AAU Team Preview: Waukee Jam 16U – Orange
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It’s that time of the year again. It’s AAU Season! This time of the year is always an interesting and excited one. It’s the time where we see new faces in new places, new groups joining together, and a whole…
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Continue ReadingIt’s that time of the year again. It’s AAU Season! This time of the year is always an interesting and excited one. It’s the time where we see new faces in new places, new groups joining together, and a whole lot of action as it pertains to high-level basketball throughout the country.
In this article we highlight the 16U Orange group for the Waukee Jam program. This squad is one that is sort of mixed bag when it comes to their roster and prospects. They have solid, fundamental guards that can make plays off of the catch or dribble. They have shooters that can get hot in the blink of an eye shooting the ball and they have size at the Forward/Center position to control the paint. If they do things right and work as a team, they should put together a successful Spring/Summer AAU season.
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Schedule –
April 5-7: Spring Tune Up – Ames, Iowa
April 12-14: Heartland Hoopfest – Des Moines, Iowa
April 19-21: Spring Showcase – Des Moines, Iowa
April 26-28: MW Festival Of Teams – Des Moines, Iowa
May 10-12: Kings Of The Court – Des Moines, Iowa
May 17-19: MW Live Showcase (Live) – Omaha, Nebraska
June 28-30: June Jame – Des Moines, Iowa
July 12-14: PH – Hardwood Classic (Live) – Kansas City
July 19-21: PH – National Open (Live) – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Notz is a lefty with a nice shooting stroke. He understands situational basketball and how to play off of two feet once he gets into the middle of the lane. He displays a solid handle, crafty moves, and he knows when he should shoot the ball compared to finding an open teammate with the pass. He can also stick in front of fast guards on the perimeter with the discipline to stay down on pump-fakes near the basket.
Highlights
This is an athletic multi-sport athlete that seems to be good at anything he puts his mind too. He can score from all three levels, while being a knock down shoot from deep when given time to set up his balance. He recovers quickly if he is ever beaten off the dribble even though that doesn’t happen to often with his stout defense. Not to mention he is a solid and efficient finisher near the rim while getting downhill when attacking his 1 on 1 matchup on the drive.
Drew DeRocher
Drew DeRocher
Drew DeRocher is another knockdown shooter from deep on this team. He can score from all three levels in a number of ways but if you don’t close out with a hand up on defense and he see’s his first jumper go in to kick off a game, it could be a long day. He gets hot in a hurry when letting it go from beyond the three point line with his quick release and fast decision making. This season so far he has shown out as one of the most well rounded prospects on this team while holding his own in almost every statistical category.
A prospect with great size at 6’6, long arms, and an act for making something out of nothing on the offensive side of the ball. He can catch and shoot jumpers off of that catch or he can catch and attack his defender off of the dribble, usually finishing the play with a bucket at the rim off of some sort of spin move. His natural length gives him an advantage against most opponents that try to guard him in one way or another. Defensively, he can be a game changer. Someone who can record a ton of tips/deflections throughout a contest because of his mixture of size and athletic ability.
Highlights
The twin brother of Jackson, Tyson plays more of a natural Forward position compared to being the prospect that wants to move into the Post and compete at the Center spot. He is skilled in his own right on both sides of the ball, usually making his presence known throughout a ball game in one way or another. This is someone that can record a double-double in points and rebounds by halftime if you don’t pay attention to him or box him out. He has already been a standout this AAU season and I don’t expect that to slow down anytime soon.
Highlights
Daxon Weeks
Daxon Weeks
Daxon Weeks is a do-it-all or do-anything for his team, type prospect. He is a guard that is swift with the handle, solid in the shooting department, and a willing/able passer. He embodies what it means to be a team player. He is one of the first on the floor or into the stands for loose balls and he never gives up on a play until he hears the whistle or buzzer sound. Not to mention, he does all of this while not looking for praise or thank yous from anyone. Instead he picks himself up and continues to work hard until he is pulled off of the floor for a much needed break.
Hudson Heidgerken
Hudson Heidgerken
I would count Hudson Heidgerken as another player that can be put into several different roles on the floor and he still finds success in each one of those roles, no matter the given situation. This past high school season he helped his team to a very successful season overall, while doing anything asked of him. He is a 5’10 Guard, that can handle the ball if need be or he can play off of it at the Wing. This is someone that can get hot in a hurry offensively if you leave him open from three but he is also someone that doesn’t settle for forced/bad shots.
Max Allison
Max Allison
Max Allison is a true 7 footer, that can impact a game near the hoop on both ends. From the small amount of game film I’ve seen, his natural length and size makes him a mismatch nightmare for most down low. He does a good job of rebounding and blocking shots at a consistent rate near the rim throughout the duration of a contest. He has some raw ability but if he were to expand his game and play with a chip on his shoulder moving forward the next few years, he could grow into a prospect to know down the line in Iowa boys high school basketball.
Jake Hall
Jake Hall
Jake Hall is a high energy type prospect. He is a very good on ball defender and he understands his spacing while he is jumping to help-side from the far end of the court. He has an offensive play style that thrives off of movement and slashing to the basket when his primary defender happens to fall asleep. If he continues to work hard enough, this upcoming winter he should see a good amount of the Varsity floor at Winterset High School throughout their season but for now, he has been locked in on the AAU season at hand.