#PHMidwestShowdown: The Post Standouts

Seven of the forwards and centers who impressed over the weekend in the games I watched at the Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown!    Despite the loss on Saturday, Ahmed made his presence felt while playing up at the 17u level. He not only scored a team high 23 points for [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'], but he was easily their most efficient scoring option. He's so dangerous as a pick & pop shooter, but also has the instincts to slip to the rim when the space is there. Around the basket he has the coordination to catch and finish on the move, and does a nice job of keeping the ball high where it can't be easily swiped away. Ahmed has such a pure stroke, and a quick release at 6'9 that makes him hard to close out on. He has that combination of length, mobility, and shooting ability that makes him such an intriguing prospect.     Carrington was a big reason why Bradley Elite went 3-1 on the weekend. He has a blend of size, strength, and explosive athleticism that makes him tough to stop around the rim. When on the floor he controlled the glass, and did a great job of picking his head up to find an outlet pass. On multiple occasions he spotted a teammate sprinting ahead, and was able to launch a deep outlet pass leading to an easy lay-up. He's tough to stop when he gets a full head of steam to the rim off the dribble or in transition, but also has a quick second leap to go right back up after an offensive rebound.     Now listed at 6'10, James is an imposing presence in the paint. One thing that stood out even before the game started is his improved mobility. During lay-up lines he was getting off the floor much quicker than I remembered, and during the game he was working hard getting off the floor. Brady sees the floor well from the block, and is able to zip passes over the top of defenders to open shooters or cutters. He keeps the ball high around the rim for put-back opportunities, and does a nice job of securing defensive rebounds. Missed a few bunnies that I'm sure he'd like to get back, but from watching him previously I know he has good touch around the basket.     On Sunday guys were trying to go right at Ryan around the basket, and time and time again that resulted their shot getting swatted away from the rim. Ryan was the best shot blocker I saw all weekend, mixing a long and lanky frame with explosiveness and timing. He can deliver a highlight reel swat, but also knows when it's best to just stay up and avoid fouling while getting a piece of the ball. Kreager is so quick off the floor at 6'10, meaning just about every time he gets an inch of space around the rim, he's throwing down a two handed dunk. Still a bit raw with his back to the basket, but has the ability to make a big impact on a game as a shot blocker and rim runner.     Graham has some tools to work with moving forward, making him an intriguing prospect. Now listed at 6'8, he has a long frame with good agility at his size, allowing him to defend a number of spots on the floor. Has no problem moving his feet with smaller forwards, while having the length to impact a game as a rebounder inside. On Saturday night he showed he can put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim when a gap is there, but he's also comfortable stepping out and knocking down the open three. He shows flashes just about every game I watch him, and I'm intrigued to see if he can start putting those pieces together on a consistent basis.     I only got to see Bo play for one half, but he showed the potential to become a solid low-post presence in the coming years. He has good patience when catching on the block, knowing when he has space to go to work, while also recognizing when to kick it out when a double comes. At 6'8 he has a strong frame to keep his balance through some contact, while also being able to fight for deep post position. Showcased good coordination and footwork to create angles to finish, along with the touch to score off the glass inside.     Daniel's team was playing up at the 16u level, and even then he was the most physically dominant player on the floor. He's a bit of a big-wing/small ball big, with a long wingspan and explosive athleticism that allows him to play even bigger than his listed height. Daniel stepped in for a pair of two handed dunks off of drive-and-dish passes, showcasing his ability to quickly get off the floor off the catch. He was dangerous in pick & roll situations all game long, and even had a nice spin move out of the post to score. Zoa has long arms and strong hands that allow him to rise up in a crowd to secure rebounds. Added in a face-up jumper from the baseline to his scoring tally.

Seven of the forwards and centers who impressed over the weekend in the games I watched at the Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown!