The Tune Up: 16U All Tournament Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the holiday falling on a Friday. The Prep Hoops Circuit resumed in the greater Chicago area in a quick two day format coined “The Tune Up”.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following are the first and second all tournament teams for 16U division in the deep and talented event.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">First Team </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2822200' first='Lane' last='Eilerman'] 6-2 Calhoun (IL) </strong>Bouncy two guard led Southern Illinois Raptors to a 3-1 weekend. Got into the lane often. Once there played off of two feet. Finishing with strength at the rim. Had a strong Saturday. Began by leading a comeback against [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] Black. Followed it by putting up a team high 17 points against [program_tooltip program_id='2075267' first='All' last='in Athletics'] Gold. Good ball handler who got to his spots on the perimeter. Also showed the athleticism to play above the rim at times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2829613' first='Danny' last='Ruffin'] 6-0 Homewod Flossmoor (IL) </strong>Definition of power guard. Chicago area prospect had an excellent weekend leading [program_tooltip program_id='2075551' first='Indiana' last='Game'] to an undefeated record. Has a rare combination of strength and speed that you do not often see in point guards. Especially one this young. Showed a quick first step and the ability to get to the basket at will. However is also built like a fullback and you are not going to knock him off his spot on penetration. As the record showed. Just appeared to be he type of no nonsense player who impacts winning in a major way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2406430' first='Colin' last='O'Hara'] 6-9 Illiana Christian (IN) </strong>With Ruffin handling matters out on the perimeter for [program_tooltip program_id='2075551' first='Indiana' last='Game']. O'Hara was huge in the post (literally and figuratively) all weekend for the undefeated squad. Used his length and vertically to be a major deterrent at the rim. Offensively showed the footwork to get the basket with a variety of old school drop steps and spin moves. Showed a soft touch around the basket, but frankly didn't need to do it that often. Strong finisher who had some emphatic dunks and tip ins. One of the breakout performers of the event for this scout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2403595' first='Eli' last='Leyva'] 6-2 Hersey (IL) </strong>The backcourt pop for an [program_tooltip program_id='2075267' first='All' last='in Athletics'] Gold squad that had a strong 3-1 weekend. Showed the ball handling abilty and scoring chops to slide between the 1-2 spots easily. Put up 15 points in his team's lone loss to Southern Illinois Raptors. Put up an even 20 against in clutch victory over PAC Elite. With [player_tooltip player_id='1552439' first='Logan' last='Luxem'] earning first team honors in the 17U division. The Huskies should have a pretty strong backcourt next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2389712' first='Danny' last='Cervantes'] 6-0 Joliet Catholic (IL) </strong>Shifty point guard had a strong weekend for a 3-1 [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] unit. Got caught up in a point guard battle with PAC Elite Cartwright's [player_tooltip player_id='2837402' first='Darnell' last='Stitts III'] It was one of the better games I saw on the weekend. Cervantes wasn't as dynamic as Stitts on penetration. However he was very good shooter from beyond the arc. It's a lot easier to blow bu defenders when they can't sag off, and you can't sag against this player. Finished with 20 points in the clutch win against PAC Elite Cartwright. More than just a scorer though. Showed the point guard skills with five assists. Four steals also highlighted his defensive intensity and instincts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Team </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2837402' first='Darnell' last='Stitts III'] 6-1 Grant Community (IL) </strong>As mentioned above. Stitts might have been the best penetrator I saw on the weekend. Regardless of class. Exploded to the basket with a quick first step. Showed good counter moves when his initial drive was cut off. Primarily a series of crafty euro steps that avoided defenders. With a thick and athletic upper body, was not scared of contact. Got to the line often. However struggled at the foul line. Could have just been a bad day, I'm an out of state scout. However might need to smooth out the shot to take the next step in his development. The drive is game is already there and then some. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben Newcombe 6-3 Lakes Community (IL) </strong>A “jack of all trades” forward who led Limtless Select to an undefeated record. Caught my eye early with a game winning free throw against Mondi Elite. Earned that free throw with a clutch offensive rebound against bigger opponents. Showed the abilty play in the post and on the perimeter. Was a good passer out of the high post. Good athlete who made plays at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ezra Rumisek 6-5 Lowell (IN) </strong>The third cog of a potent [program_tooltip program_id='2075551' first='Indiana' last='Game'] attack. Rumisek is a versatile player who did a little bit of everything. Was a good shooter in the mid range and picked his spots well. Showed defensive versatility by guarding multiple position. Skinny but showed the strength to bang down low when O'Hara (see above) needed a blow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2831286' first='Nathan' last='Ottaway'] 6-5 McHenry (IL) </strong>Wide bodied post had a nice weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='2075267' first='All' last='in Athletics'] Gold. Began the weekend with a bang. Hitting a game winning three against a good [program_tooltip program_id='2622592' first='Flight' last='Athletics'] Hill squad. Plays low and had success against taller posts. Put up 13 points against a PAC Elite squad that featured a 6-10 center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2821119' first='Isaiah' last='Robertson'] 6-6 Plainfield South (IL) </strong>The opposite type of prospect of Ottaway (see above) A long and lean post prospect who had a strong weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] Complemented the frame with bounce that allowed him to finish above the rim. All around prospect who filled up a a stat sheet. Posted a near double double in the aforementioned close vuctory over PAC Elite Cartwright. Finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and an eye opening four blocks. The four blocks might have been the most important stat. As PAC Elite featured a very good driver (see above) A lot physical upside with this young post prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->