Spurs City Shootout: 14U Impressive Playmakers

One thing that stood out in a big way at the tournament this past weekend was the impressive IQ some of these players have at such a young age. Below are a handful of players that made themselves known on both ends with their solid playmaking abilities.    Ben is an active, playmaking guard that can leave opposing defenses in an absolute tailspin. He's an elite ballhandler and he can blow by his man with his impressive speed or his solid footwork and pump fake approach. His IQ is off the charts as tends to see plays develop before they happen. He's physical and can finish through contact and get to the line consistently. He's often the first to the floor in loose ball situations and he's not afraid to do the dirty work to help his squad get the win. He's quick and sneaky on the defensive end, racking up steals without fouling and intercepting the rock in opposing passing lanes for easy fast break buckets. He's a great communicator on both ends of the floor and he has the confidence and fearlessness to deliver in crunch time.     Christopher is a smart, aggressive guard that can survey the floor like a hawk and score the ball at will. He sees the defense open up in real-time on his drives and quickly identifies which teammate may have the best shot available. He doesn't back down from any fight - getting to the line with regularity in the clutch and delivering the right plays at the right time to ensure victory. He's a great passer with the ability to sneak the ball through the thinnest of lanes or throw the ball full court to a streaking teammate ahead of the pack for an easy score. In one of his games, I saw his eyes light up when he identified an open teammate and quickly heaved a one-handed crosscourt pass to him with laser-like accuracy. His shooting range is impressive and his anticipation on defense stands out with steals in opposing passing lanes that Hicks makes look easy.     Kingsley is an energetic, determined player that stays involved on both ends of the floor and is always looking to make plays, no matter how big or small. He's a fantastic distributor and has the ability to heave the ball the length of the court to an open teammate with quarterback-like accuracy. He doesn't back down from physicality and has the ability to finish at the rim through contact. He can get to the line frequently and get into a nice rhythm for the remainder of the game. He has no quit in him and this is particularly obvious on the defensive side of the ball, even when his opponent thinks he has him beat, he'll swoop back in with a block from behind or a quick steal without foul contact. Anenye impresses on both ends and will only get better from here.     Hubbard is an intelligent, patient guard with an elite handle and a nice shot-making ability. He had one of the purest shooting forms I saw all weekend and he's able to consistently finish at the rim as well. He uses his ballhandling to work his way out of jams and quickly identify the best pass or shot available. He's excellent at drawing contact and racking up extra points in the process. He's got a lethal spin move offensively that is nearly impossible to guard. His patience comes into play with how he surveys the floor when bringing the ball up for his team. He's a great decision-maker on the fly and regularly sets his teammates up with beautiful opportunities at the rim. He can create his own shots off the dribble and usually leaves his defenders in a tailspin after multiple attempts to try and stop him.     Isaac is a shifty, clever point guard that can make a positive impact for his squad in so many different ways. He has an impressive ballhandling ability and the patience and confidence required to work his way out of jams as he brings the ball up the floor against full-court coverage. He's skilled at quickly identifying the teammate with the best shot opportunity on the floor and he has a solid passing game to get the ball to them unscathed. He doesn't back down from bigger opponents and is always willing and ready to get into the mix or an extra possession or bucket. He shows hustle and heart on the court consistently, never taking a play off on either end and doing whatever it takes to put his team in the best position to win.

One thing that stood out in a big way at the tournament this past weekend was the impressive IQ some of these players have at such a young age. Below are a handful of players that made themselves known on both ends with their solid playmaking abilities.