US Open Championship: 16 U Standouts
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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 16 U standouts from…
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Continue ReadingThe 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 16 U standouts from the first two days of the event, Monday and Tuesday.
An early commit in the 2025 class, Carter has already announced his commitment to Liberty. A physically advanced wing guard, Carter is tough to push off his spot and finishes off two feet at the rim after attacking closeouts or getting out in transition. A capable shooter from the outside as well, Carter can hit the open shot when the ball is swung to him. One of Midwest Basketball Club’s most productive players on their 16 U roster this week, Carter has been a steady contributor to winning basketball.
Highlights
A big stock riser from this event, Mullins is playing his way into high major offers this week with multiple standout performances. After getting offers from programs like Indiana State, Miami (OH), Toledo, Valpo, Tulane, Kent State, Southern Indiana and Ohio, his recruitment is set to spike. Virginia Tech was his first high major offer and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t add to that list very soon. An elite shot maker from the wing guard position, Mullins hits shots off the catch whether it’s a set play designed for him or off a scramble offensive rebound broken set. Moving without the basketball is another skill Mullins displayed, with his ability to use his shooting threat to backdoor cut to the rim for easy layups. Late in the shot clock, Mullins had a guy drive and scoop layup on the baseline and also hit a and-1 bank shot after using the jump stop to balance himself. One of the top shooters and scorers in Indiana, Mullins continued to help himself this week as Indiana Elite has advanced to the final four of the 16 U championship bracket.
Highlights
JL3 16 U has been one of the most dominant teams in Memphis and Coleman made a ton of plays in their opening win of the week. With impressive touch from the mid-range area, Coleman was hitting one and two dribble pull-up jumpers with high efficiency. Also hitting an and-1 floater when he got into the paint off the bounce, Coleman was dangerous when he was attacking a closeout. Making winning plays all over the court like diving for loose balls and tipping passes, JL3 has been clicking all week against top talent and have advanced to the final 4 of the 16 U championship bracket.
A quick guard who was tough to keep in front, Lowery was getting to the rack when he wanted to for Drive Nation. Playing with good pace, Lowery was able to change speeds and get defenders off of him when attacking in isolation and pick and roll settings. A shot maker from the mid-range area, Lowery was best when he used the rhythm dribble to pull-up from 15-18 feet. Lowery is ranked as a four-star prospect by both ESPN and Rivals but hasn’t seen his recruitment heat up, despite impressive showings at both Peach Jam and this week in Memphis. I’d expect more schools to come sooner rather than later if he continues to play at this level.
Highlights
Another impressive guard, Tillery was making plays off the bounce and showing off his impressive athleticism. With his hangtime and body control in the air, Tillery had some tough finishes at the rim by avoiding shot blockers. A quick live dribble passer with either hand, Tillery was getting the ball to his teammates in a timely fashion. He also used his athletic gifts defensively to soar for blocked shots in transition and bothering opposing ball handlers. Tillery has added seven offers since May including Temple, Northwestern and Georgia Tech to name a few, a top guard from the northeast region of the country.