Hoop Group Jersey Jam Fest: New Jersey 16U Eye Catchers

AAU season is officially in full swing, with teams hitting the road each weekend to compete in tournaments all across the country. Many programs have already logged a few tune up events and are starting to settle into a rhythm while building on court chemistry. This past weekend, Hoop Group hosted its Jersey Jam Fest in Manalapan, NJ, featuring an intriguing group of some of the state's better prospects. With that in mind, here's a look at some 16U players who stood out over the course of this past weekend's action.    The very definition of an unselfish playmaker, [player_tooltip player_id='2504904' first='Izayah' last='Cooper'] pairs a sharp feel for the game with elite court vision, continuing to show the traits you want in a point guard you can rely on to run an offense. Cooper once again impressed with the poise he brought as a ball handler and offensive initiator— dissecting defenses and consistently finding different ways to find his teammates open. Another part of Cooper's game that was a sight to see was his ability to not only constantly get in the paint but also play off two feet. All while also providing perimeter value with his long range outside shot making. On the defensive end, Cooper made just as strong an impact, staying in front of drivers, beating ball handlers to their spots, and using active hands to disrupt plays and force deflections.     A prospect who has long stood out for his rare blend of length, eye popping athleticism, and relentless motor, [player_tooltip player_id='2628235' first='King' last='Josiah Hamilton'] put together a performance that continued to highlight the noticeable growth and confidence in a lot of his overall guard skills— appearing far more at ease with making quick decisions attacking closeouts and picking his driving angles and finishing through contact and in traffic around the basket while also thriving as a finisher running the lanes in transition and catching dump offs in the short corner area. Hamilton was also active on the glass, winning battles on the boards and securing rebounds on the glass.     [player_tooltip player_id='2683638' first='RJ' last='Wicks'] continues to show how much he brings to the Panthers' 16U HGSL offense. With a strong frame and an evolving inside out skill set for his position, he offers a unique versatility. Wicks impacts the game in multiple ways and impressed the most over the course of this past weekend's action with his developing guard skills— initiating the break and handling the ball in the open floor while also showing flashes of his outside touch with his spot up perimeter shooting ability paired with his ability to attack closeouts off the bounce in halfcourt sets and finish in traffic around the basket.     [player_tooltip player_id='2763634' first='Triston' last='Harvey'] stands out for his unique mix of size, fluidity, and toughness. Defensively, Harvey possesses the agility to stay in front of smaller and quicker guards and showcased that during this past weekend's action, staying in front of ball handlers and pressuring the ball while using his length and active hands to force deflections and turnovers. All while also providing scoring whenever the offense called for it, particularly with his finishing ability at the basket and outside shooting off the catch.     [player_tooltip player_id='2194748' first='Bryce' last='Scott'], who was initially projected to be part of the primary guards for this 16U Panthers HGSL squad, stood out during last weekend's action who had some strong flashes of his ability to create overall offense— particularly with his spot up shooting off the ball, being effective as a strong ball handler comfortable setting the table and initiating offense, and even making some sharp decisions off the bounce.

AAU season is officially in full swing, with teams hitting the road each weekend to compete in tournaments all across the country. Many programs have already logged a few tune up events and are starting to settle into a rhythm while building on court chemistry. This past weekend, Hoop Group hosted its Jersey Jam Fest in Manalapan, NJ, featuring an intriguing group of some of the state's better prospects. With that in mind, here's a look at some 16U players who stood out over the course of this past weekend's action.