Eighteen 16U Game-Changers #NHRState

We are taking a look back at Prep Hoops NHR State and discussing Game-Changers from the 16U division.   How do you get into the Game-Changer article? Being a difference-maker for your team, being unselfish, consistently making plays, diving on the floor, playing hard all game, boarding up, getting D-stops, being a glue guy, scoring timely buckets, hitting game-changing triples, and many others.    See below for player comments…   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/image_09f734.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/image_09f734.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2876462" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   16U Game-Changers    WHY?   He is a tenacious defender who is great at using his body to make contact with opposing guards. Akan is a tough downhill guard who constantly gets in the paint and finishes through contact or finds the open man. Berisso is a team-first player who is smart and unselfish with the rock.     WHY?   He showed quickness, shiftiness, and tight handles at NHR State. Andrew finishes super well at the rim from both sides. He is a great passer with a high IQ. This creates a ton of open looks for his teammates. Ziemer is a menace on defense who is no stranger to steals, he does great work in the passing lanes. Ziemer plays up an age group and he does an awesome job running the point.     WHY?   He is a point guard who has the ball in his hands often but he is an excellent rebounder. Heidgerken sees the floor well and is great at finding his teammates for easy assists/buckets. Ben elevates the players around him, his team is better when he is on the hardwood.     WHY?   This athletic lefty made positive plays all over the court. Holland stood out as a bucket-getter and a savage Squirrel on the boards. There was no keeping him off the O-glass. Easton was efficient around the rim and he had many blow-by drives. On defense, He protected the rim and tipped/disrupted passes. I was impressed with Mr. Holland this weekend.     WHY?   He runs with MN Fury. Post is a tenacious on-ball defender. He always picks up the first scoring option from the opposition. Erik is a versatile defender, he can match up with guards and forwards. Post is always up for the challenge. He does a great job walling up on drives and has a knack for drawing charges at the perfect time. Erik does great work at taking teams out of rhythm. Post is a super unselfish player and teammate.     WHY?   He always does the little things to help the team be successful. Carlson is a vocal leader on and off the court. Finn is always communicating on defense and has a knack for snagging offensive rebounds over taller/stronger opponents. He is talented at making the right read on offense. Finn collected steals by being in the right place and by stepping into passing lanes. He did good work in transition and that led to fast-paced buckets.     WHY?   He proved to be a clutch performer. Jordan hit many big shots from three-point land over the weekend. McAndrew spaced the floor, made the defense pay from deep, and proved he is a serious long-range threat. In two of the games, Jordan led the squad in scoring.     WHY?   He runs with [program_tooltip program_id='2422572' first='D1' last='Minnesota Gold']. Carpenter drilled multiple key 3-pointers at the NHR State Tournament! He brought energy on and off the bench. Jayden played a key role in defense by locking down defenders. Carpenter's shooting and defense made him a game-changer.     WHY?   Buhr is a knockdown shooter. Kole plays up an age group with Buckets but he is still one of the top shooters on the court when his squad takes the floor. Besides being a sniper, Kole handles the ball well. He is smart about spacing the floor and he makes positive plays in transition. After Buhr nails a couple of triples, the D sticks close to him, and the driving lanes open up for his fellow teammates.     WHY?   He runs with MN Fury. Buss had a strong weekend at NHR State. Offensively, Buss has the ability to score on the block and is also a talented perimeter shooter. He stretched the defense by making outside jump shots. Defensively, Lincoln played strong post defense and helped Fury Goring control the boards.     WHY?   He changed the game for [program_tooltip program_id='2075693' first='MN' last='Crossfire']. Lemke hit many key baskets over the course of the weekend. Lucas led his squad in scoring, he has been the team's most consistent scorer this spring. He is also the leading rebounder. His production level and playmaking are impressive.     WHY?   Hansen was a big part of what Buffalo did this past weekend. He is the energy guy and always brings the juice. Buffalo did not have him vs SW Stars due to baseball playoffs and it sure showed out on the court. Nolan doesn't score a lot of points, but he rebounds the ball very well and will kick to the open shooter. He is a high IQ & high motor type of baller!     WHY?   LeDuc is a 6'5" PF! Todd hit key shots at the NHR Tourney. He brought energy off the bench and played with heart. He was recognized as a Top Performer. LeDuc is a straight energy guy when the team needed a boost! He played lockdown defense while getting stops at key moments in the game. He plays the game hard, is physical, and he finishes well at the hoop. I was impressed with LeDuc's communication.     WHY?   Zach runs with [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans']. He is a big-bodied forward with a high motor. Zach gives 110% effort every minute on the floor. Krusemark does the little things that go unnoticed like boxing out, setting hard screens, and making smart reads when rolling or popping. He is a hustle guy but has great footwork and touch around the rim. Zach also shoots a high percentage from the 3pt arc.    MN Comets Elite   [player_tooltip player_id='2126865' first='Grady' last='Starzl'] (2027) |6'7 C| Alexandria & [player_tooltip player_id='2126463' first='Owen' last='Grove'] (2027) |6'3 G| St. Cloud Cathedral   WHY?   They both played really hard in every game. Grady and Owen will do anything that is asked of them. They are quick to dive on the floor, defend the opposing team's top player, and talk their game on defense. When Grady and Owen play well, the Comets are tough to beat.   SW MN Stars   [player_tooltip player_id='2132770' first='Carson' last='Stratmoen'] (2027) |6'0 G| Dawson-Boyd & [player_tooltip player_id='2444899' first='Eli' last='Gerdes'] (2027) |6'1 SF| CMCS   WHY?   Carson and Eli had an exceptional weekend of basketball. While the team faced challenges in playing to their full potential, both players rose to the occasion and delivered consistent, high-level performances. Defensively, the two guards were relentless, applying pressure from baseline to baseline and disrupting the opposing team's rhythm throughout each game. Their energy and intensity on that end of the floor set the tone for the Stars defense. On the offensive side, Carson was a dynamic playmaker. He consistently penetrated the defense, creating scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates with smart decision-making and quick first steps. Eli showcased his shooting prowess, especially from beyond the arc, where he knocked down several key three-pointers to keep the Stars in a close game. Their efforts stood out and were a bright spot for the team this weekend.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/image_1cb190.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/image_1cb190.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2876632" /></a></figure>

We are taking a look back at Prep Hoops NHR State and discussing Game-Changers from the 16U division.