Arch Madness: Jer’s Top Five (15U/16U)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the weekend I had the opportunity to evaluate the 15U and 16U grade levels at our Arch Madness event in Chesterfield, Missouri. During this time, I saw prospects of all sizes and capabilities. In this article, I highlight my personal Top Five Prospects of the weekend that I had the chance of watching. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2489643"],"_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-66a69f9556ce8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the quickest and most under-control guards that this weekend had was [player_tooltip player_id='2489643' first='Elijah' last='Eastwood'] of Hoops Elite 2027. Eastwood was there whenever his team needed him throughout these past couple of days. He has been a constant producer in the categories of creating, assisting, stealing, and scoring the basketball and I'm sure that he plays that way on the high school floor as well. In general, he is very crafty in his movements and understands how to mentally beat his opponent. Whenever I was on the court this weekend watching him, he stood out as one of the most complete and he can build on that moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2414268"],"_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-66a69f9556d47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not only can [player_tooltip player_id='2414268' first='Ryder' last='Gollaher'] score the ball at an efficient rate at the rim but he can also step out and line up the three ball from far away, making it a majority of the time that he lets it go. SEMO Select 2027 put together a respectable weekend behind the play of some of their top prospects like Gollaher. He was vital in some of his team's comebacks this past few days and you can tell that he has a promising future ahead with his skill, combined with his 6'3 size and physical ability. As long as he sticks with the process of getting better, he could end up really good with a chance to compete at the collegiate level before you know it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Andrew Griffin Jr. ","_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":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Life League Silver 16U","_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-66a69f9556dd9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Andrew Griffin Jr. of Life League Silver 16U is a walking bucket with how well he can handle and attack his opponent with his elite dribble. After he ends up blowing past his matchup, he can pull up and hit a floater/runner in the midrange over someone bigger near the post or he can get to the bucket and finish with some spin on the ball at virtually any angle. When his group picks up in the full court, he is someone that gets down the floor in the blink of an eye, causing a lot of chaos and earning his minutes on defense. All in all, you can tell this is a high-end hooper by watching him compete for five minutes on the floor and that's impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2717735' first='Jacob' last='Sidwell']","_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":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Parkway South","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Hardwood Elite 2026","_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-66a69f9556e4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This weekend [player_tooltip player_id='2717735' first='Jacob' last='Sidwell'] of Parkway South High School (MO) competed with the Hardwood Elite 2026 team and he was their difference maker a lot of time in the middle. Sidwell is more of a Small Forward in my opinion with his ability to move so well and get out on the run but he really excels within 12 FT of the bucket. Offensively, he is a menace by the rim. He can score with a soft touch over smaller defenders or he can clean up the glass for put-backs. Defensively, he gets stops, deflections, and tips on shot attempts several time each contest because of his mixture of length, athletic ability, and quick reaction time. Sidwell was clearly the best prospect on the floor whenever he competed this weekend and that why he lands in my Top Five ultimately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2205732"],"_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-66a69f9556e8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2205732' first='Jacob' last='Barnes'] might only be 6'1 but his strength makes him seem like he is competing at 6'4 from the guard position. Barnes overall build, mixed with his ability to handle, defend, and move from side-to-side makes him an eye-opening prospect at every angle from a recruiting standpoint. If he gets an edge on his defender going toward the rim, it's going to end with a finish or free throws with how physical he is going up for his offensive attempts. This weekend he also displays that he can catch-and-shoot the ball from three point land, making his defender have to stay true to his skill, giving him a big advantage on that side of things and that just adds to how lethal he can be on that side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->