US Open Championship: 15 U Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The US Open Championship brought 24 of the top 15 and 16 U teams to Memphis, TN to compete in the only event Division I coaches could attend this week. In this article we'll breakdown some 15 U standouts from the first two days of the event, Monday and Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1588175"],"_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":"Sanderson was getting busy in a marquee matchup between Midwest Basketball Club and Team Takeover 15 U that drew the attention of dozens of college coaches. One of the shiftiest guards in the country, Sanderson is tough to keep in front and has a quick pull-up jumper that is hard to contest. His ability to create for himself is one of the best I've seen in the 2026 class and his scoring has been consistent all week here in Memphis. With how dangerous he is on the ball; teams try to keep it out of his hands when he plays off the ball and Sanderson uses the backdoor cut to get 6-8 points a game off overaggressive off ball defense being played against him. One of the top guards in the 2026 class nationally, high major programs are keeping close eyes on Sanderson after he already holds offers from Ohio, Duquesne, Iowa, Marshall, Illinois and Eastern Michigan.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1806485"],"_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":"A gritty guard who brings toughness and defense, Wilson had one of his best offensive games against Team Takeover on Monday. With a couple and-1 finishes in transition, Wilson used the euro-step to get around the defense when they tried taking charges on him. A capable shooter from the outside, Wilson has hit a jumper or two in pretty much every game this weekend. Defensively is where he really shines with his toughness, quickness and ball pressure. Not surprising that Wilson is a defensive hound with his talent on a gridiron as a dual sport athlete.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1708701"],"_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":"Smith hasn't seen the 3-point shot go in as a stretch forward but has found other ways to contribute. Getting more second chance points than I've ever seen before, Smith has used his length and size to attack the glass and get easy layups. Also using the shot and pass fake to help keep the defense off balance, this has allowed Smith to hit a couple one dribble mid-range pull-ups. With his size defensively, he's able to recover even if he loses a step to a shorter opponent and still alter the shot or strip the ball loose. Continuing to impact the game even when his shot isn't falling will be key for Smith as he's showing why he's one of Ohio's highest upside prospects in the 2026 class.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1561108"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Langley joined Midwest Basketball Club 15 U for this week in Memphis and has really started to figure out where he fits on this team. One of the most athletic forwards in the midwest, Langley springs off the ground and has his head at the rim often when he finishes for dunks and layups. He had his most success in transition and cutting to the dunker spot against a zone defense and finishing above defenders. When Langley has the room to explode off the ground, few players can meet him in the air to contest the shot without fouling. Despite his awkward shooting mechanics with his feet, Langley has hit mid-range and 3-point shots which suggests strong hand-eye coordination, and even more perimeter shooting upside when he makes some tweaks to his base. His motor has also never stopped this weekend on either end of the court and has been a welcome addition to his team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1782660"],"_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":"In a make or miss sport, Samuels made a ton of key shots for Team Takeover in their victory over Midwest Basketball Club in front of the largest college coach crowd for any 15 U game this week. The lefty wing forward has a smooth release and is in a perfect role to make shots after drive and kicks from his guards. Team Takeover also does a great job defensively and when they take care of the basketball are tough to beat. They advanced to the 15 U final 4 in the championship bracket where they'll look to win the whole thing on Thursday.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1703102"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"West Coast Elite played exceptional offensive basketball with their ball movement and shot making to secure a spot in the championship bracket with a win on Tuesday. The dribble drive game of Andrews helped open up their offense with floaters and drive and kicks to shooters. Andrews also hit some tough shots late in the shot clock to keep his team ahead with pull-up jumpers. After his team had a couple turnovers against full court pressure, a drive and finish coast to coast by Andrews helped put the game away.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1782586"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Team Thrill made it rain to open up bracket play on Tuesday as they used over a dozen 3-pointers to advance to the 15 U quarterfinals. Able was shot ready off the catch and letting it fly with confidence. An undersized wing, Able can really stroke it from the outside but also has a bigger bodied frame that allows him to overpower guards that find themselves defending him. A bit of a mismatch nightmare at the 15 U level with his outside-inside scoring threat, Able made key shot after key shot for Team Thrill on Tuesday.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c16931703c7"} /-->