David Barns Showcase: Up North MOP's

The David Barns Showcase has consistently been 1 of the top showcase events in the state of Michigan. It certainly didn't disappoint this year. One thing I noticed was the attendance of, quality of play from some athletes from "up north". There were at least 4 players from that area of the state that played like Most Outstanding Players. We're going to look at the players from "up north", each of which I thought were EASILY among the top players in the gym.    Let's start by making everyone aware that this was Slack's first time on the court in well over a month as he's been rehabbing an ankle injury. He hit the court rolling despite this fact. Slack scored and shot at a very high percentage on Saturday. He rebounded very well, especially considering he's a CG. Slack was a willing passer, even in a showcase environment, proving that he places winning above all else and plays and practices the game the right way and the way it will be played at the next level. Speaking of the next level: Slack has all the skill, basketball IQ and intangibles needed to be a great addition to a D2 or D1 program.     Viehman is a player I know very well, so trust me when I say this, he turned a very big corner in July. He put his skills and his mental game together and he's been at his highest level since. Viehman can advance the ball, but didn't over dribble. He shot at a high clip, but was willing to swing the ball to get a better shot. Viehman created, but has learned when and where to do so. It's hard to not be very excited about what we saw at the David Barns Showcase. He looked like a college basketball player with all the above, plus upper level athleticism.     Gugle just keeps getting better. I think his versatility becomes more and more apparent every time I see him play. At the high school level, I don't know that there's a position that Gugle can't defend. He has the fluidness and feet needed to defend a guard. Gugle also has the athletic ability and vertical strength needed to effectively defend in the paint. This helps him rebound at a higher level as well. And just like Slack and Viehman above, Gugle carries the intangibles as well. He showed quick hands on D and a nice pull up jumper.     I've seen Smith play before, but apparently I didn't do a good enough job scouting him. I saw a whole lot to love about his game on Saturday. He played bigger than his height on defense, using strength to stand his ground and using his verticality to be a very good defender under or near the rim. Smith had more than a couple put back buckets that were earned with his work to gain position under the rim. He did more than score. Smith did the little things that turn into hustle points. Hustle points are really simply winning plays, and that's what he provided.

The David Barns Showcase has consistently been 1 of the top showcase events in the state of Michigan. It certainly didn't disappoint this year. One thing I noticed was the attendance of, quality of play from some athletes from "up north". There were at least 4 players from that area of the state that played like Most Outstanding Players. We're going to look at the players from "up north", each of which I thought were EASILY among the top players in the gym.