Beyond the Boxscore 16U Performers from Centennial State Cup

At the Centennial State Cup, this was the group that kept catching my attention the more I watched. None of them were necessarily the centerpiece or highest-volume guys, but they impacted winning in ways that matter. These are the kinds of players that help good teams function, and after getting first looks at some of them this weekend, there's definitely more there worth tracking moving forward.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're going through rankings and got you covered for the grassroots season. You don't want to miss any of our scouting.     Long was one of those players that kept popping the longer you watched. It just goes a bit under the radar with other players getting most of the attention. He plays under control, gets to his floater comfortably, which we saw a ton throughout the event and competes on the glass despite giving up size against bigger bodies. Defensively, he stays attached and forces offenses into help situations instead of giving up clean angles. Nothing looked forced with him, he just seemed to understand how to impact the game quietly. I liked his game.     Redmond brought toughness and edge every time he stepped on the floor for Tru Colorado Select and kind of gives them a bit of swagger with his play. He's gritty and that helps with his game. He's long, active, and disruptive defensively, and he got his hands on multiple plays and created extra possessions through effort alone. In one game that I watched, he had a couple of strong finishes through contact late that stood out in winning time. He plays hard, competes and brings energy that shifts momentum. Definitely a player that leaves you wanting another look at moving forward where it doesn't all come down to scoring and those players translate.     A deep look showed Phillips impacting the game tremendously with his length and activity throughout the weekend, and he kept Box State Legacy competitive. He changes the game with athleticism and defensive versatility, and that stood out. He covers ground quickly, rotates well, and had multiple blocks and steals simply from timing and getting to the spots defensively that they needed him. What stood out most was his ability to switch across positions without things breaking down defensively. Offensively, he gets to spots easier than most and plays above the rim. He had a couple of highlight dunks on the break that got his team some energy. Once the scoring consistency catches up, there's a lot to like with how his game translates.     Johnson impacts the game by keeping everything connected for a very talented NoCo Elite squad. He doesn't over-dribble, doesn't stall possessions, and consistently makes the simple play that keeps the offense flowing. What will always give him easy baskets is that he finds openings around the basket by finding holes in the defense and running the baseline. He also truly battles defensively. The production isn't always loud, but the value shows up in how stable the team looks when he's on the floor, as he's always in the mix. This was my first viewing, and he continued to stand out for the right reasons in multiple games.     What initially stands out about Cabrera when watching his games at Centennial State Cup is how he understands spacing and timing. That led to easy baskets for him and allowed his team to go on mini runs. He doesn't have to have the ball to be effective as he has great awareness and knows when to make certain plays. He finds gaps naturally, cuts with purpose, and opens the floor up without needing touches called for him. A lot of what he does won't show up immediately in the box score, but it directly impacts how the offense functions. When you add in his defensive activity as well, he becomes a high-IQ two-way option and a glue guy whose game keeps revealing itself the more you watch.

At the Centennial State Cup, this was the group that kept catching my attention the more I watched. None of them were necessarily the centerpiece or highest-volume guys, but they impacted winning in ways that matter. These are the kinds of players that help good teams function, and after getting first looks at some of them this weekend, there's definitely more there worth tracking moving forward.