Freshman Showcase Quick Hitters: Teams 5 and 6

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hooops Freshman Showcase took place this past weekend in Grand Rapids. Following are some brief observations from teams 5 and 6. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team 5 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2823529' first='Kamau' last='Obasi'] 5-8 Detroit Country Day </strong>Quick guard with a small frame. Had long arms that helped him play taller than his listed height. Plays in two strong developmental programs. An emerging but still young YellowJackets unit and the O3 grassroots program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2939662' first='Noah' last='Allen'] 5-9 Macomb L'Anse Creuse North </strong>Not very big but showed quickness and a smooth release from beyond the arc. Made up for the lack of size with high level of competitiveness. Didn't back down from anyone and even competed in the post at times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2547358' first='Bryton' last='Nostrant'] 5-9 Alpena </strong>(pictured) Perhaps the player with the longest road trip in the field. The Far Northern Michigan area guard put together a strong day. The key for Nostrant is deep range on the perimeter. That was on display on Saturday. It keeps defenders honest and opens up driving lanes. Is a good ball handler with a trigger quick release. Competitive and hard working player who often played up an age division this summer. Interested to see how he plays as a freshman in what is shaping up to be a gauntlet in the Big North conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2956568' first='Jay' last='McPherson'] 5-11 Orchard Lake St Mary's </strong>Detroit area guard who came into the camp with a big reputation, and more than lived up to it. Straddled the delicate line that young pound guards face. Was lightning quick and dynamic with the ball in his hands. But also played under control and limited turnovers. Showed an explosive spin move with excellent change of direction abilities. Part of a strong young core with the slightly rebuilding Eaglets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb Bond 5-4 Utica </strong>Quick but diminutive point guard. Did the things he needed to do make up for the lack of size. Didn't back down from anyone, particularly on the defensive end. Should form a strong future duo for the Chieftans with [player_tooltip player_id='2836163' first='Tyler' last='Noteboom'] who also played very well on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2958038' first='Luca' last='Galardi'] 6-0 Caledonia </strong>Grand Rapids area guard competed hard all day on both ends of the court. I thought he looked a little taller than his listed height. Smooth release from the perimeter. Is in good spot with the talented young Scots program As head coach Nate Burns knows how to develop and coach strong guard play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2954822' first='Joseph' last='Soyad'] 6-1 Utica Eisenhower </strong>Part of a strong Utica contingent on the day. Soyad plays with the crosstown Eagles as opposed to the guards mentioned above. Even at 6-1, I thought he showed potential as a long term pick and pop prospect. Showed effortless release from beyond the arc. Also ordered his feet well and got into the shooting motion quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2850774' first='Evan' last='Bekius'] 6-4 Salem </strong>The last time I saw this player. He was hitting a game winning shot to defeat [program_tooltip program_id='2077030' first='The' last='Family'] in an AAU tournament. The Ann Arbor area prospect continued to show the inside/out skill set that gives him a lot of upside. Is a “play at your own pace” prospect who gets by with strength and intelligence at this point. If he can increase his athleticism and burst this could be a special prospect. The skills are already there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team 6 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2956627' first='Aaron' last='Williams Jr'] 5-5 Battle Creek Central </strong>A bowling ball type point guard prospect who played well. Not very tall, but has thick and sturdy upper body. Accordingly plays very low to ground and is difficult to turnover. Good acceleration on penetration. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2955225' first='Angelo' last='Brossoit'] 5-9 Macomb L'Anse Creuse North </strong>Similar player to fellow Crusader [player_tooltip player_id='2939662' first='Noah' last='Allen'] Was a good shooter from beyond the arc. Had a unique release on his shot. It was effective, consistent, and difficult to block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2812461' first='Trabeon' last='Earl'] 5-10 Wyoming Kelloggsville </strong>Explosive guard who had a strong day penetrating to the basket. Had a lengthy frame that helped him play taller than his listed height. Attacked the basket without fear despite a slender frame. Drove both ways and finished with the right and left at the rim. Should form a strong future backcourt for Kelloggsville along with [player_tooltip player_id='2548636' first='Jakais' last='Crawford'] who was outstanding on Saturday as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2850654' first='Jonathan' last='Crow'] 6-3 Stockbridge </strong>The front court partner of [player_tooltip player_id='2850774' first='Evan' last='Bekius'] (see above) with the Michigan Ignition. Crow isn't quite as big in the upper body as his frontline partner. However is light on his feet and might have more potential out on the perimeter. Has a unique release on his outside shot. It is quite effective and the mechanics are repeatable. Competed hard down low and plays with toughness. Like many of these prospects, could go either way positionally. Depending how he grows physically.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2844017' first='Paxon' last='Grimes'] 5-11 Grand Rapids Northview </strong>Next up from a Western Michigan program this continues to pump out top level talent. I was impressed with his stop and go drive game. Could burst quickly on penetration. But could also stop on a dime and rise quickly in the mid range. Interested to see what role he can carve out in the deep Northview program with a new head coach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2898382' first='Carson' last='Fauser'] 6-3 Woodhaven </strong>Downriver area prospect showed longer potential. Showed the ability to play and guard multiple positions. Quick feet and competed hard on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2947671' first='Brayden' last='Klisz']</strong> <strong>6-3 Livonia Franklin </strong>Strong player with a projectable frame. Good set shooter who was also light on his feet. Good rebounder who competed hard on the glass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2673543' first='Drew' last='Cabana'] 6-4 Chelsea </strong>I mean this kindly and sincerely. I'm not going to waste too much ink on this player. As easily one of the top players in the camp (and thus the state) I'm going to be writing about this player a lot in the next four years. I need to save up some adjectives from the thesaurus. Is a skilled and smooth wing with advanced perimeter game. Has nuances like moving off the ball that most players don't get until much later. Remember this name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->