The Stage: Saturday Kentucky / Indiana 16 U Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops Circuit made a stop in Indianapolis this weekend and in this article we'll break down some 16 U standouts from Kentucky and Indiana that I caught on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3563762"],"_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-69e64e504d34f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rondon was cooking on Saturday morning by helping his team get a win in a back-and-forth contest that he decided to take over late in the second half. Rondon is a smaller framed combo guard with the ability to create shots for himself or teammates thanks to his ball handling, scoring and passing ability. In the second half Rondon got going from beyond the arc with some deep pull-up 3-pointers. When Rondon attacked the basket his go to move was the spin where he was always looking to get back to his preferred left hand. Incredibly impressive performance by Rondon on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3561684"],"_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-69e64e504d3cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kentucky Rise got a key win in a game I caught on Saturday morning and Day found success as a spot-up shooter and being opportunistic off the ball. Between Rondon and [player_tooltip player_id='2482007' first='Amir' last='Henderson'], Ky Rise got excellent production from their primary ball handlers, which allowed some of their off-ball players to spot-up, cut and crash the offensive glass. Day found success doing each of those things on Saturday. Day led Ludlow in scoring as just a sophomore and with each of their five leading scorers projected to return, Ludlow could be a surprise team next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3561686"],"_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-69e64e504d420"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was impressed with Hill as a wing guard who uses his length to disrupt ball handlers and worked well in the trapping defense Ky Rise used to pull away from their opponents. Late in the game, Hill had a tough isolation bucket to help add to the advantage Ky Rise had. While Hill wasn't the most productive player on Ky Rise, he could take the biggest jump over the next 18 months with his length and potential physical upside. Name to track in northern Kentucky's 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2396084"],"_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-69e64e504d46a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the elite shooters in Kentucky's 2028 class, Strite can knock down shots at an extremely high level and Midwest Basketball Club 16 U has the infrastructure around him to create a lot of set looks for him off the catch. Strite was knocking down shots at a high level and even scored a couple times against smaller bigs with putback layups. For Strite, playing tough and physical in the paint is going to determine how much playing time he gets with this group that expects to contend for a 3SSB title after winning the championship at the 15 U level last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3587869"],"_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-69e64e504d4af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='2414167' first='502' last='Elite'] has a nice 16 U group and Vogel was their most impressive player in the game I caught. Vogel had a couple putback layups with his height being a major advantage against smaller teams. Vogel was fouled a few times as a roll man and forced the defense to collapse on him. Talent prospect who will make his debut in our 2028 rankings during the next update!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2532049"],"_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-69e64e504d4f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allen showed some intriguing potential as a combo guard who could play on or off the ball for [program_tooltip program_id='2414167' first='502' last='Elite'] 16 U. Allen knocked down shots off the catch, made nice swing passes to shooters and found cutters for layups. Allen got low on drives and could thread the needle with pocket passes to teammates through tight angles. Talented 2028 guard prospect who could have a breakout junior season for a Spencer County squad that should be one of the best in their region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3585165"],"_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-69e64e504d552"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A talented scorer of the basketball, Sheppard III could flat out get buckets. To open the game Sheppard III hit a rhythm pull-up bucket from about 15 feet and later hit a tough 3-pointer on the wing. As a slasher, Sheppard III had the athleticism to hang in the air and hit layups around shot contests. While his team took a tough loss in the game I caught, Sheppard III was a clear standout from this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2442371"],"_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-69e64e504d5aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The lefty wing forward made some nice plays on both ends of the court for [program_tooltip program_id='3587267' first='Indiana' last='Impact']-Smith on Saturday. Frye has good length and had some tough on-ball defense pressure. Frye also made a couple of deep 3-pointers on the wing, providing good floor spacing for his teammates. This [program_tooltip program_id='3587267' first='Indiana' last='Impact']-Smith 16 U team went 4-0 this weekend with three wins coming by double-digits. Impressive group effort this weekend who should be able to build on their success in future events on the Prep Hoops Circuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->