Midwest Showdown: Saturday AM Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which prospects stole the show Saturday morning at the Prep Hoops Circuit Midwest Showdown?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1289145' first='Ahmir' last='Woods'] -- PG -- [program_tooltip program_id='2245199' first='Pride' last='Roc']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woods got his team off to a great start on Saturday morning. The 6-foot-2 point guard is a skilled ballhandler and efficient facilitator. Numerous times, Woods was able to get two feet in the paint and then locate open teammates. I value Woods' unselfish play and his willingness to set his team up for success. As a scorer, Woods is smooth and steady. He takes what the defense gives him and doesn't press too much. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2431231' first='Derrick' last='Booker'] -- F -- [program_tooltip program_id='2245199' first='Pride' last='Roc'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Booker took over the game in the paint on Saturday morning. The 6-foot-4 forward showed an ability to out muscle opponents. I thought that he did a really nice job grabbing rebounds and defending around the hoop. Booker moves really well for his size and is sneaky quick. I suggest college programs keep an eye on Booker moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1587155' first='Jack' last='Gross'] -- SF -- Minnesota Rise </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-5 with great mobility, Gross has scary upside. The Minnesota Rise small forward showed some flashes of potential in his team's blowout victory on Saturday morning. He is a fluid athlete who can get to the bucket with a smooth stride. In one sequence, Gross drove baseline and threw down a big dunk. Plays like this are what makes Gross a standout prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2103251' first='Ganden' last='Gosch'] -- SF -- Minnesota Rise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gosch has one of the smoothest three-point shots that you will see at the high school level. Everything about the small forward's shot is perfect. His footwork, form, and release are all pristine. And with his size and physical stature, Gosch can shoot over smaller defenders. I like what Gosch can do on defense, too. He is switchable and solid down low. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1584901' first='Ricky' last='Wengert'] -- PG -- Minnesota Rise </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching a top tier point guard operate is one of the most enjoyable things for a scout to watch. On Saturday morning, Wengert showed off plenty of true PG skill. He has a knack for getting downhill and creating unique angles around the rim. Once in the paint, Wengert is an elite passer with great court vision. He seems to locate teammates and read defenses at a high level. Wengert's control of pace and his team's offense was very impressive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1390441' first='Devin' last='Brown'] -- PF -- Power Five</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown's stock continues to rise. The Power Five power forward is force around the cup on both ends of the court. He is able to hunt mismatches and does a great job putting his 6-foot-7 frame to use. In a blowout win for Power Five, Brown got going in the second half. At his size, the PF moves really well and is athletic as prospects get at the high school level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1874970' first='Evan' last='Kern'] -- SG -- UA Rise</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a win over a worthy opponent, Kern caught fire from deep and knocked in four three-point shots. The shooting guard finished with 16 points in the winning effort. Already solidified as one of the state's elite sharpshooters, Saturday's outing should help Kern boost his stock once again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->