Bill Hensley Run N’ Slam Notebook: Opening Night

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FORT WAYNE, Ind. --</strong> Recapping the action of Friday at the 2023 Bill Hensley Memorial Run N' Slam...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MTXE Premier</strong> <strong>Rallies Late</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a closely contested back and forth battle, MTXE Premier defeated Midwest Renegade in their opener 68-62.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burlington 2024 wing [player_tooltip player_id='1182503' first='Connor' last='Roffers'] impressed throughout. Really like the size and shooting stroke of the 6-foot-5 junior. Roffers can light it up off the catch and has developed a very efficient one or two-dribble jumper from around 14-18 feet. Roffers does an excellent job of staying composed off the dribble, getting two feet in the paint, squaring up and shooting over the top. Currently No. 29 in the state rankings, still think Roffers has a lot of room to rise given his positional size and two-way ability. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette 2024 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1887198' first='Ryan' last='Meehan'] hit two big late 3-pointers to help MTXE rally. Meehan didn't take a lot of shots and finished with a quiet 26 points, including 19 in the second half along. Meehan spotted up well in transition, fed off dribble penetration, and when defenders overcommitted on the closeout, was able to hit gaps and get to the cup before the help could rotate and react.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wasn't his best performance, but also liked some of the things [player_tooltip player_id='1203047' first='Sean' last='Ladwig'] (Catholic Memorial) did on Friday as well. A lengthy two-guard that's a catch and shoot threat with some sneaky athletic ability off the bounce, Ladwig's got some tools that college programs should find enticing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1887198"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64564c3482fd8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grams Hiding in the 2024 Class</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's been hidden at Sussex Hamilton while playing alongside [player_tooltip player_id='953956' first='Luther' last='Smith'], who's headed to Southern Indiana next year. However, [player_tooltip player_id='1827203' first='Cooper' last='Grams'] can play some ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24UP dropped Grand Rapids Storm in their opener and it was Grams who got them off to a great start. The 5-foot-11 lead guard was a killer offensively, using his quickness and tight handles to create and pull-up off the bounce. Grams is very crafty in the pick n' roll, able to reject, knife, or turn a corner at a sharp angle on ball screens. An excellent 3-point shooter, Grams doesn't need a lot of space and knocked down some shots while playing off the ball against a zone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Able to get buckets and run the show from the point guard spot, Grams could be a really nice pickup for a small school program and I'd expect him to turn some heads in the Greater Metro next season. This is a prospect that's clearly putting in a ton of work on his game, because he made some difficult things look rather easy in a game full of college prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1144119"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64564c3483041"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Batemon Goes Off</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I continue to rave about this kid, because he just gets better and better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'] exploded for 36 points, leading Power 5 to a win over Midwest Renegade. The Milwaukee Academy of Science product almost couldn't miss in the second half and woke up a dormant offense with eight late points in the first half. With his team trailing, Batemon scored 25 of his points after halftime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A highly intriguing shooter with tremendous range and the ability to score off balance, Batemon has a dangerous blend of outside shooting and skill to create on the ball. He's drastically improved in the mid-range, particularly when scoring off-balance. With his added length, even if you defend Batemon well, it might not matter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 1 programs need to start calling on this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1447228"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64564c348308f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wisconsin Prospects Face Off in the Nightcap</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game that may end up deciding who wins the respective pool, Mac Irvin Fire knocked off Wisconsin Playground Club in the nightcap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This featured a great matchup at the point guard spot between Dupree Fletcher Jr. (Carmen NW) and [player_tooltip player_id='1142142' first='Jaquan' last='Johnson'] (Pius XI). Fletcher completely took over the second half and never let PGC get close. Working in isolation and making his free throws down the stretch, Fletcher finished with 22 points in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1089684' first='Stevie' last='Clark'] (Oshkosh North) had a massive first half. Not only did the Oshkosh North product score the team's first 16 points, he put up 22 at the break, including a big-time poster dunk in transition. Clark would finish 30 in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142120"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64564c34830f2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->