Opening Weekend Summer League Standouts: Class of 2024

There are a ton of players to get to from this weekend's action. I visited the Kentwood Tip-Off, Quaker Summer Slam, and White River Classic over the weekend, taking in a ton of games and trying to see who has improved and what new names I need to know before next season tips off. Here are the players in the 2024 class that caught my eye this weekend.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='2156637' first='Tyce' last='Donovan'] | 6'3 | White River   Donovan is a strong guard, a good athlete that uses his body well on drives to take contact as well as give it. He shields the ball well while driving through traffic and does the same at the rim, keeping distance between defenders and his shot. White River nearly went undefeated but lost to Capital in the final game Sunday. Donovan should be a big part of their backcourt next season.   <img class="wp-image-1981128" style="width: 150px" src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/IMG_7582-rotated-crop-2753x1808-1686005990.jpeg" alt="">G | [player_tooltip player_id='2156626' first='Simon' last='Nysted'] | 6'1 | Black Hills   He was a big creator for Black Hills and got to the rim pretty well, using a decent handle and the threat of an outside shot to get inside and make some nice finishes, splitting defenders at the rim.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1612218' first='Cooper' last='Carlson'] | 6'3 | Capital   Carlson is a big guard who used hesi after hesi to keep defenders off-balance. He showed an "older-man's" game with a patient approach offensively, using strength with the ball, good touch from tough angles, and nice footwork through the paint to make his way through the defense.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1409013' first='Peter' last='Dress'] | 6'5 | Kamiakin   The Kamiakin sharpshooter was on point from behind the arc Saturday, but also recognized a size disparity and showed some improvement working out of the post. He bullied a couple of defenders to get right to the rim but also showed an ability to hit some turnarounds using good balance. More post-play could be a huge addition to his game if he can stay strong and draw fouls, considering he's absolutely cash from the free-throw line.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1547314' first='Shawn' last='Etheridge'] | 5'10 | Marysville Getchell   A high-energy guy who puts his body on the line to make the important hustle plays. His tough defense and ability to get to the rim were key for his team as they nearly pulled out the win against Bellevue Saturday.   F | [player_tooltip player_id='1615160' first='Kenyan' last='Jackman-Thomas'] | 6'5 | Bellevue   The rangy wing does a little bit of it all out there and has some strong potential to be a 3&D wing when his outside shot is consistently falling. He adds great athleticism to the floor and can be a real weapon at the rim as well.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1612208' first='Jalen' last='Dollar'] | 5'10 | Roosevelt   Dollar was one of my favorite players to watch this weekend, leading the way for Roosevelt with excellent IQ and pace. He found a rhythm with forward Anthony Washington early on and kept attacking the defense with a nice two-man game. He played with great pace and attacked hard off of screens, seeming to make the right play every time down. His perimeter shot was falling too, and his passing was right on target to players flashing middle, slipping screens, or hitting back doors, showing great ability to read defenses.   G | Lawson Bailey | 6'0 | Roosevelt   Bailey was impressive while making all the hustles plays. He took charges in transition, tipped out rebounds for extra possessions, and even buried a couple of shots from the middle, being efficient with his touches.   <img class="wp-image-1980679" style="width: 150px" src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/IMG_7572-rotated-crop-2753x1808-1685985554.jpeg" alt="">F | [player_tooltip player_id='1450620' first='Nate' last='Krohn'] | 6'4 | Eastside Catholic   The Crusaders have a chance to be really good this coming season and Krohn can be a huge factor as one of their leading seniors and playmakers. He's able to make key passes, is aggressive getting down in transition to finish tough at the rim, and has the versatility that enables him to make plays in a variety of ways on the defensive end as well. He was grooving Saturday and showed he can really get this unit humming at times.   G | Jason Roth | 6'0 | Snohomish   Snohomish didn't play in a necessarily close game when I watched but Roth shined as a competitor and someone who can handle pressure from all angles. He showed good vision with traps closing in and the ability to pass or dribble out of approaching pressure. He also protected the ball well in traffic and brought that same vision and aggression to defense.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1450610' first='Caden' last='Culver'] | 5'10 | Skyline   Easily one of the most communicative players I watched this weekend, Culver has a unique ability to get open off the ball and be an outlet for teammates under pressure. He's counted on to do a lot of creating with the ball and get guys in the right spots, showing a high-level court awareness. He also showed he can make some shots, hitting a couple jumpers from the perimeter with relative ease and finishing with either hand at the cup.   F | [player_tooltip player_id='1978875' first='Atticus' last='Boba'] | 6'3 | Skyline   Boba is a 6-foot-3 wing who has good strength, pretty nice footwork, and a formidable mid-range game that was on full display Saturday at Highline HS. He's got the lower body strength to quickly stop on a drive and pull up, leaving defenders falling away as he rose up for the shot. Good hustle and the strength to play inside at times, Boba will be a key guy for the Spartans next season.   <img class="wp-image-1981152" style="width: 150px" src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/IMG_7551-rotated-crop-2753x1808-1686006097.jpeg" alt="">G | [player_tooltip player_id='2153079' first='Caleb' last='Bowden'] | 6'3 | Auburn Mountainview   Bowden was a third-team all-league selection last season and it's easy to see why. He affects the game in a number of ways, contributing on the glass, dropping in some buckets from inside and out, and showing good feel in the half-court by making key passes. He's a smart player with a good feel on or off the ball and quietly makes a lot happen.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1463067' first='Noel' last='Davis'] | 5'11 | O'Dea   Still one of the quickest players with or without the ball in his class, Davis was harassing defenders at times, and when he wasn't charging to the hoop, was burying long-range shots with ease from behind the arc.   F | [player_tooltip player_id='1837764' first='Jahlil' last='Loyd'] | 6'3 | Beamer   The Beamer wing is super athletic and pretty long for only being 6-foot-3, but he was really making things happen with his jumper on the perimeter and when his shot is falling, he's a real threat to bring defenders out with the threat of the jumper, then blow by and make some things happen at the rim.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1837760' first='Will' last='Tellis'] | 6'3 | Beamer   Tellis is another wing for Beamer that can finish with authority at the rim. He's long and very athletic but it's his motor that truly stands out and helps him be a big factor on the glass and finishing through defenses inside.   F | [player_tooltip player_id='2368914' first='Ahmed' last='Ismail'] | 6'4 | Beamer   Ismail is a big body that has the ability to make things happen inside on the glass and finishing at the hoop. He's strong, a little bouncy, and could be a big factor inside for a Beamer squad that could make some things happen next season.   F | Patrick Galvin | 6'5 | O'Dea   I didn't see a ton of O'Dea in action on Friday but I saw enough to know Galvin could be a big player inside for the Irish this season. He has the length and the touch to finish all around the rim but is also a pretty good athlete who can jump and run to make him feel bigger than 6-foot-5.   <img class="wp-image-1981153" style="width: 150px" src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/IMG_7554-rotated-crop-2753x1808-1686006154.jpeg" alt="">F | [player_tooltip player_id='2153075' first='Braxton' last='Gruenich'] | 6'2 | Kentridge   Kentridge had a tough matchup when I watched them play but this guy shined through as a tough competitor who can really cause damage in the paint. He had at least four to five offensive rebounds and put back nearly all of them himself. He's not the tallest but he is strong with the ball and has good touch from either side of the hoop and does a great job finding angles to go up off the glass. Gruenich seems to have good instincts in general as he made some nice reactive passes under pressure and just has a nose for the ball.   F | [player_tooltip player_id='2156173' first='Nick' last='Mautone'] | 6'5 | Mercer Island   Mautone was an interesting player to watch as a bigger kid with some strength who also showed good ball skills and an ability to be a playmaker from different areas of the court. He has good hands and can bring some shooting to the floor as well, providing good versatility from the frontcourt.   G | [player_tooltip player_id='1434525' first='Blake' last='Stempniak'] | 6'4 | Kentwood   Stempniak was damn near automatic in their first game of the weekend, firing in shots from distance all around the arc. He slowed down a bit in the next game I saw but he is a tall guard who can shoot unencumbered with easy range thanks to his big body and laser focus.

There are a ton of players to get to from this weekend's action. I visited the Kentwood Tip-Off, Quaker Summer Slam, and White River Classic over the weekend, taking in a ton of games and trying to see who has improved and what new names I need to know before next season tips off. Here are the players in the 2024 class that caught my eye this weekend.