16 U Standouts from Pitt Jamfest
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Over the weekend at the Pitt Jamfest I watched almost exclusively 17 U games. I did catch a couple of 16 U games as well so in this article I’ll break down the 16 U standouts I saw. Josh Pratt…
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Continue ReadingOver the weekend at the Pitt Jamfest I watched almost exclusively 17 U games. I did catch a couple of 16 U games as well so in this article I’ll break down the 16 U standouts I saw.
One of the top guards I watched all weekend, Pratt was a monster defensively with his quick foot speed and relentless pressure. Forcing a ton of turnovers with his overall defensive activity, Pratt helped create easy transition opportunities for his team. A point guard who got where he wanted off the bounce, Pratt’s quickness and shiftiness made him a walking paint touch when he attacked off the bounce. Able to finish with either hand at the rim as well, Pratt was skilled in a variety of areas. Pepperdine offered the rising Junior guard on Saturday, just one day after I watched him dominate on Friday evening.
Ranked first in Prep Hoops West Virginia’s 2026 rankings, Lewis is already one of the most productive players in West Virginia as only a Sophomore last season. A physical forward who used his frame in the paint to create space against weaker defenders, Lewis wasn’t afraid to throw his body around. Also crashing the glass, Lewis got a ton of easy second chance points due to his size and being in the right positions to grab offensive rebounds. His flashiest bucket of the day was a euro-step finish but simple was the recipe for success a majority of the time. Holding an early offer from Radford, expect more regional programs to come into the mix either this summer or next winter for Lewis.
Compton had a monster start to TNBA 16 U’s game against WV Gold 16 U. With multiple step-back mid-range jumpers and spot-up 3-pointers, Compton was getting buckets from all areas on the court. The offensive flashes with Compton are incredibly easy to see as he shoots a smooth ball for his size and length. When you combine that with the grace that he moves on the court and ability to create for himself, Compton has a ton of upside. After coming off the bench for Lutheran West last year, I’m hoping Compton takes a jump as a Junior. Making a bigger impact defensively and creating for others should be high on the priority list for Compton after the Longhorns graduated a majority of their backcourt that handled the play-making burden last season.
Highlights
A prospect we’ve been high on since the first time we watched him last spring. After a solid Sophomore season, this was my first chance to see Wiley at the grassroots level. One critique we’ve had with Wiley was his volume as a perimeter shooter. After attempting 37 3-pointers as a freshman, Wiley was up to 63 attempts this year at a slightly lower percentage. On Saturday, Wiley shot the ball with more confidence than I’ve seen him ever play with before. Taking shots off the catch and using a rainbow arc to knock down maybe four 3-pointers and a couple mid-range shots in one game. If this confidence to knock down shots when his feet are set continues, Wiley should be even tougher to defend. The opposing team packed it in Vs Wiley and while he missed a couple layups that he usually makes, Wiley made the defense pay for leaving him open from beyond the arc. Will definitely catch Wiley again either with this Midwest Gold team or with his high school in June before the summer is over to continue to monitor his perimeter shooting development.
Highlights
A forward who came off the bench and played hungry at both ends of the court. Carruthers was attacking rebounds off the glass and used his strong hands to secure rebounds and post entry passes. Scoring off hustle plays and second chance points, Carruthers was simply out-working defenders in the paint. Still developing some perimeter skills like ball handling and shooting, Carruthers being productive due to his length, hustle and rebounding is encouraging for his future development. Also showing me some IQ development, Carruthers made a couple nice passes out of double teams on Saturday. Continuing to play smart basketball and sticking with his role could make Carruthers a valuable piece to a very talented Midwest 16 U Gold roster.