Mid-Atlantic Cup: 14U Wings and Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The guards were fun but it was the frontcourt prospects who really put on a show. Here are five: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2568171' first='Jazier' last='Ancrum'] | [program_tooltip program_id='3046395' first='Delaware' last='Certified Hoopers'] 14U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When he committed to just sitting in his stance, opening up his wingspan, and sliding his feet; Ancrum was the best perimeter defender in the gym. He successfully guarded the other team's best player all the way up to and through the championship game. The multi-sport athlete showed off hiss ball-skills too. In critical moments, Ancrum attacked the ball in the air for second-chance points and must-have defensive rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3554398' first='Harlem' last='Avent'] (2031) | Ubuntu Basketball 14U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A true 2031 prospect playing up, Avent anchored his team defensively and made plays offensively. Not only did Avent alter shots in the paint, he also threw a wrench in the offense with his hand usage on the perimeter, getting deflections and more blocks. Avent was beyond his years as a jumbo decision-maker. Able to see over the defense, he facilitated in transition and made plays with the halfcourt offense running through him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall Landis | Bucket Lab 14U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sturdy post play from Landis stabilized the upstate DE squad. When guards dropped the ball off to him on the low block, he hit his defender with shoulders and bumps, then scored through him. Landis was forceful when he crashed the boards too, And when he caught the ball in space, he dribbled a couple times, played off two feet, and powered his way up to the hoop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3557328' first='Ashtyn' last='Laskey'] | [program_tooltip program_id='3046395' first='Delaware' last='Certified Hoopers'] 14U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all of the splash plays he made off-ball, Laskey was the best rim-protector and team defender in the 14U bracket. Whether he was rotating from the weak side or one-pass away, Laskey was dialed in. He didn't hesitate to meet drivers at the rim to reject their shots or break on the ball when he saw a pass coming, regularly resulting in fastbreak layups. Laskey navigated through space on offense too, frequently chipping in on the scoreboard as a cutter and by sliding into windows around the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2568643' first='Prestin' last='Williams'] | [program_tooltip program_id='3046395' first='Delaware' last='Certified Hoopers'] 14U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the team's championship run, Williams grabbed a lot of rebounds and did a little of everything else. He created extra possessions with his work on the offensive glass and, with his defensive rebounds, he was able to grab-and-go to initiate fastbreaks, drilling a pull-up three on one of them. And even when he didn't grab the board, Williams was still a deterrent at the rim and a brick wall when people challenged him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->