GRBA National Championship - Sunday Standouts

There are plenty of opinions out there about grassroots basketball and youth sports in general. Like many things in life, there are good and bad aspects to the current landscape. However, spending Sunday at the GRBA National Championship at Fort Wayne is always a little bit emotional. For many players, this has been a decade long journey with weekends spent all over the country. Players in the Midwest generally finish that journey in Fort Wayne at this event. It is always tough seeing the families and players end the summer, and for those at the 17u level, end a very big chapter of their young lives. Let's dive on in and highlight some of the top individual performers from the action on championship Sunday.    One of two backcourt standouts for [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Buckhanon as they made it all of the way to the 15u championship game at the GRBA National Championship. Baskerville is a very talented playmaker with a unique combination of scoring and passing ability. He shot the ball well off of the dribble on Sunday making tough jump shots, exploding downhill to finish at the rim, and setting up his teammates with pinpoint passes. The rising sophomore at New Haven High School is poised for a breakout season this winter.     We highlighted Gardner on Saturday night after watching him hit eight three-point shots on his way to 35 points in a blowout win for [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Kindschy. Then, on Sunday afternoon, he backed it up with 22 points and four triples in another victory. The Martinsville High School product is a big-time shooting threat, but also showed some driving ability in Sunday's game. He has a bit more of a burst when getting downhill than I previously realized. Talented offensive player that has had an excellent summer.     Another standout in the [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Buckhanon backcourt, Irby teamed up with Baskerville to lead his squad to a runner-up finish in the 15u platinum bracket at the GRBA National Championship. Irby has a very strong, physical build for a young guard that helps him play through contact and finish against size at the end of his drives. He is a real two-way threat with good defensive instincts. After a strong freshman campaign at Fort Wayne South Side High School, look for Irby to really prove himself as one of the most talented rising sophomores in Fort Wayne this coming season.     [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Ervin 17u put together a valiant comeback effort, but ultimately came up short against Midwest Pumas - Gold 68-64. Trailing by double-figures relatively late in the second half, back-to-back transition finishes by Martin actually gave [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Ervin a one point lead in the final 90 seconds. However, even his game-high 25 points wasn't enough to get the job done. Martin shot the ball very well all weekend long and that continued on Sunday connecting on four three-point shots. Talented, athletic wing for small college coaches to know.     Statistics from the final four and championship games haven't been made available yet, but 5Star - 3SGB went on to win the 16u title at the GRBA National Championship. In their morning quarterfinal matchup that Prep Ho[program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] Indiana watched, Scholl was his typical self around the basket showcasing great footwork and a soft touch when finishing. The 6'6" post player from Northridge High School has had an outstanding summer and has gotten himself on the radar of several college programs. One of the best interior players in Indiana's Class of 2026.     This Central Michigan commit had a great weekend at the GRBA National Championship. Truesdale scored 20 points in an impressive come-from-behind victory for [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Black at 8:30 on Sunday morning. Trailing by double-figures in the second half, [program_tooltip program_id='2228160' first='OPS' last=''] - Black came roaring back, led by Truesdale, to defeat Full Package - Black 64-62. His length and athleticism makes it very hard for opposing defenses to keep him out of the paint.     [program_tooltip program_id='2470527' first='Indy' last='Heat Red'] lost to the eventual 17u champions, Midwest Basketball Club - MHC, on Sunday morning. However, Williams-Thomas played very well displaying his dynamic shot-making ability with several tough jump shots. He is comfortable and confident with the ball in his hands creating his own shot at all three levels on the floor. There are some quick twitch traits to his game as a ball handler that allow him to create separation and elevate into his shot. The Fort Wayne Wayne High School product also made some great open floor passes in transition.

There are plenty of opinions out there about grassroots basketball and youth sports in general. Like many things in life, there are good and bad aspects to the current landscape. However, spending Sunday at the GRBA National Championship at Fort Wayne is always a little bit emotional. For many players, this has been a decade long journey with weekends spent all over the country. Players in the Midwest generally finish that journey in Fort Wayne at this event. It is always tough seeing the families and players end the summer, and for those at the 17u level, end a very big chapter of their young lives. Let's dive on in and highlight some of the top individual performers from the action on championship Sunday.