Hoop City 15U: Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"200"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:200">Tonight we are looking at a new AAU/grassroots program in the State of South Dakota,&nbsp;<strong>Hoops City SD 15U!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group is loaded with talent and PHD can hardly wait to watch them! We will see Hoop City often on the Prep Hoops Circuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"200"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:200">Looking at the program as a whole, [program_tooltip program_id='2250291' first='Hoop' last='City South Dakota'] is entering its first year in the state as an affiliate of Hoop City Basketball Club out of Memphis, TN. Hoop City was started by former NBA player <em>Mike Miller</em> and his counterpart, <em>Ernie Kuyper</em>. With their connection and roots back to South Dakota, the time is right to enter the AAU world here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"600"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:600">This Hoop City 15U team will look to play fast and unselfish. They have 8 kids who can really score the basketball. The sky is the limit if this roster can learn to play well together. Most of these ballers have played together in past years, so they will look to build on the camaraderie and culture on and off the court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">“<strong><em>With strong leadership, the overall goal for Hoop City SD is to provide young basketball players with high goals of playing collegiately an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills on the basketball court as well as develop their character and standing in the community. To add to that, for high school players in South Dakota looking to play basketball at the next level, participation in AAU programs has become an advantage in gaining exposure, and Hoop City strives to give our players the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college coaches within the Midwest. We look forward to growing the culture within our program, and hope to take this into the next several years as the standout AAU program not only in South Dakota, but the Midwest as a whole.</em></strong>”&nbsp;<strong><em>–Tate Martin</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoop City 15U tips off the AAU/club season this weekend in Nebraska.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Weekend Schedule at South High in Omaha</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">4/13/24 - 11:00 AM vs. 15U Lincoln Supreme National 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">4/13/24 - 4:00 PM vs. Omaha Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">4/14/24 - 9:00 AM vs. Hoop City Elite Memphis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">4/14/24 - 12:00 PM vs. LES Bulldogs 15U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2411382,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/image.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/image.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2411382" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2411383,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/image_7db4fb.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/image_7db4fb.png?w=907" alt="" class="wp-image-2411383" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">In speaking on the 15U team, they are led by former Dakota Wesleyan All-American <em>Tate Martin</em>. This roster is filled with standout players who have extremely high potential. [player_tooltip player_id='2076018' first='Connor' last='Mebius'] will run the offense as an outstanding “do everything” type of PG. Connor was an All-Conference player for West Central this past school ball season while averaging 13 ppg and shooting a crazy-impressive 46% from beyond the arc. The offense will flow through [player_tooltip player_id='2250186' first='Jase' last='Unzen'] off the ball. Jase was the 6th man at AA school Sioux Falls Jefferson and played a key role in their 5th place finish at the State Tournament. Coach <em>Martin</em> feels that [player_tooltip player_id='2250186' first='Jase' last='Unzen'] is the top player in the 2027 Class in SD. Two other kids who will be looking to have a monster summer are [player_tooltip player_id='2250240' first='Colby' last='Nuttbrock'] (Jefferson) and [player_tooltip player_id='2250284' first='Grifin' last='Wiebenga'] (Tea). They are both players who were getting varsity minutes in their freshman seasons. Grif and Colby can score the basketball from all three levels and will be key figures in the Hoop City offense. Their BIGs are two guys who are freak athletes and will look to dominate both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='2148816' first='Austin' last='Dowd'] (Brandon Valley) and [player_tooltip player_id='2044899' first='Elliot' last='Dejong'] (West Central) are guys that Hoop City will use as their post players, and rely on them for rebounding. [player_tooltip player_id='2250339' first='Bennett' last='Jensen'] (Harrisburg) is a kid who can play the PG or SG role for this team. Bennett has unlimited range and has really grown in his ability to get his teammates the ball. Rounding out the 15U roster is [player_tooltip player_id='2250315' first='Collin' last='Weier'] (Mitchell) who can stretch the floor, and guard all five positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoops City has added [player_tooltip player_id='2250285' first='Ben' last='Sprecher'] as a pick-up player for this weekend's tournament down in Nebraska. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Best of luck this weekend in Omaha!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2401751,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/hoopscitylogo-crop-1092x717-1712260106.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/hoopscitylogo-crop-1092x717-1712260106.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2401751" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screenshot</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->