AAU Preview: TN Impact National 16u

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Entering your orbit...the stars of tomorrow wearing [program_tooltip program_id='2393604' first='Tennessee' last='Impact'] National jerseys. Check out the 16u squad, as coached by Gabloff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3279872' first='Ben' last='Cross']</strong> (Knoxville Central)<br>#3 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3562839' first='Chaz' last='Wood'] </strong>(Fulton)<br>#4 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3587785' first='Marcus' last='Webb'] </strong>(Knox Webb)<br>#5 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3587803' first='Dalvin' last='Farmer']</strong> (Powell)<br>#7 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815059' first='Melvin' last='Ndirangu']</strong> (Grace Christian - Knox)<br>#10 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3595133' first='Mason' last='Powell']</strong> (Powell)<br>#12 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3467793' first='Benjamin' last='Webb']</strong> (Polk County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2929014"],"_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-69daa145f062b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>4/11/26:</strong> Capable lead guard considering his handle. Patient. Eager passer. Wonderful court vision. A little burst of speed in his first step. Modest. Ben's passing sets him apart from other 2028's. He not only sees the sharp and incisive pass early he can make that pass on time. Players are going to love running with him both with [program_tooltip program_id='2393604' first='Tennessee' last='Impact'] 16u and Knoxville Central HS. Back during his high school season Cross started as a sophomore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3562839"],"_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-69daa145f06a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>4/11/26:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3562839' first='Chaz' last='Wood'] reminds me of 1972 Olympian miler Steve "Pre" Prefontaine. Like Pre, Chaz is unusually small for his sport and like Prefontaine [player_tooltip player_id='3562839' first='Chaz' last='Wood'] is grittier and grimier than everyone else.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing a bigger BMaze 16u team early April Chaz consistently fought through screens, which truly helped his teammate defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">All heart. All effort. Chaz earns his minutes with outside shooting, sharp passes, and committed defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wears #3 for [program_tooltip program_id='2393604' first='Tennessee' last='Impact'] 16u. Chaz played heavy minutes for State-Runners up Fulton in 2025-2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3279872' first='Ben' last='Cross'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3562839' first='Chaz' last='Wood'] are the backbone of this team. They can not do everything, but they sure are capable of innovating and creating opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3587803"],"_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-69e3af952c98c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>4/16/25:</strong> Plays with tunnel vision too often. Dalvin found himself defending the "5" against BMaze 16u during the Rocky Top Tip-Off, a position he truly does not belong. Farmer is ok with physicality but simply stands too short to handle the mass of traditional bigs. Good agility. Farmer can handle a bit. He needs to get stronger in the shoulders and chest. That will enable him to get defenders on his side and keep them there as he slashing to the lane.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing Legacy AAU at the Tip-Off Farmer got his hand in the cookie jar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3467793"],"_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-69e3af952ca12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>4/16/25:</strong> Very, very thin. He will need to gain good weight over time. Webb plays scrappy and unafraid of contact. That typically comes down to mentally and regardless of how muscular he gets that will not change. Webb loves to make the flashy pass. This team does not get him out front as the point guard, which makes those passes rather rare. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3595133"],"_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-69e8069b76a77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>4/13/26:</strong> Mason is at his best when hunting down offensive rebounds. Though undersized as a forward, Mason shows off a little guile in traffic. Finishing with his strong hand left-hand helps confuse defenders a bit. Springy and savvy bigs do give him trouble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->