazzled with flashy handle and flexible finishes around and through contact. He has to improve his decision making and his shot selection, however, to reach his fullest potential.