Kings of the Court: Martin Brothers 16U Evals
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Ben Helmers IA #35 PG #11 HEIGHT 6'4" POS PG CLASS 2025 View Profile Ben Helmers Instagram Twitter State: Iowa School: Algona Club: Iowa United Helmers is a bouncy, athletic wing who rebounds really well, especially on the defensive end…
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Continue ReadingHelmers is a bouncy, athletic wing who rebounds really well, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He’s an active defender with quick hands and feet, and he has good anticipation on that end of the floor, knowing when to jump passing lanes and turn defense into offense. He attacks the rim hard on the offensive end, routinely playing downhill and using his quickness, athleticism, and length to get to the rim for finishes.
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Kern continued his dominant spring with another great showing over the weekend in Des Moines. A 6-8/6-9 big man who can stretch the floor, protect the paint, and dominate on the glass, he showed his dominance on both ends of the floor in Martin Brothers win over Beyond Ball on Saturday morning. He has continued to add strength to his frame and continued to work on his footwork and touch around the rim, which when paired with his silky stroke from behind the arc, makes him a dynamic offensive weapon who can fill it up from anywhere. If he were in just about any other recent graduating class in Iowa, he would be the #1 player in the state.
Kirkpatrick is a long, lanky wing who covers a ton of ground on both ends of the floor, providing some versatility on the defensive end with the ability to defend multiple positions. He’s a good shooter off the catch, is improving as a playmaker and ball-handler, and will contribute on the glass on both ends of the floor. If he can continue to tighten up his ball-handling and ability to shoot it off the dribble, he’s certainly a name that schools need to be monitoring. The frame is great, and he produces.
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Watkins had a really good game in their win over Beyond Ball, showcasing his blazing end-to-end speed and quick first step to routinely get to the rim for finishes. His frame is a little slight, but he has great body control around the bucket and is a creative finisher who is able to absorb just enough of the contact to draw the foul, but not enough for him to not be able to finish. He has a quick release off the catch and moves well without the ball in his hands, and is also a really good passer and ball-handler who can create for his teammates.
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McKowen is a tough lead guard who competes hard on both ends of the floor on every possession. He’s clearly the son (as well as grandson and nephew) of a coach who understands the game at a high level, positioning himself well on both ends of the floor, keeping the ball moving offensively, and coaching his teammates. He’s a good on-ball defender who moves his feet well and is a fantastic shooter both off the dribble and the catch. He does a great job passing into his teammate’s shooting pocket so that they can get their shot off in a hurry.
When you watch Meyer play, it’s easy to see why he’s also a highly sought-after football prospect who holds Power 5 offers. He’s a strong, physical forward with big, broad shoulders that he uses to carve out space in the paint and finish around the rim. He has great, soft hands, and is a really good rebounder on both ends of the floor, and is a good athlete who is a switchable defender who can hold his own on the perimeter or protect the paint as a shot blocker.
A long off-ball guard who shoots it at a really high level off the catch, Nietert uses his big frame and a high release on his jumper to get his shot off pretty much whenever he wants. He moves extremely well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release off the catch. He’s improving his ball-handling and playmaking, although he isn’t asked to do a ton of playmaking with this group. He showed a really good understanding of spacing and how to set up the defense with a nice little pass into the post and a quick re-locate on the wing for a 3 that he splashed.
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Deiters is a physical forward who has become a much more fluid athlete over the last 12 months. He has great, soft hands and a big, physical frame that he uses to control the painted area on both ends of the floor. He has good footwork and touch around the rim, rebounds well, and is a good team defender who rotates and blocks shots.
Manago jumps off the page, sort to speak, when you watch this group play. He’s incredibly long and a great athlete, and he uses those attributes to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He’s really good on the glass and is a good enough ball-handler and decision-maker to lead the break after pulling down a defensive rebound. He has a huge wingspan that he uses to really bother opposing ball-handlers, and he moves his feet well when playing on-ball defense. On the offensive end, he can play with or without the ball in his hands, cutting hard when operating off the ball, and getting his teammates involved at a high clip when he’s initiating the offense.
Schlaak is much smaller than his older brothers, but he still has the typical Schlaak length, and he uses it well on the defensive end of the floor, getting into passing lanes and moving his feet. He looks like he may still have a bit of a growth spurt in him, and if his size catches up, he could be a high impact player on both ends. He’s strong both on and off the ball on the offensive end, shooting it well off the catch and seeing the floor well as a playmaker.