Storm Classic: Saturday Night Next Gen
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After a full day in the “big boys” gym. A decided to end my Saturday by heading down 28th St to check out the next generation of players. As usual this deep and talented field did not disappoint. Following is…
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Continue ReadingAfter a full day in the “big boys” gym. A decided to end my Saturday by heading down 28th St to check out the next generation of players. As usual this deep and talented field did not disappoint. Following is a six pack of players that caught my eye.
**all players are 2027 prospects**
Clayton Heuker Clayton Heuker 6'5" | SF McBain | 2027 State MI 6-5 McBain (MI) (pictured) Physically advanced player from a small school in a rural area. Accordingly, going into the event. I wondered how that would translate against bigger competition. No reason to wonder anymore. Heuker not only played well on Saturday. He did it by largely just bullying players down on the block. I did not expect that. It gives an idea of the type of physical profile this player has. Established deep position easily and got the ball up to the rim quickly after the catch. Wasn’t just all athleticism though. Showed a mature skill set on several difficult catches and finishes in transition. Was a big factor defensively and walled up well. I noted two blocked shots in a win against Phenom United.
Jensen LaPla Jensen LaPla 6'5" | SG Goodrich | 2027 State MI 6-5 Goodrich (MI) Younger brother of one the top front court recruits in Michigan’s 2025 class. Not as tall but has a similar frame to his sibling. So I was little skeptical when I looked at program and I saw “guard” next to his name. The skepticism did not last long. LePla is straight up two guard with uncommon size for the position. Good shooter with an easy and smooth release from beyond the arc. Adequate ball handler with room for improvement in that area. Is an excellent passer already as well. Found open teammates when defenses hedged out to run him off the three point line. However the accelerant is the above the rim burst. Took off down the left wing and finished with one of the best dunks I saw on the weekend. Definitely a prospect to monitor in the still emerging 2027 class.
Dakori Parker Dakori Parker 5'9" | PG South Bend Washington | 2027 IN South Bend Adams (IN) Second straight weekend of watching Parker in a tournament. Came away just as equally impressed. It is an overused cliche. But he is a gamer. Already has many of the finer aspects of playing the point position down. Controls the the tempo of a game well. Gets his team into its sets efficiently. Scores when he needs to. Indiana Game was given a serious scare by Northcoast Premier. Parker was ready for whatever their strong backcourt threw at him.
Ketron Paschall Ketron Paschall 6'5" | SF Snider | 2027 State IN 6-5 Fort Wayne Snider (IN) While Parker was manning the perimeter. Paschall was a load down low. Exploiting Northcoast Premier’s smaller frontline. Has a wide and very strong frame. But is also light on his feet with excellent lateral quickness. Is oddly very similar to former Villanova star Eric Paschall (I am not aware of any relation) Plays with intensity and a little bit of an edge. Got the best of him at one point in the intense and close game. However he composed himself quickly and was a key component in the clutch victory. Trending towards being a top-10 prospect in Indiana’s 2027 class. It is easy to see why.
Alex Armstrong Alex Armstrong 6'4" | SG Hudsonville | 2027 MI 6-4 Hudsonville (MI) This versatile prospect was largely charged with guarding Paschall. Did a good job despite a decided size disadvantage. However his offensive performance is what caught my eye. Despite a slender frame. Was a strong driver who attacked the basket without fear. Needs to add strength to finish through contact. That being said, got to the foul line often and with ease. Good shooter and might have been perfect from the line. It will be nice in a year or two when these drives become three point opportunities. Operated well in that forgotten area of the court known as the midrange. Like Paschall, a competitive player whose emotions bubbled up at times. Once again, at this age. That is not necessarily a problem. You want a player with that bit of a “dog” in him. Hudsonville graduates a lot of firepower from last years squad. Armstrong should be part of the future for the deep and talented Eagle program.
Wycell Davis 6-4 Detroit Catholic Central (MI) Players at this age are often still growing into their bodies. You would not call most of them “smooth”. Not the case with Davis. A lefty who already has a full bag of tricks. Reverse pivots, jab steps, step backs. He had it all working for Phenom United. Finished off many of the moves with a feathery soft touch on his shot. Also aided by a solid ball handling skill set as well. Playing in one of the deepest programs in the state. This was my first extended viewing of this prospect. The Shamrocks have a good one here. Interesting to see what level he competes at next year during the regular season.