Run N Slam: Championship Notebook

I'll be perfectly honest. I'm not a twenty grizzled veteran of AAU scouting. However it's also not my first rodeo. Over the last few years I've noticed a trend. Despite the stakes being higher at most events. Sunday competition has lost a little bit of juice at most events.   Much of that is completely understandable. Players (and parents) are tired after a long weekend. Many of the college coaches have returned to their campuses to begin their work week. Paradoxically, that's why I particularly enjoy Sunday. You get to see who really wants to compete. Who gets up for an 8 AM contest after the week didn't go as planned.   Following are five players that caught my eye from Sunday action. Along with some brief observations stemming from Sunday play as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1588191' first='Braylon' last='Frantz'] 6-1 2026 St Clair (pictured) There is not an easy way to sugar coat it. Having long been one of my favorite prospects. I was a little underwhelmed by his performance two weekends ago in Grand Rapids. I wondered if he had peaked a little developmentally. Consider those concerns extinguished after this past weekend. Was dynamic all weekend in leading REACH to the Platinum Championship in the 16U division. What I would label a unique “power point guard”. Does everything a point guard needs to do. Handles the ball well and initiates offense efficiently. However when he decides it's time to penetrate and score. You are not really getting in his way. This is due to his strength and ability to play explosively off of two feet. There is some serious power in his lower body. Doesn't have the look of your usual long and lanky leaper. However plays easily above the rim with anyone. My concerns from two weekends prior were prompted by a performance against Iowa's Martin Brother's club. He appeared to struggle with their length out on the perimeter. I think it's pretty safe to call that a fluke. Frantz came out ready to go in the rematch. Flipping the script with 18 first half points. Finishing with a game high 26. The skill set is finished off with a competitive and sometimes nasty (in a good way) streak. Doesn't back down from anyone and showed toughness by trying to play through an injury in the 16U championship game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1806407' first='Wilson' last='Huckeby'] 6-3 2026 Freeland Michigan's class of 2024 just graduated a simply elite group of shooters. From the Yeager twins (Saginaw Nouvel) to state champions in [player_tooltip player_id='1356947' first='Shane' last='Rykse'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1111918' first='Daniel' last='Smythe']. It was so top heavy, you kind of lost sight of who the next one up is. Huckeby made a strong case this weekend in Fort Wayne. Was nearly automatic from beyond the arc. Did it with a trigger quick release along with the size and athleticism to easily shoot over most defenders. Has well schooled footwork that allows him to keep his shoulders squared and get into the shooting position quickly. The release is textbook and fluid. You can tell he grew up working in a gym. The production matched the eye test in a major way. In the championship contest went 8-for-8 from beyond the arc to finish with game high 26 points. Also showed the ability to handle the ball. The scoring and particularly the handle were needed as point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1588191' first='Braylon' last='Frantz'] (see above) battled an injury in the championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='2112207' first='Curtis' last='Britton'] 6-0 2026 West Bloomfield Speaking of shooters. Britton was red hot from beyond the arc for the [program_tooltip program_id='2078459' first='Michigan' last='Playmakers'] all weekend. Not very big, but has quick release and a variety of step back moves that allow him to get his shot off. Is also in constant motion off the ball. In the intro I mentioned competitiveness in the waning moments of a tournament. Britton was still going strong in the last game late Sunday. Almost leading his squad to a victory over an Indy Heat EYBL squad that featured a talented and large backcourt. Got his squad to that final by scoring 17 points in a close victory over Ohio's Nova Village. Excellent weekend and should form one the battle regular season shooting backcourts in the state with fellow Playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='1588215' first='Terrence' last='Lowe']. Lowe also had an outstanding weekend shooting from beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='1300920' first='Carson' last='Vis'] 6-3 2025 Grand Rapids South Christian It was at this same tournament a year ago that Vis made his quick return from a rather grisly double arm fracture. Understandably he looked rusty that weekend. In my viewings that rust seemed to extend into an uneven regular season as well. However one year later. The versatile two guard appears to be rounding back into peak form. In a quarterfinal against the eventual Platinum champion Wisconsin Playground Club. Vis kept coming despite a wide margin in the game. Despite a slender frame is a strong penetrator who absorbs contact well on drives. If you have seen his gridiron exploits. You know he does not lack for toughness. Has a knack for slithering through tight spaces. Especially down the baseline. Accordingly excels at getting to the line. The cheat code has always been the ability to finish with both hands. Is essentially an ambidextrous player. And that was long before a broken arm necessitated it. Looks to be gearing up for a big bounce back senior campaign.   Keandre Burtin 6-8 2026 Warren Fitzgerald Due to both their last names and outstanding games. There are a handful of players on [program_tooltip program_id='2077030' first='The' last='Family'] EYBL squad with well established national reputations. Burtin is not one of them. However he had an excellent Sunday and opened this scouts eyes. Against a 24 Up team out of Wisconsin with a large frontline. Burtin simply lived above the rim. Gets off the ground quickly and has an athletic and projectable frame. Wasn't just a statue down in the post. Moved well off the ball and knew how to get open. Especially when 24 Up went zone to start the second half. Found the seams in the defense and shot through them to get an open look. Had a big time tip dunk late in the close contest. Appeared to be a competitive player who wanted to keep playing on Sunday.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters </h2>   -Despite heavy graduation losses the cupboard will not be completely bare at Chelsea. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1438244' first='Drew' last='Blanton'] appears to be settling into more of a scoring role with [program_tooltip program_id='2076445' first='The' last='Process'] this weekend. Scoring 27 points to get his squad that was down two post players to their bracket final on Sunday   - A year after a surprising quarterfinal appearance and the departure of their coach. Rochester Adams has the potential to be pretty good again. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2218048' first='Trenton' last='Lagarde'] has had a good grassroots campaign with the aforementioned [program_tooltip program_id='2078459' first='Michigan' last='Playmakers']. While 6-8 Texas transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1476287' first='Colin' last='Langdon'] should more comfortable in his second year in the program.   If you saw any of the D-Rice Elite teams play this weekend. You know Goodrich is going to be both very good and very big next year. 6-8 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1437570' first='Parker' last='LePla'] is the elder statesman and known commodity. However he will get some big time help (emphasis on big) from the Martian's (great mascot) 2027 class. 6-5 Drew Aagesen is a wide bodied post with soft hands. Parker's younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='2374006' first='Jensen' last='LaPla'] is also 6-5 with a healthy dose of perimeter skills as well. With Jensen at the three, that is size some Division II programs would like on their frontline.

I'll be perfectly honest. I'm not a twenty grizzled veteran of AAU scouting. However it's also not my first rodeo. Over the last few years I've noticed a trend. Despite the stakes being higher at most events. Sunday competition has lost a little bit of juice at most events.