Houston Heat Check: 16u High-Intensity Athlete Spotlight

This article will spotlight several guards in the 16u division who competed with super high energy and intensity on Sunday at the Houston Heat Check. These guys knew how to compete on both sides of the ball and gave 100% effort they stepped on the floor, leaving nothing more to be desired. 16u was one of the most competitive divisions I watched at the tournament and here are some guys who caught my attention from their top-tier efforts.    Guy was one of the top defenders, if not the best, that I saw in the 16u division on Sunday playing for PSB Dallas. His fundamental perimeter defense combined with lateral quickness and court awareness let him play passing lanes well for numerous steals and his off-ball movement on offense always allowed him to cut to the basket for easy layup opportunities and quick transition points. His energy was relentless on both sides of the court, and you can tell he is very coachable, giving 100% effort and then more every time he was in the game.     [player_tooltip player_id='2892669' first='DeShawn' last='Sanders'] made sure to light up the assist board early with some key dimes for his GCPC Stars 16u team in their morning win over Barber Society Tarheels. Sanders uses explosiveness out of the triple threat to his advantage, and this lets him use shifty dribble moves and footwork to beat opposing players to his spots and either put up a quick jumper or find an open teammate. Despite being one of the shorter players, Sanders competes with an intensity that can't be denied and makes sure his presence is felt, especially on offense with a playmaker's mentality.     Kyren used good court wherewithal on offense to get to his spots and knock down shots, both from deep and in the midrange. He is good operating off the P&R as the lead ballhandler and uses this to create space from defenders to be able to shoot over the top. Smooth mechanics on his jumper and a quick trigger allow him to fire shots off before defenders can close out and his passing instincts were also on point as well, hitting teammates cutting to the basket several times for easy assists.     [player_tooltip player_id='2860138' first='Christopher' last='Williams'] hit 5 threes throughout the course of the GCPC Stars win during Sunday morning. Williams showcased during this game that he is a threat from deep no matter if he is spotting up off the catch and shoot or creating his own three point shot off the dribble. His movement even without the ball allows him to get open looks by weaving his way around screens and finding open zones on the perimeter. Christopher uses the defensive lack of awareness to his advantage and can quietly get hot in a hurry as he was one of the best shooters in the 16u division.     Nicholas uses his size and wingspan well to get to the rim against opposition on offense and blocks shots in the paint on defense. Holder also showcased that he is a multi-tool player who can help handle the ball in a half-court setting under pressure and he is capable of hitting midrange jumpers as well. He has good instincts to find his zones and create easy looks at the basket for himself, and he makes sure that he prevents opponents from getting second chances in the paint with clutch rebounds. His paint defense was relentless, and he never let opposing players get easy shots off.

This article will spotlight several guards in the 16u division who competed with super high energy and intensity on Sunday at the Houston Heat Check. These guys knew how to compete on both sides of the ball and gave 100% effort they stepped on the floor, leaving nothing more to be desired. 16u was one of the most competitive divisions I watched at the tournament and here are some guys who caught my attention from their top-tier efforts.