Sanford Sports Academy: Impact Players

He has brought in to the court on both ends, in addition to providing a leadership presence for our group. Jacoby has scored, created, defended, and has good size for a lead guard. Mehrman is a gym rat and it has showed this spring. Jacoby is constantly dishing and dropping dimes. The lefty can hit the 3-ball and score in traffic. Mehrman has had a fantastic spring. College coaches need to get eyes on Jacoby this summer!

I had heard that Max was smart, crafty, and skilled. I can now confirm that those are all true! Engebretson makes the game look easy, he plays at his own pace, and he weaves/knifes through the D on his way to the hoop. He reaction time is quick and he makes subtle moves to get by defenders. Max can finish it the face of BIGs, drain pull-up J’s, and swish triples. Max is an all-around player and a SNIPER. Engebretson is a stock riser and a player to keep eyes on throughout the summer.

He had a spectacular high school season with a 3rd place finish at State, was All-Tournament team at State, and was an All-State selection. Tyson has carried that momentum into the AAU season and has been scoring at an impressive rate. Stevenson has been producing from every level. I love his pull-up game. Tyson is great at creating separation and he can pull-up on a dime. Stevenson is also a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc. He is very skilled and a crafty scorer, do not forget that Tyson is also a gifted athlete.

He is a long wing and a deadly shooter. Jack impacts the game from beyond the arc. He does great work when spacing and spotting up. I like how he reacts to the defense, catches, sets his feet, and shoots it all in a fluid motion. Erickson is a confident shooter that can get his shot off over smaller defenders. He will also make plays going to the basket and Jack can finisher/score over the D. I like how Erickson uses his size/length to his advantage around the basket. He also plays hard on defense and Jack reacts quickly to the ball.

Benson’s ability to uplift his teammates has had a major impact on his team. He gives the team momentum whether it’s a 3-point shot, a tough AND1 finish, a blocked shot, or an alley-oop pass. You can bet Kieffer is directly involved! Kieffer’s strength is his quickness. His fast/slick hands on defense generate a lot of steals and turnovers for himself and others. His pull-up J is a thing of beauty and he is a fearless finisher. Benson is an all-around gamer and he makes his teammates better.

He had an All-State high school season and Hanson has carried that over to the AAU scene. Nick has been fantastic. He changes the game with his length, rebounding, rim protection, contesting/altering shots, and by taking away passing angles/lanes. Hanson is a gamechanger with his offensive rebounding, this gives his team extra possessions and easy putback scores. Nick is a tough matchup because he has advanced skills for his size, finesse & crafty moves, he will also stretch the floor and knockdown triples.

He is a mountain of a player. Shawn is built like a D1 football player and he has the athleticism to match it. Hammerbeck is a beast, if he gets a 1v1 matchup in the lost post, it is going to end poorly for the defender. Besides being a physical monster, Shawn has great footwork, a sweet hook-shot, and he can produce with his jump shot. He comes from a basketball family and is much more skilled than most people realize. It looks like Hammerbeck will have his choice of football or basketball at the next level.

He has had a breakout spring season. Noll has been impressive with his high motor that never seems to slow down. He plays with a ton of energy and vigor. Edison has proven that he is a great 3-point shooter. You do not want to give him space. However, if you close out too hard, Edison will attack and his pull-up J is lethal. He is also showing capabilities on the defensive end. Edison is a hard-nosed, gritty, and athletic defender.

There are few players Marvin’s age that can handle it like him. His skill set is well advanced for his age and his calmness on the court is noteworthy. I like how he handles pressure and does not seem to get rattled. Marvin has many slick/crafty moves that he uses to beat the D. He is also a nice athlete that can change speeds to blow by a defender. Marvin scores well when slashing to the basket but also has a sweet pull-up jumper. He can do it all on the offensive end of the floor and Marvin is improving on the defensive side.

Jaxon is underrated and an impact player for the 15U Grey team. He runs the PG for and he has such a great feel for the game. Wheeldryer understands when his team needs him to facilitate the offense and when he needs to be a scorer. He can go on 10-0 runs by himself. Maybe more important, Jaxon is a fantastic team defender and is always in the right position to make plays. Jaxon is a fantastic teammate and has all the intangibles a coach is looking for, and that’s why his game has taken leaps over the last few years. Wheeldryer is a great kid who should be on coaches radar’s.