Prep Hoops National Open Championship: Kyler’s Saturday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, Prep Hoops Indiana will be hosting the National Open Championship at both the Pacers Athletic Center and The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse 7/18-7/20. This will arguably be our most loaded event of the summer as this will feature some of the top teams in the state of Indiana including&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/program/grand-park-premier/"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></a><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/program/grand-park-premier/"></a><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/program/grand-park-premier/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2076166' first='Grand' last='Park Premier']</strong></a>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;, Indiana Basketball Club, teams from the Indiana Elite program, and many more. To top this all off, this will also be a NCAA Certified event so there is expected to be a strong college coach presence, as well. Let us look at my standouts from Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560956"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687ba154ab574"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the best pure playmaking guards that I was able to get eyes on Saturday was [player_tooltip player_id='1560956' first='Omari' last='Thomas'], who runs with [program_tooltip program_id='2305499' first='Hoosier' last='State Prospects'] 2026. First thing I noticed that is it looks like he has grown a bit more height and frame wise since the last time I saw him. Real quick burst off the dribble but it was his consistent scoring from deep that was impressive the most. Plays with a really good feel on the floor and has natural lead guard instincts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561061"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687ba154ab5cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">You could make a strong case that the senior guard from Shelbyville may have been the best pure shooter from deep. Claxton did a very good job of creating looks both on and off the ball and would step up and hit threes with a lot of confidence in his shot. He may be on the shorter end but is easily one of the tougher guards that you will find here at the Prep Hoops National Open Championship. Really impressive scoring from him today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1282878"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687ba154ab61a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A player that started off extremely hot and didn't seem to cool down at all was University senior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1282878' first='Blake' last='Gray']. The 6'2 wing set the tone early for INB 2026 with a score in transition, a dribble pull-up midrange jumper, and tough side-step three from the corner. Gray is a very smooth guard that has such a good feel for the game in many ways. Also hit a clutch shot to send the game to OT in which INB won. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2399375"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687ba154ab661"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lawson is a player that right away when you first look at him, you just know he has unlimited upside as a player. Super long and athletic guard that can play in the backcourt and on the wing due to his versatility. He has incurable smoothness to his game and some of the best passing you will see from a backcourt player his size. Never seems to ever be in a panic on the floor and let the game come to him. I think there is D1 potential there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2024513"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687ba154ab6a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What more can you say about [player_tooltip player_id='2024513' first='Nick' last='Shrewsberry'] as far the amount improvement he has made throughout his high school career. Got a chance to watch him again on Saturday and it was a game where he could do no wrong. Made multiple threes, played good defense, and was super athletic off the bounce fishing above the rim. One of the top players this weekend by far. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->