The Finale: 15U Day 1 Morning Standouts

Cooper Nelson Cooper Nelson 5'10" | PG Sterlington | 2026 State LA started the day off with a great performance, making his impact known all over with his scoring. Despite being listed at 5’7, he played with great heart and skill to leave his mark. The first two possessions of the game featured him utilizing a nice crossover on a drive that led to him kicking to an open shooter in the corner. The next possession, he had another nice crossover to get by the defender and was able to finish at the rim. He scored inside multiple times with an array of different moves. On one play, he drove, spun, and finished over the contest. He had a great pumpfake and scored at the rim on another play. Just like I mentioned above about how he would drive and kick to a shooter, he did this with it resulting in an assist a few times. Outside of him getting a steal and finishing in transition, his impact mainly came on the offensive side with his scoring and playmaking. It was a great game for him, as he helped his team get the win.

Carter Hainrihar Carter Hainrihar 6'0" | PG/CG Piedmont | 2026 State OK had great games in both games I saw him play today. In both games, he showed a knack for scoring inside, one time after another. He went 3/4 from the free throw line in the first game. At halftime of the first game, he had 11 points, finishing with 12 points all together. He had a block in transition and showed the ability to rebound, grabbing multiple, including offensive rebounds. It was a great game for him in both games, as his team won one and lost a close one in the other. He was an important piece in them being in those situations.

Brandon Rogers impacted the game in a variety of ways, as he helped his team pull off a narrow victory. On defense, he played good on-ball defense and came away with a block and a steal. He came away with multiple rebounds, including a couple of offensive rebounds that led to putbacks. The name of his game with his scoring was running in transition, where he scored a few baskets. Outside of that, he showed the ability to drive the gap and finished inside with a hopstep. He scored a couple of times from the free throw line. It was a solid all-around game from him, with his team needing everything he provided.

Aidon Siquerios had the best performance I saw today. His team went 2-1 on the day, with them losing their first game by four points. The first game is actually what got him on the list. He is the only player in this article that did not win that game. He was just that great that there was no way he could be left off. His game fits his personality, easy going, never rushed, and letting it come naturally. He grabbed one rebound after another, with several of them leading to putbacks. He showed the ability to position himself and have a putback. I posted about this on Twitter and told some others this, but he might be the best passing big man that I have seen out of any 15U team over all of the events I have scouted. No look passes over the head to a cutter for an assist, no look bounce pass for assist in traffic, no look shuffle passes and touch passes, and full-court passes. He was doing it all. He says something when my jaw drops at some of the plays that he made. On defense, he made an impact, utilizing his size to play decent interior defense, having good shot contest, and having a couple of blocks. I do not have his full box score, but he might have came close to a triple double, if he did not have one.

Jarmile Robinson put on an absolute clinic against Team Griffin 14U. He scored from all three levels, constantly keeping the defense on their toes. He scored in transition multiple times. He became friends with the free throw line, where he went 8/8. He knocked down three three-pointers. No matter what the defense did, they could not slow him down. He had 18 points at halftime and finished the game with 26 points. He made a little bit of an impact beyond the scoring, where he had a steal and fired a nice outlet pass for an assist. He also had a couple of rebounds. I was sitting by his team’s bench and one thing that stuck out to me is that he was constantly encouraging his teammates. He was trying to learn from his coaches by asking them questions to improve, as well as encouraging his teammates to keep their head up or to shoot. He was doing this even when the momentum was not in his team’s favor. It was an impressive game for Robinson in this one.