Battle at the Lakes: Jack’s 16U Day 3 Standouts
It was the final day of the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes that saw over 80 teams compete in the 16U division. These are the seven prospects who impressed me the most in the games I saw on Sunday.…
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Continue ReadingIt was the final day of the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes that saw over 80 teams compete in the 16U division. These are the seven prospects who impressed me the most in the games I saw on Sunday.
Devin put on one of the best shooting performances I have seen all weekend on Sunday. The Shakopee junior caught fire in the first half, scoring 20 points and shooting 7 of 8 from the field. He was making the defense pay for not having a hand in his face at all times, knocking down five early triples. He also found success getting downhill for finishes through contact, drawing fouls, resulting in a pair of three-point-plays. He was the key reason his team held a comfortable lead for the entire game over a really good D1 Minnesota team. Pass and MN Fury finish the weekend 1st in Pool B with a 3-1 record.
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CJ is such a gifted scorer and took over in his final game of the day. He is truly a threat from all three levels and is extremely unpredictable with the ball in his hands. He showed that he could pull-up and knock down shots off the dribble, as well as play off the ball and torch the defense in the catch-and-shoot. He also had some impressive kick out passes to teammates for some good looks. Armstrong was fun to watch get out in the open floor in transition as well, commonly going to a euro step to avoid his shot from being altered.
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Max is one of the top scorers in his class and was knocking down some super tough shots all weekend. The 2026 guard may like size, but more than makes up for it with his tight handle and ability to create for himself off the dribble. He looked very comfortable stepping into his shot from far beyond the three-point line, as well as pulling up in the mid-range. Iversen was a varsity starter in his freshman season at Delano, averaging nearly 20 points per game.
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Cale was doing it all in Sunday’s matchup with SW MN Stars, leading his team to a hard fought win. The 6-foot guard served as his team’s main ball handler and was able to successfully create opportunities for himself and his teammates using the dribble. Everything looks smooth when he is shooting the ball from the outside and he has the ability to get shots quickly, making it hard to get a good contest. He could also knife his way through traffic on his way to the basket, where he could finish it off with a layup or make a kick out pass for an even better look.
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Cole was a beast in the paint for Minnesota Fury in their big win over D1 Minnesota. The sophomore forward used his solid 6’5” frame to absorb contact and finish through multiple defenders at a time. He was also a dominant rebounder and eliminated any second chance opportunities for opponents. Along with that, he was able to show off his playmaking abilities, throwing some impressive backdoor passes to cutting teammates for assists. He is an unselfish player who was making winning plays all game for his team.
James starred in his role as the main facilitator for MN Fury Shepard and heavily impacted the game with his scoring and ball handling. The 5’10” freshman may lack size but will always add value to a team with his superb handle and ability to create open looks for his team. Martin needed to be accounted for from the perimeter, knocking down threes off the catch or off the dribble. He also impressed me with his ability to find open teammates for assists.
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Trevor Smith Trevor Smith 6'0" | SG TMB | 2025 State MN
Trevor Smith Trevor Smith 6'0" | SG TMB | 2025 State MN
Trevor’s next level ability to score the ball was on full display on Sunday. He was able to keep his team in the game, catching fire in pivotal moments of the second half. He did the majority of his damage shooting off the dribble. I saw knock down a couple pull-up mid-range jumpers at the top of the key, as well as a fadeaway starting with his back to the basket. Smith was also a threat to get shots off quick, burying a couple of catch-and-shoot looks. He never did too much with his dribbles and turned in an efficient performance.