Hustle Region Classic: 16U Top 21 GameChangers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>This content series is sponsored by&nbsp;</em><a href="https://gc.com/home/football?utm_source=prepredzone&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=2022prepredzone&amp;utm_content=gamechangeroftheevent&amp;utm_term=partner" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>GameChanger</em></a><em>&nbsp;– The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management &amp; Technology Partner of Prep Hoops</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend, I was down in Portland for the Hustle Region Classic watching games in the 16U division. Instead of doing all-tournament teams, I decided to focus in on the top players from the event. I intended to only do a top 20 but I just didn't feel right leaving any of these guys off. So, here are my top 21 players from last weekend at the Prep Hoops Hustle Region Classic. This list has a great blend of guards, wings, and bigs that were high-impact guys in the 16U division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Hansen</strong> | 5'8 | BDH Elite | Auburn/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top two-way guys from the weekend, Hansen was a high-efficiency shooter from beyond the arc, took on the top backcourt matchups, and provided tough play on both ends throughout the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joe Stimpson </strong>| 5'10 | Players Only | Jesuit/OR | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This kid balled out over the three-day tournament. His shot-making was off the charts. He was able to hit from all levels but excelled at hitting from the mid-range and in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2458230' first='Zhalei' last='Van'] </strong>| 6'2 | More than Hoops | De La Salle/OR | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the smarter passers from the weekend, Van is a guy that got his teammates involved first but was also able to chip in tough buckets inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jabari Pugh</strong> | 6'1 | Team Rize Elite | Fortune/CA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long guard, Pugh showed off different skills in different games. Getting to the rack in certain games, while getting hot from three in others. He's an athletic guard that can hurt you from inside or out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1961798' first='Major' last='Williams'] | 5'8 | Team Progress | Horizon Chrisitan MS/OR | 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the youngest players in the division, Williams plays above his age with his ball control, patience, and toughness when dealing with tight defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Connor DeLaby</strong> | 6'1 | Team Rize Elite | Rocklin/CA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeLaby was a top shooter in his division and although he caught fire from outside more than once, he was also able to mix in some finishes at the rim and kept defenders respecting either option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485561' first='Dayne' last='Cardoza'] | 6'0 | BDH Elite | Ingraham/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardoza has the knack for turning it on in key spots, even if he isn't having a great game from the field. I saw him come up in big spots with high-energy defense, contact finishes at the rim, and some hustle rebounds in crunch time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485586' first='Kenyon' last='Simmons'] | 6'4 | BDH Elite | Timberline/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has a playmakers mentality but because he is a 6'4 super athlete, he's able to do a lot of that playmaking in and around the paint. He was super-effective dropping in shots around the key but equally impressive as a passer from tight spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kota Truong </strong>| 5'9 | Team Progress | Mountain View MS/OR | 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another guy for Team Progress playing two years up, Truong is a shifty guard who is able to get shots off under close defense and showed real potential to become a complete scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amaar Coleman</strong> | 6'0 | Seahawks Elite | Franklin Pierce/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was an active guy on both ends that created a lot of downhill action on offense by going right at defenders on the perimeter and at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jabari Preston </strong>| 6'3 | Prospect Kids | Spanaway Lake/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a strong, calculated guard that showed the strength to fend off defenders and get shots off from the mid-range with ease. He hit a lot of momentum-killing shots to keep his team in close games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485658' first='Isaac' last='Norris'] | 5'10 | Prospect Kids | Graham Kapowsin/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norris can be pretty elusive with the ball, not just dribbling, but passing as well. He's a tough-minded guard that can also hit from inside or out and handled a big portion of the playmaking for Prospect Kids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485662' first='Jacob' last='Hurskin'] | 6'2 | BDH Elite | Thomas Jefferson/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hurskin was one of the most impressive players I saw last weekend. His ability to affect the game in nearly every way was awesome to see. He blocked shots high at the rim, made key passes in the half-court, fought for loose balls, drilled threes, and was a strong finisher at the hoop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1611748' first='Warren' last='Stanton'] | 6'4 | More than Hoops | West Linn/OR | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a tall, athletic kid that can finish at the hoop around or through defenders. He seems to never get too high or low and plays steady, smart basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>John High </strong>| 6'4 | Team Rize Elite | Twelve Bridges/CA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High is a big kid with some strength and skill who can finish through defenders at the cup and even showed he can hit an occasional jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450984' first='Javon' last='Barbee'] | 6'4 | BDH Elite | Franklin Pierce/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The BDH wing looked to have an edge to his game this weekend as he beat defenders with a quick first step, challenged guys at the rim with strong takes, and was really reactive and in a good flow on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1850312' first='Layne' last='Weir'] | 6'7 | BDH Elite | Bonney Lake/WA | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weir is an interesting big who can stretch the floor, operate with good vision from high spots in the half-court, and get physical inside when he has a one-on-one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dayton Jenkins</strong> | 6'2 | Team Progress | Westview/OR | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I really liked this kid's game this weekend. He's a guard with a longer reach that can create off the dribble, hit tough shots at the rim, and showed great hustle to make plays off the ball and on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1368248' first='Khaled' last='Artharee'] | 6'4 | More than Hoops | Gresham/OR | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Artharee is so strong inside and he has the length and footwork to really pose problems for the defense. He's a bully on the boards and was a physical player all weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1763791' first='Julius' last='Blair'] | 5'9 | More than Hoops | Parkrose/OR | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was able to keep constant pressure on defenses with the ball in his hands, shifting them side to side with the threat of the drive and spacing the floor off the ball with his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Beatty</strong> | 6'8 | More than Hoops | Scappoose/OR | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beatty was one of the tallest players at the event and naturally, he wasn't the most nimble, but the big man had a good motor, collected boards with ease, and ran the floor hard to get on the end of breaks and be a factor at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->