Bash in the Desert 16U Standout SF’s 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>May 3rd-5th I attended the annual&nbsp;<strong>Bash in the Desert</strong>&nbsp;at the Phhacility and Valley Vista HS locations. It had nearly 60 teams total and I watched 80% of all the teams to form a good opinion of the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched 10+ of the 15 16U teams and</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here are my 16U Standout SF's that I viewed:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2423058' first='Sebastian' last='Meraz'] SF 6'4 2026 Hanks/TX ([program_tooltip program_id='2101835' first='D1' last='El Paso Matrix'] 2026)&nbsp;(Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented wing scores from all levels. He will score on offensive rebound put backs, spin moves and score it from mid-range and then work inside to score. He is everywhere on defense from guarding point guards to defending power forwards. He will block shots and collect steals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1736170' first='Kareem' last='Alkhalifa'] Pinnacle (Peak 16 Prelude-Boyd)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A skilled wing forward keeps improving his game. His sweet spot is quickly becoming the mid-range pull-up. His catch three is coming in slowly too. He will score on offensive rebound put backs and defend multiple positions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2367880' first='Saleem' last='Gakiza'] Pinnacle </strong><strong>(Peak 16 Prelude-Boyd)</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A thicker wing is a downhill attacker. He has polished floaters he uses in heavy traffic and he will make the three off the catch. I love how he talks all game on defense and is very competitive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1834154' first='Brock' last='Steele'] Seton Catholic ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] Ali 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high motored wing forward is a high level rebounder for his size. He grabs balls way out of his area and sheer hustle and desire combined with his athleticism. He can score on put backs plus step out and shoot the three.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408647' first='Tarius' last='Wilson'] Community/TX (Ballers Elite Academy 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic wing who will dunk it easily on the break. He is a good passer and is a plus rebounder using his athletic gifts. He will block shots out of his area and uses his athleticism on defense. He is a streaky three point shooter but capable and will fall away in the post to score.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2404558' first='Ray' last='Porter'] Tucson (Tucson Spartans Rise UAA 2026)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A defensive wing forward can score it getting downhill in traffic and score around the basket. He makes his money currently on defense. He uses his long arms and athleticism to grab out of area rebounds. He will defend in space and collect steals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2404559' first='Malaki' last='Cunningham-Hiadzi'] Tucson (Tucson Spartans Rise UAA 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A gifted wing is an effortless lob dunker. He gets downhill in traffic with his thicker frame. He scores with counter moves to score downhill and gets to the FT line. He made a clutch shot at the buzzer to win it driving down the lane.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323295' first='Brayden' last='Barrett'] Millennium ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] 16 UAA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A forward who had a good showing. He had dunks on the break, he used the floater game, had deep threes with a quick release, scored on post ups and hit tough shots in the paint. He rebounds well in his area and plays the game from the neck up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2297971' first='Hale' last='Hansen'] Brophy Prep ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] 16 UAA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A hyper athletic wing will dribble drive to score, dunks it with lobs and he is an offensive rebound machine. He is a phenomenal passer for a forward and can knock down the three with some range. His second jump is as quick as anyone to get the rebound and score on put backs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1633050' first='Sebastian' last='Hatsakorzian'] St. Mary's ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] 16 UAA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic player does so many little things well. He crashes the glass better then most and times the ball off the backboard. He will flush it down on the break and defends multiple players. He is a very good passer and scores on offensive rebound put backs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1890161' first='Deshaun' last='Johnson'] Corona del Sol (New Mexico D1 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A small forward who can defend multiple positions and score. He can score on pull-ups off the dribble from mid-range and can burst past his opponents. He will be the guy this year and have a huge workload for the Aztecs and be responsible in slowing down the opposing teams best player as well.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->