3SSB Session I: Standout 16u Forwards/Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LADERA RANCH — The Open Gym Premier facility in Ladera Ranch, Calif. played host to the first 3SSB session of the club season. Adidas sponsored teams from the west coast and beyond came to Southern California for a four-game live period tune up. Below are the standout forwards and centers we watched on the 16u level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2420169' first='Ahmed' last='Nur'] | 2027 | [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota']</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nur is a skilled inside-out forward with fluid athleticism and great transition mobility at 6-feet-9. The sophomore out of Minnesota showed the ability to stretch the floor to the three-point line off the catch with smooth shooting mechanics and also has good feel and touch around the rim. Nur understands how to use footwork, shot fakes and angles to create scoring opportunities inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Kyle Seltzer | 2027 | BABC</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seltzer is all of 6-feet-10 and his combination of size, length, mobility and good pop off the floor on his first jump makes him an effective interior finisher. The New England-based sophomore understood how to space the floor to the dunker spot to allow penetrating guards to find an angle to drop a pass off to him for an easy bucket and flashed some floor stretching ability with touch out to the three-point line off the catch. Seltzer is best as a rim protector as his physical tools, timing and mobility allow him change, alter and block shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">London Dada | 2027 | ETG</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dada will likely see his recruitment pick up over the next couple of months as college coaches will see a super versatile offensive prospect with positional size, skill and a high motor on both ends of the floor. At 6-feet-7, the sophomore can guard multiple positions, stretch the floor off the catch from behind the arc and runs the floor with effort and energy to create easy transition baskets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436298' first='Mahamadou' last='Diop'] | 2027 | Dream Vision</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are few prospects out west who play with as high of a motor as Diop does on every possession. The 6-foot-10 center is an elite level rebounder who purses misses in and out of his area and is constantly crashing the offensive boards for second chance opportunities. Diop is also a high level rim protector with his combination of length, vertical athleticism and timing leading to countless changed and altered shots around the basket. The Southern California-based sophomore averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Nick Welch Jr. | 2027 | Compton Magic</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welch's value is in his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-10 center has good feel and touch with his back to the basket and has been taught well on how to seal deep post position and use quick, simple and decisive moves to score in the painted area. Welch doesn't shoot a ton of perimeter shots but when he does it's easy to see that he has the tools to become a capable perimeter shooter in catch-and-shoot situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->