PHTheTuneUpCO: 15U Bigs Who Made Day 1 Statements at Boomtown

Day 1 of The Tune Up is in the books, and if what we saw from these big men is any indication, the rest of this tournament is a can't miss. These guys dominated the paint, put on a show with their physicality and skill, and left no doubt that you need to be in the gym to see how they finish the weekend. Expect more highlight reel plays, tough defense, and big time performances as they look to close things out strong.    Hasselbach was a force to be reckoned with on the interior. His combination of footwork and body control made him nearly impossible to stop in the paint, as he scored at will against defenders. What really elevated his game was his touch from mid range and his ability to float shots over bigger defenders—showcasing a versatile offensive arsenal. On the defensive end, his active hands and impressive length disrupted passing lanes, altered countless shots, and helped him clean the glass with authority     Yarbrough's size and length immediately command attention the moment he stepped on the court. Standing at 6'5”, he was a matchup nightmare getting to his spots with ease and finishing strong around the rim. He dominated the paint, consistently boxing out defenders and controlling the glass. What truly separated his game was his versatility—whether setting hard screens up top and rolling to the rim or stepping out to knock down the long range jumper, Yarbrough showed he's far more than just a post presence     Nicholson is a player on the rise, and he wasted no time putting his full game on display in Day 1 action. With his size and motor, he flew all over the court making plays on both ends. Offensively, he attacked the rim relentlessly, embracing contact and finishing strong. On the defensive side, he was a disruptor—contesting shots, altering looks, and quickly securing rebounds to ignite the fast break. The moment of the day came on an inbounds play, where he flashed to the rim and threw down a thunderous alley-oop, sending the gym into a frenzy     Ayres made his mark as the ultimate glue guy for his squad, doing all the little things that don't always show up on the stat sheet but win games. He brought toughness and physicality on the defensive end, protecting the paint and making life difficult for anyone attacking the rim. On the perimeter, he closed out hard on shooters, using his size and effort to contest shots effectively. Offensively, that same grit showed up as he cleaned the glass for easy putbacks and powered his way to strong finishes around the bucket. Ayres impact was felt on every possession     Tanner delivered an impressive Day 1 performance, showcasing a polished and versatile offensive game. He operated smoothly from the mid range and in, using sound technique to get to his spots and knocking down shots with a confident, fluid stroke. What stood out most was his ability to run the floor and draw defenders, creating easy scoring opportunities for teammates on dump offs and open threes. Tanner also made his presence felt on the glass, rising above defenders to secure key rebounds on both ends of the floor

Day 1 of The Tune Up is in the books, and if what we saw from these big men is any indication, the rest of this tournament is a can't miss. These guys dominated the paint, put on a show with their physicality and skill, and left no doubt that you need to be in the gym to see how they finish the weekend. Expect more highlight reel plays, tough defense, and big time performances as they look to close things out strong.