Hoophall/Nike TOC: 2028 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>January 2nd-4th I attended the annual <strong>Hoophall West </strong>located at Highland HS in Gilbert this year and also the <strong>Nike Tournament of Champions</strong> at multiple high school gyms throughout the East Valley. In the three days I viewed seven different brackets (Hoophall West, Saguaro, Sonoran, Coyote, Jackrabbit, Camelback and Sunrise) which included two championship games (Sonoran and Sunrise).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here are the 2028 Standouts I viewed </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2470696' first='Tyonne' last='Brown'] Pinnacle (Pictured)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger wing forward can score and defend. He scores with the floater game, he is great in transition and will get to the basket and will hit the catch-3 with a quicker release. He uses his length to collect steals in the passing lanes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194811' first='Rhys' last='Robinson'] Pinnacle&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A fluid bigger wing for class. He moves well from end to end and laterally for defense. He scores with drives to the basket thru some contact. He will rip thru and go to work plus score on offensive rebound put backs. He will also defend multiple positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2457854' first='Grant' last='Budd'] Pinnacle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger power forward for his class is a great rebounder in his area. With some injuries he was getting some quality minutes on varsity. He will score it around the basket and smartly keep the ball high. He attacks the glass to corral rebounds in and out of his area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2412268' first='Maurice' last='Carter II'] Willow Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A dynamic scoring point guard only played one quarter with an injury below his eye that required stitches but showed what he could do. He threaded the needle a couple time for assists and scores it so easily with threes off the catch and will pull-up off the dribble from mid-range.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1651788' first='Jakyi' last='Miles'] Mesa&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger scoring point guard always plays at his own pace. He his one of the most polished mid-range pull-ups off the dribble. He will jab step into a pull-up three and get to the basket with his size and handle. He will defend with keeping his man in front of him and even blocking shots plus facilitate.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1546987' first='Adan' last='Diggs'] Williams Field</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top ranked freshman shows you some special moments every game. He is a good passer with either hand and defends at a high level. He scores it in bunches with coast to coast drives with his speed and grace. He has a high level mid-range pull-up, floater game and he will hit the three.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2107225' first='Mike' last='McIntyre'] Williams Field</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The man in the middle is a menace on the glass and will block a ton of shots in and out of his area. He scores the ball around the basket with his right or left hand with contact or gets fouled.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2550840' first='Austin' last='Turner'] Higley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long and lanky bigger guard who plays on of off the ball. He is a very fluid ball handler and mover. He uses his size and length on defense. He will keep his opponents in front of him and can block a shot or two with his reflexes and length. He is a really good passer with a good pace.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2276223' first='Kingston' last='Montague'] Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A walking bucket also has quick feet on defense. He will find teammates with either hand but makes it look easy putting the ball thru the net. His mid-range pull-up off the dribble is effortless for him. He can also fade away from his defender from the high post and hit the three. He plays perfectly off of Magee.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1873639' first='Grant' last='Mattingly'] Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The younger Mattingly changes speeds perfectly and is a great passer. He scores it with his left or right hand in tight spaces. He has real pace to his game and he made a few inedible passes in traffic threading the needle. He is one of many reasons that Central will be a tough out in 5A this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2506451' first='Trey' last='Wenk'] Deer Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wenk is a scoring combo guard with a good feel and a big IQ. He will hit the three off the catch and make a play for his teammates. He will ball fake into a drive to the basket with his tighter handle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->