Spring Standouts: Top Central PA Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top events to kickoff the Summer AAU season took place in Hampton, VA at the Southern Jam Fest. Many Central PA talents were locked in and ready to showcase their skills. Here are my top 5 players from Central PA that impressed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2444369,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kasen Metzger","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hollidaysburg","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"ALL DAY HOOPS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Kasen Metzger (2026 - Hollidaysburg).  At both the Pitt Jamfest and Southern Jamfest, Hoop Group Events, Metzger starred at both ends of the court for All Day Hoops. Metzger showed major ability to finish at the rim including high arching floaters up and over a much taller defenders.  Kasen's footwork in and around the basket was great and he utilized some pump fakes and jab steps to create finishing space when needed.  He showcased a few bigtime blocks, led the fast-break in transition, and knocked down some 3s with ease. He is certainly going to be one to watch during the summer leagues.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":2446780,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Brayden Haney","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Claysburg","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Mid Atlantic Sports","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"This 2026 Shooting Guard, from Claysburg High School, proved to be one of the top guards that I have seen so far this Spring.  I watched Haney play for the Bulldogs this winter, and he did not disappoint.  He had multiple 20 point games as well as a couple 30 point games during his scholastic season.  I decided to watch him play this spring in Pittsburgh at the Hoop Group Jamfest, and again at West Virginia's Big Shots May Madness.  Brayden plays AAU basketball for the Mid Atlantic Sports Organization from Hollidaysburg, PA.  Speed, agility, and shooting range are just some of his strengths.  Haney showed off his abilities scoring from the inside and outside, collecting 2 game MVP Awards.  Brayden also had some creative shots in which he used his athletic ability to leave opponents frozen, utilizing a very deceptive Euro Step in traffic.  Be on the lookout for this guard the remainder of the summer.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Ben Zimmerman","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Hollidaysburg","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Mid Atlantic Sports","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Earlier this spring, I watched this Mid Atlantic Sports, 2026 PF, play at the Teammate Basketball Steel City Rumble.  Zimmerman impressed with his knack for rebounding position.  What Ben lacked in height, he made up for in strength and determination.  He was strong and used pump fakes and footwork to get to his spots.  Fast forwarding to this past weekend, I have now seen him play at 3 different events.  I was curious as to how he would perform at his first LIVE Period events.  Despite being outsized, Ben showed out and put together a couple good events at the Big Shots May Madness and the Hoop Group Pitt Jam Fest.    Zimmerman earned a MVP award in West Virginia recording a u0022double-doubleu0022 in 2 games, as well as a game high 15 points.  With a few tournaments remaining, this rising junior has the potential to have a solid summer.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664f5a76601d2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2451322,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2877906' first='Braison' last='Patrick']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clearfield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Dubois Dream","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658767097336"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This 2026 Shooting Guard from The Dubois Dream had quite a few impressive shooting performances. Getting to his spots inside the arc, Patrick was able to knock down quite a few 15 footers, utilizing various spin moves, step backs, and fades. Spot up 3s off of dribble drive action was also a major strength in Braison's game, as he was able to make teams pay for overhelping by knocking down numerous dagger-like shots in a couple of tight games. Keep your eyes out for this rising junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658767097385"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2451330,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elijah Glunt","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clearfield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Dubois Dream","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66587670973fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have seen this 2028 Guard from Clearfield several times. It seems each time that I watch him, he is stronger. Tough as nails, this kid is going to be a great player for Clearfield for the next 4 seasons. With the ability to shoot the three, drive to the basket, and bully players in the key, Elijah is sure to excel in his freshman year for the Bisons. Glunt is also a tenacious defender and relishes the opportunities to guard the opposition's best players. Check this kid out this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->