The Platform: Saturday 15/16 U Guard Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Platform was the first opportunity for players to return to their grassroots team in July on the prep hoops circuit to prepare for the live periods coming in July. In this article I'll break down the standout guards I saw on Saturday from the 15 and 16 U age groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1283755"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Ohio United was a top team to watch at this event and while star [player_tooltip player_id='1432011' first='Kruz' last='McClure'] who recently received his first Division I offer was a standout, he was far from the only Ohio United 16 U member to impress on Saturday. Starting with Foster, he gave great defensive effort on the ball and made plays by moving his feet and giving ball handlers trouble. Foster also had a block at the rim and a steal where he dug down in help-side and ripped the ball away. On the offensive end, Foster picked his spots and made open layups and shots when they came to him. Impressive team performance from Ohio United on Saturday, you'll be hearing from more members of this team before our content from this event is finished.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2052133"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2052132"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"This duo will get featured together as they team up not only during the grassroots season but also during the high school season as well. Newman helped run the show for grassroots elite as he has good size from the lead guard position. Quick off the bounce, his best dribble move was a hesitation where he left the defense in the dust before hitting a floater. Newman also knocked down some shots from the outside, a corner 3-pointer off a nice out of bounds play stood out. Finally he had a scoop layup in the final minute to help seal the win. For Vickerstaff, he really got going from the outside using his smooth lefty stroke to knock down shots from the perimeter. Vickerstaff could handle the ball as well and attacked going both directions. A 3-pointer by Vickerstaff with about two minutes to play was a key shot in crunch time.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2052761' first='Kelby' last='Harwood']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"North Montgomery","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2076166' first='Grand' last='Park Premier'] White 16 U","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"While that duo got active for Grassroots Elite, they were pushed by a fundamental [program_tooltip program_id='2076166' first='Grand' last='Park Premier'] White 2025 squad that could really score the basketball. Harwood was getting active in this one with some tough takes to the bucket and finishes off two feet. He could create for himself and had a crazy coast to coast finish during a big run to bring his team back. Capable of finishing with both hands, a lefty and-1 finish at the rim late helped keep the game tight. Really impressed by his self creation on the ball, Harwood was a standout on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1960913"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I only caught one 15 U game on Saturday but it was a good one between [program_tooltip program_id='2078976' first='Ohio' last='Clamps'] and Ohio Primetime. Booker was a standout performer as the lefty lead guard hit a lot of shots from the perimeter. A smooth jumper with a quick release and good rotation, I could watch Booker fire all day long. When he wasn't connecting from deep, Booker had a couple impressive passes including one behind the back and one no look feed for easy layups. When the defense tried running him off the line, he hit a couple one dribble pull-up jumpers to keep them off balance. I think Booker could be one of the better guards in the Toledo City League as just a Sophomore this upcoming winter.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a0dec0b9e9d"} /-->