Twin Cities Takedown: Saturday’s 15U Top Performers at Armstrong

The Twin Cities Takedown event is packed with exciting young talent. I was at Armstrong High School watching their crop of 15U AAU squads, and the competition was fierce throughout. Many prospects displayed their elite talents. Let's get right into some of the top performers from Saturday's games.    [player_tooltip player_id='2815281' first='Braydon' last='Meyers']' shot creation ability at his size made him stand out in this showcase. He was a straight-up sniper from beyond the arc throughout his performances, with many of the threes he hit being contested and from long range. His calmness under pressure and ability to rise over defenders while keeping his form in check made guarding him on the perimeter a major chore for defenses.He is not just a pure shooter, though. His ball handling and playmaking were special. He read the defense at high speeds and did a great job using his scoring gravity to create open shots for his teammates. His handle also allowed him to blow through defenses, converting many of his drives through heavy contact with no issues. His floater was another shot he leaned on with great success. It showcased his touch even more and kept defenders guessing in the intermediate areas of the court. Defense was another strength of his game. His size, combined with his footwork and fluidity, made him a problem for opposing scorers, and he got into passing lanes for steals with his high defensive feel.     [player_tooltip player_id='3599071' first='Jhakari' last='Jones'] plays with nonstop tenacity and intensity. For starters, he was unstoppable around the rim. Jhakari has elite burst and speed, and he can get extremely low to the ground, making him very difficult to keep out of the lane. Paint touches were endless for him on Saturday, and if he got the ball up on the rim, you could count the bucket.His touch is spectacular—even at high speeds and through heavy contact, it does not waver. The toughest angles were no problem for him to convert. His floater was another shot where his touch and ability to finish through traffic really shined. In the pick-and-roll, he led the offense at a high level and made great touch passes over defenders. His defense might have been his most impressive contribution, though. His energy never let up, and he was always glued to his matchup. He collected plenty of steals, both picking ball handlers' pockets and jumping passing lanes with great anticipation.     [player_tooltip player_id='2845841' first='Kai' last='Jones'] displayed his elite guard skills throughout Saturday's action. His ball handling and isolation scoring ability were super impressive. Kai is great at creating space with his speed and shiftiness. He shakes defenders, and with even the slightest bit of space, he is liable to cash in from outside. He hit many deep pull-up threes with a hand in his face like it was nothing. Contests did not seem to bother him one bit, and his efficiency on tough shots was special. And it wasn't just beyond the arc—he was elite at getting buckets in the midrange as well. He hit multiple step-back midrange jumpers with defenders all over him. His scoring ability and speed in transition allowed him to punish the defense with intuitive skip passes that he delivered one-handed and on target with ease. [player_tooltip player_id='2845841' first='Kai' last='Jones'] is a decisive decision-maker—that's what stood out to me the most.     Mason Rhynie scored whenever he wanted at the Twin Cities Takedown. Using his size and skill, he was a handful for any defender he came across. His shooting range was extremely impressive. He hit many threes from well beyond the arc, often with defenders' hands in his face. His shot form remained fluid, functional, and fundamentally sound—even when pulling up from deep under pressure. He displayed an overall calmness when creating his own shot and knocking it down. His ball handling was another strength. Mason was able to get to virtually any spot he wanted, using his solid frame to bump off defenders and create optimal angles for his drives. He finished both off two feet and on Euro steps with elite touch and composure. He really made it look easy out there.     AJ Woods did just about everything for [program_tooltip program_id='2075897' first='Team' last='GetShook']. For starters, AJ was a demon on the defensive end of the ball. He showed himself to be a very smart and instinctive defender with great anticipation. He generated many steals in passing lanes by reading his opponents' next moves. He also applied elite ball pressure, and this, combined with his ability to predict ball handlers' actions, allowed him to pick up steals on the ball as well. His three-point shooting was also impressive. He hit from well beyond the arc and showcased a very quick jump shot. However, his most impressive skill was his passing. He did a great job using his handle to create paint touches, where he delivered accurate interior passes through traffic. His feel as a playmaker was special, and he consistently drew defenders before finding the open man. He was also effective at creating opportunities in transition. Overall, he displayed elite playmaking vision.

The Twin Cities Takedown event is packed with exciting young talent. I was at Armstrong High School watching their crop of 15U AAU squads, and the competition was fierce throughout. Many prospects displayed their elite talents. Let's get right into some of the top performers from Saturday's games.