Midwest Mania: Sunday Morning 17 U Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I attended Midwest Mania this weekend and in this article I'll break down my 17 U standouts from Sunday morning's action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2833864"],"_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-69de64883454b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arick is on a fast upward trajectory and continues to get better each time I watch him play. After a monster senior season with Buckeye Trail where he established the Warriors as one of the best teams in the east district with a 20 win season, Arick is playing grassroots basketball as an unsigned 2026 prospect who should be targeted by JUCO and post grad schools looking for a big. Arick has improved as an interior scorer, showing more confidence making contested catches and scoring with his back to the basket. As a rim protector, Arick has continued to improve as his frame has gotten stronger as well. A prospect who has the potential to significantly outplay his final 2026 Prep Hoops ranking, Arick will be one to monitor over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2144204"],"_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-69de6488345b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In a really entertaining game between Wildcat Select 3SSB and the [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'], both teams traded scoring runs before Wildcat Select 3SSB made a late push to pull away. The point guard duo of Gunther and Ja'Rye Brown is one of the more talented small guard combos in all of grassroots basketball as both players can really create with the ball in their hands. Gunther does a nice job in the pick and roll as he's able to turn the corner against hedging bigs and forces the defense to get into rotation. With excellent footwork, Gunther can wiggle his way out of tight situations and limits turnovers. I also liked that Gunther dove on the ground for a loose ball and wanted to guard at the point of attack. After a monster junior season for Youngstown Ursuline, Gunther will be looking to continue to make a name for himself with the program he helped lead to the 16 U 3SSB semifinals last season at Rock Hill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1767468"],"_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-69de6488345fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wildcat Select 3SSB took a pair of Western Reserve Academy prospects and the duo started next to each other on Sunday morning in the win over [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets']. I thought McCanna showed improved hands and confidence once he caught the ball on the low block. Able to seal his defender and score a couple times on the block, McCanna can punish wings and guards who switch onto him or slimmer centers in the paint. With so many college programs looking for size and physicality in the paint, I expect McCanna to be a popular target during live period weekends for Division I schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2611027"],"_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-69de648834646"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the best pure shooters in Ohio, Creager hit some insane shots to keep [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'] competitive for the entire duration of the game Vs a top 3SSB program. Creager doesn't need much time or space to fire away and his soft touch on 3-pointers allows him to get friendly rolls at the rim many shoots never get. If you don't have a hand up or are bothering Creager when he catches the ball, he is capable of knocking down shots in your face. While his shooting will get him noticed, Creager does have a solid frame and decent positional size that should allow him to develop into a capable defender at the Division I level as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2800799"],"_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-69de64883468d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On an incredibly talented [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'] squad, Goran plays a nice role as a floor spacing shooter who brings toughness and a high feel for the game. I liked how Goran lets the game come to him with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'], letting some of the higher usage guys make plays and is always ready to knock down an open perimeter shot or make a cut to the rim. After a monster junior season with Keystone, it's always an adjustment for small town players to get into the grassroots season sharing the court with other elite talent against much taller, more athletic and physical opposition as well and Goran held his own out there. I'd expect scholarship programs from across the midwest to watch Goran this summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2694033"],"_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-69de6488346d1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='2076317' first='Midwest' last='Basketball Club 3SSB'] 17 U went 3-0 this weekend with wins over [program_tooltip program_id='2440235' first='Bates' last='Fundamentals'], The Family and Hawks Elite MHC. I caught their win over The Family and left extremely impressed with Washington's performance. His high school coach is an assistant with [program_tooltip program_id='2076317' first='Midwest' last='Basketball Club 3SSB'] and Washington played with a lot of confidence this weekend. A key swing skill for Washington will be his perimeter shooting off the catch, he knocked in a pair and banked in a third against The Family. Add in the fact that Washington can get where he needs to go off the dribble to collapse the defense and find open shooters and he can create a lot of offense by himself. The two keys for Washington at the circuit level will be playing tough defensively at his size and taking care of the basketball against pressure, if he can do both of those things he can help [program_tooltip program_id='2076317' first='Midwest' last='Basketball Club 3SSB'] compete against the best on the Adidas circuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->