Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off – Friday Night Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another great spring and summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit is officially underway. On Friday night at the MidAmerica Sports Center in Louisville, Kentucky the Grit Region got things started with our annual Kick Off event. As always, we have boots on the ground as our Prep Hoops team provides unparalleled coverage throughout the weekend. There will be a full day of action on Saturday, but Friday night we were treated to an appetizer of three games to start the event off right. Let's take a look at some of the prospects who stood out to begin the weekend at the Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2381886"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Appiah impressed with his physical, athletic frame in the backcourt for Charging Elite in their Friday night win over Top 1 Select. The 6'1u0022 guard scored 17 points while putting the ball in the basket from all three levels. He flashed some explosiveness off of the dribble, but also played with pace in ballscreens situations and knocked down a couple of three-point shots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2385257"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One of the best unsigned seniors in the gym on Friday night, Ballew showed that he is one that college programs should take a look at if they have not done so already. The 6'4u0022 wing knocked in nine three-point shots on his way to a game-high 33 points as Kentucky Future Elite Blue blew out INB Elite Grey.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1874738"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"This West Aurora High School prospect did his work off of the dribble for 88 West 2025 in their comfortable win over Evansville Finest 2025. Edwards got to his spots in the paint consistently where he finished both at the rim and in the intermediate range with a nice floater. He finished with 17 points in the game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2371370"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Fry hit the ground running from the opening tip Friday night scoring an And-1 in the first few seconds of the game and then delivering a pull-up three from the left wing. The 6'2u0022 Class of 2025 guard out of Wisconsin finished with a team-leading 23 points as United Hoops defeated Dangerous Alliance 84-61.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2381695"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"A solidly built 5'10u0022 guard, Guzman displayed excellent two-way ability from the point guard position. He first stood out with his defensive intensity while creating multiple turnovers early in the game, but then Guzman went on to get to the rim consistently off of the dribble where he proved himself as a creative finisher. He finished with 16 points as United Hoops got on the board with an easy 84-61 win to begin the weekend.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2395645"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Hines Jr. led his Quality Sports Academy 2026 squad to a hard fought 62-58 win over Midwest Pumas Weatherby 2026. The 6'1u0022 Class of 2026 guard out of Groveport Madison High School poured in 25 points and connected on four three-points to lead all scorers in the game.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2357753"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Despite his Dangerous Alliance squad coming up short on Friday night against United Hoops, this 6'4u0022 guard was very impressive scoring a team-high 18 points. Kimberlin is a St. Louis HomeSchool product that shot the ball well from beyond the arc and displayed the ability to score it from the mid-range off of the bounce.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1295633"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Martinez-Jones is an unsigned senior from Evanston Township High School. The strong, stocky, 5'11u0022 guard dominated with his physicality off of the dribble finishing with 16 points while also connecting on three three-points shots in 88 West's 76-55 win over Evansville Finest 2025.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6610ab2711dcb"} /-->