Hoop City 15U: Preview
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Tonight we are looking at a new AAU/grassroots program in the State of South Dakota, Hoops City SD 15U! This group is loaded with talent and PHD can hardly wait to watch them! We will see Hoop City often on the…
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Continue ReadingTonight we are looking at a new AAU/grassroots program in the State of South Dakota, Hoops City SD 15U!
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.
Looking at the program as a whole, Hoop 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 Mike Miller and his counterpart, Ernie Kuyper. With their connection and roots back to South Dakota, the time is right to enter the AAU world here.
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.
“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.” –Tate Martin
Hoop City 15U tips off the AAU/club season this weekend in Nebraska.
Weekend Schedule at South High in Omaha
4/13/24 – 11:00 AM vs. 15U Lincoln Supreme National 2
4/13/24 – 4:00 PM vs. Omaha Elite
4/14/24 – 9:00 AM vs. Hoop City Elite Memphis
4/14/24 – 12:00 PM vs. LES Bulldogs 15U
In speaking on the 15U team, they are led by former Dakota Wesleyan All-American Tate Martin. This roster is filled with standout players who have extremely high potential. Connor Mebius Connor Mebius 5'8" | PG West Central | 2027 State SD 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 Jase Unzen Jase Unzen 5'9" | PG Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2027 State SD 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 Martin feels that Jase Unzen Jase Unzen 5'9" | PG Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2027 State SD is the top player in the 2027 Class in SD. Two other kids who will be looking to have a monster summer are Colby Nuttbrock Colby Nuttbrock 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2027 State SD (Jefferson) and Grifin Wiebenga Grifin Wiebenga 6'3" | SF Tea Area | 2027 State SD (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. Austin Dowd Austin Dowd 6'5" | C Brandon Valley | 2027 State SD (Brandon Valley) and Elliot Dejong Elliot Dejong 6'4" | PF West Central | 2027 State SD (West Central) are guys that Hoop City will use as their post players, and rely on them for rebounding. Bennett Jensen Bennett Jensen 5'8" | PG Harrisburg | 2027 State SD (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 Collin Weier Collin Weier 6'3" | SF Mitchell | 2027 State SD (Mitchell) who can stretch the floor, and guard all five positions.
Hoops City has added Ben Sprecher Ben Sprecher 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2027 State SD as a pick-up player for this weekend’s tournament down in Nebraska.
Best of luck this weekend in Omaha!