Utah: Moving the Needle

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to playing basketball the right way and players being able to use thier fundamentals and really catch next level coaches attention, Utah has made a significant leap. Teams across the country hate playing these Utah based clubs because they know that they are in for a battle. Here are somethings happening across the state that are moving the needle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>AAU Setting the Stage</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is something we hear all over the board when it comes to teams matching up against local clubs. Teams hate playing against teams like Salt City Hustle in the middle school age group because they have such solid foundations. Then you have teams like Mountain Stars UAA, [program_tooltip program_id='2110367' first='Utah' last='Prospects'] 3SSB, Kongo UA Rise, Salt Lake Rebels, [program_tooltip program_id='2091934' first='Utah' last='Gold'] 3SGB, SUSA 3SGB and the list goes on and on. Last season the [program_tooltip program_id='2110367' first='Utah' last='Prospects'] even captured a 3SSB Championship at the 17U level which is something that Utah clubs are not suppose to be able to do, but they are. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1532052' first='Isiah' last='Harwell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1532662' first='JJ' last='Mandaquit'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1278443' first='Anthony' last='Felesi'] get so much hype on these circuits and then live up to it wherever they hit the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>High School Teams Leaving the State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There has been a surge of high school teams that have found success leaving the state and representing Utah against the nations best. They go to events like Section 7, The Damien Classic and The Tarkanian. Although all of these tournaments have different brackets Utah teams find success in team play and fundamentals. American Fork and Dixie High School always seem to leave a mark wherever they play. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1057050' first='Tiger' last='Cuff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1538434' first='Blake' last='Rawson'] as of late have been stellar outside of Utah. Dixie has been playing well and they have guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1391447' first='Jordan' last='Roberts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1185179' first='Kyle' last='Lemke'] leading the way. If you don't leave the state you are falling behind. Look at the recent champions in the state, they have all left in pre-season and they come back battle tested and build chemistry. (Alta, Corner Canyon).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Non-Traditional Teams </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of hate for these non-traditional schools in Utah as their players are passing up others in the rankings. The trutch is these teams bring more eyes to the state. When the 2 top players in the state of Colorado move to Utah to play at Utah Prep it gets college coaches attention. When the #1 player in Nevada moves to Utah (Wasatch Academy) people pay attention. Layton Christian Academy, Wasatch Academy and Utah Prep are here to stay. Juan Diego and Judge Memorial continue to bring in talent as they load up their teams. This is great for the growth of basketball in Utah. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Transfer Fever</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kids have transferred for years here in Utah but nobody batted an eye when kids in rural Utah drove an hour or more to attend a better basketball school. Every big state has players transferring all over the place. We are not saying it's good or bad but we are seeing that it is here to stay and for some kids it works out and for a lot it doesn't. One kid just moved over to Lone Peak and another left their school to go to a Prep school and that's okay, we hope it works out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players Moving the Needle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1057050' first='Tiger' last='Cuff']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2026100' first='John' last='Mobley'] Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1278443' first='Anthony' last='Felesi']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1278436' first='Luke' last='West']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1185179' first='Kyle' last='Lemke']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1278450' first='Isaiah' last='Drisdom']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1057034' first='Dutch' last='Dowdell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1532662' first='JJ' last='Mandaquit']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1056969' first='Brody' last='Kozlowski']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253127' first='Chris' last='Nwuli']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1146662' first='JJ' last='Apathjang']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1278435' first='Junior' last='County']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1384536' first='Owen' last='Mackay']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1057035' first='Ace' last='Reiser']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1559781' first='Tanner' last='Davis']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyrin Stokes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1724360' first='Ashton' last='Shewell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1532052' first='Isiah' last='Harwell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Local Tournaments</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Utah tournament directors have stepped up their game bringing excellent teams to the state and it open the eyes of many across the country that Utah has great ball and they could be a destination as well. The Great Western Classic has really brought in teams and they have been elevating the level of play here in Utah.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->