Prep Hoops Nationals: Max’s Night One Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prep Hoops National Open Championship is powered by VKTRY</strong> - the world's best performance insoles. Jump higher. Run faster. Reduce injuries. <a href="https://vktry.com/?utm_source=Prep+Network&amp;utm_medium=Tournament&amp;utm_campaign=Indy_July">Shop the insoles trusted by 500+ pro/college teams. </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the top performers I saw on Friday night at the Prep Hoops National Open Championship Powered by VKTRY!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560798"],"_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-687b0a5136364"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lucas continued to show why he's been one of the most dangerous 17u guards in all of Minnesota this spring/summer. He came out hot on Friday night, draining a handful of threes, getting to rim for scooping finishes, and zipping passes right into his teammate's hands for a couple assists, all within the first quarter of the game. His play helped Fury pretty much put away a tough IE [program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana'] team in the first half, as Lucas' constant movement on and off the ball made him just about impossible to guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2471408"],"_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-687b0a51363f3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sherman had a strong game for Indiana Basketball Club, helping lead them to a blowout win over [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select']. A big part of their offense was the playmaking of [player_tooltip player_id='2471408' first='Sherman' last='Moss-Wright']. He's an unselfish 6'4 guard who excelled at beating his initial defender off the dribble to get into the lane, and from there was locating his shooters with accurate kickout passes. When Sherman had the ball in his hands, good things seemed to happen. And when the helpside defense was slow to step in on him, he had no problem getting it all the way to the rim to finish on his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2252551"],"_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-687b0a5136495"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">James is an active frontcourt prospect for IE [program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana']. He packs a mixture of strength, agility, and explosiveness into his 6'7 frame, and is able to beat guys with strength or speed in the paint. He was able to establish deep post position leading to some quick finishes down low, showing soft touch with the left hand. Also had a nice jumper from mid-range, catching around the elbow, facing up, and simply elevating to score over the top of his man. Showed a quick second leap to contest for offensive boards, and was able to move his feet to defend smaller forwards on the other end.</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-687b0a5136510"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nick has a nice blend of size, shooting touch, and explosive athleticism out on the wing for Indiana Basketball Club. Nearly threw down one of the dunks of the summer, weaving through traffic in transition and elevating right over a defender to draw contact. He was a threat moving off the ball and catching in space, showing a quick release from three to get his shot off before a chasing defender could catch up to him. In a big win his team was doing a nice job of getting everyone involved offensively, and Nick was efficient with the looks he was getting on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560747"],"_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-687b7133e84e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After [player_tooltip player_id='1560798' first='Lucas' last='Gustafson'] dominated in the first half, it was [player_tooltip player_id='1560747' first='Alex' last='Schroepfer'] who took over in the second for Fury. At 6'5 he was slashing to the rim for a handful of strong finishes, while also showing his passing vision from out on the perimeter. Whether he was beating guys with cuts off the ball, or shot-faking before putting the ball on the floor, Alex just found ways to get to the rim. Showed he can hang in the air and absorb contact for some tough finishes, converting with either hand in traffic. Continues to show why he's been one of the top wings in Minnesota 17u basketball this spring/summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561112"],"_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-687b7133e8542"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gavin helped lead [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''] to a win over a tough ND Phenom team that features multiple D1 prospects on Friday night. He's an intriguing prospect that blends length, explosive athleticism, and shooting touch into a 6'5 frame. Started the game off moving his feet with a smaller guard and then swatting his shot at the rim. Also showed comfort running off screens, and quickly getting his feet squared to catch and elevate for a shot. Silky smooth finisher out in transition. Always seemed ready to provide a bucket when his team needed one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2828718"],"_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-687b7133e858d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sage showed why he's the top available 2026 in North Dakota against [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last='']. At 6'9 he was weaving through defenders off the dribble, knocking down jumpers, and attacking the basket for a pair of dunks. He's very comfortable on the ball at his size, able to push the break on his own after a defensive rebound, or blow by bad closeouts from the perimeter to get to the basket. Showed some physicality to finish through contact, and was holding his ground defending the block on the other end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->