Havoc in the Heartland: All Tournament- 1st Team 12U

The players came to play over the weekend! These young men were definitely worthy of being recognized as 1st Team All Tournament players.    Noah was one of the most skilled point guards in the 2031 class. He has excellent ball handling skills. Whenever he found himself in isolated match-ups, Noah easily attacked his defender and scored. Whenever there was an opportunity to knock down three pointers, Noah did not hesitate. He showed off his skills as a play-maker. Most of his assists led to easy scores for his teammates. Some were to players cutting down the lane, some along the perimeter. Noah was always in control of the offense. He showed great vocal leadership by staying in tune with his Legacy teammates. I was impressed with his ability to rebound the basketball. I cannot count the amount of times I watched Noah attack the glass and come away with boards. His rebounds led to second chance scoring opportunities for his team. Noah is a great young player who has a strong chance of becoming elite in the near future. Keep working Noah!!     I have always had a soft spot for smaller players. After watching Madden play, I have to say “this little guy is fearless!” He's an aggressive scorer who always searched for ways of getting open. Madden is very knowledgeable of what it takes to be effective on offense. His teammates were vital to his successful three point shooting. I watched Madden knock down three long distance bombs from using teammate screens. Overall, this kid is a well-rounded shooter from anywhere on the court. He has an excellent shooting form. Whenever he released the ball, his shot looked good. I can watch Madden and see that he puts in the time perfecting his jump-shot. On defense, he was great at timing the passes from the opposition. This led to Madden forcing multiple turnovers by jumping pass lanes. I can only imagine how good this young man could be as he continues to grow and mature. Keep it up Madden!!     Jayden is one of those players who could be classified as “un-guard-able.” He stayed aggressive on both sides of the court for the entire game. There was a sequence in the game where Jayden scored four straight baskets as he attacked the paint. In isolated moments on the wing, Jayden easily beat his opponent to the rim. On multiple occasions, he scored despite being fouled. This led to him having three-point play opportunities from the foul-line. He converted each time, showing his skills as an excellent free-throw shooter. Defensively, this young man was a menace for the opposing team. Jayden was great at applying tough on-ball pressure and causing turnovers. He also excelled at playing the passing lanes. Jayden finished the game with five steals. A great young player who has a very bright future. Keep it up Jayden!!     He's a great defensive guard who excelled at making life miserable for his opponents. Jahaun may have been the best defensive player I saw in his class. He pressured opposing guards into multiple turnovers. Jahaun was great at using quick hands and footwork to stay locked on his opponent. Handling the basketball was a difficult task for the opposition. Throughout the game, I watched Jahaun force three steals and cause numerous mistakes. Offensively, he showed the ability to create for himself or teammates. He used a quick first-step to blow-by his defender and score in the paint. Whenever he drove into the paint, he either scored or passed to other All Ohio Red players. If given the opportunity, this young man has the ability to shoot the ball. During the second half of the game, he was left alone behind the three-point line. Jahaun calmly knocked down both attempts. This young man is a great defender who is totally capable of being a legit scoring threat. Keep locking them down Jahaun!!     I was pleasantly surprised when I watched Brayden play basketball. This young man was a terror both in the paint and on the glass. He easily dominated his opponents inside by scoring right over the top of them. Brayden was great at using his size and strength to clear out space and make baskets. He had so much of a size advantage, he was able to score despite being contacted by defenders. Where Brayden really impressed me was how he handled the basketball and moved at his size. There was a sequence in the game where Brayden grabbed a defensive rebound, brought the ball up court, hit the defender with a nice spin-move and nearly made the lay-up. He got a loud reaction out of me when he made his move. I really didn't expect it. He also scored a couple of baskets in transition when the team had fast-break opportunities. Defensively, Brayden blocked multiple shots and protected the paint. This young guy has the potential to be great as he continues to work on his game. He's agile, he's big, he scores and defends. Keep working Brayden!!     A shifty little point guard who makes plays. I love watching small players who have a fearless attitude on the basketball court. This totally explains Colton to the fullest. After seeing how he scored the first shot of the game I was sold. This little guy did a hesitation dribble that led to multiple behind the back dribbles and a pull-up jumper from mid-range. The defender had no chance. Colton's move got an instant reaction out of me and the crowd in the stands. He's a great ball handler, passer and leader. Many of his assists led to easy scores for his teammates. Colton led the Dreamchasers 12U team in scoring and assists. Whenever he beat his opponent off the dribble he had a knack for scoring on high arching floaters in the lane. On occasion, Colton found himself in the paint fighting for rebounds. Like I said, he's a tough little guy who is fearless. What coach wouldn't want a player of his caliber? I expect great things from this kid in the future. Keep it up Colton!!

The players came to play over the weekend! These young men were definitely worthy of being recognized as 1st Team All Tournament players.