Prep Hoops Havoc in the Heartland – Ramsey’s Saturday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boots were on the ground at the Legacy Courts in Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday for the annual Prep Hoops Havoc in the Heartland. This event featured several of the best area independent teams looking to get a final run in prior to next weekend's live period. As always, we are going to empty out the notebook and discuss everything we saw throughout Saturday's action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Progeny UAA 16u Dominated to Begin the Day</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 8:00 a.m. crew got our day started at another event in Indianapolis, but we were in the gym in Lafayette for the 10:10 round of games with our focus on [program_tooltip program_id='2471005' first='Legacy' last='Ice Elite'] 16u versus Progeny UAA 16u. From the opening tip it was clear that the length of Progeny was going to be a major difference-maker in this matchup. They went on to double up the opponent winning 74-37.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'5" sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='2297505' first='Jaece' last='Vogt'] (West Lafayette H.S. 2028) was the star of the show connecting on six three-point shots and leading all scorers with 20 points. His ability to shoot it in from deep at his size makes him a very intriguing prospect in the current sophomore class. There is no doubt that Vogt is one of the best pure catch-and-shoot threats in the state. He also continues to get bigger, both taller and physically stronger, while maintaining his sweet shooting stroke.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560359' first='David' last='Smith'] II (North Central H.S. 2028) was a standout for Progeny UAA 16u as well. The super versatile and skilled 6'4" guard showcased his point guard skills as a ball handler and passer while dominating smaller defenders with his size and length. He finished with 12 points. Meanwhile, both [player_tooltip player_id='2539953' first='Jarrett' last='Harris'] (Indianapolis Lutheran 2028) and [player_tooltip player_id='2418764' first='Zahden' last='Zowd'] (Yorktown H.S. 2028) each added 10 points in the blowout victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Progeny UAA 17u Flexes Their Muscles in Easy Win</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was one of the top prospects in the gym alongside one of the top unsigned seniors in Indiana leading the way for Progeny UAA 17u on Saturday afternoon. They went on to roll against Phenon United Indiana 3SGB 86-53.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'6" unsigned senior wing Ethan Hillsman (Fishers H.S. 2026) finished with 21 points to lead all scorers in the game. He showed off his offensive versatility serving as a pick-and-roll ball handler and decision maker quite a bit throughout the game. Hillsman pulled up for a three-point shot off of a ballscreen, drove it to his left and finished an And-1, and made a couple of good reads passing the basketball. That level of ball skill at 6'6" is what makes him a potential late add for a Division I program. He is also a great candidate for prep schools or junior colleges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3068383' first='Devin' last='Bolden'] (Cardinal Ritter H.S. 2027) was outstanding for Progeny UAA 17u as well. The 6'7" forward has continued to improve after a monster junior season that saw him average a double-double and earn Indiana Junior All-Star honors. Bolden, who recently received his first offer from Toledo, looked really good running the floor in transition and scored some in the half court via right hand drives when facing up out of the mid-post. He finished with 20 points in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='2076224' first='DistinXion' last=''] 17u Earns Hard Fought Victory</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite not being there for their first game of the day, [program_tooltip program_id='2076224' first='DistinXion' last=''] 17u did show up for their afternoon matchup with Legacy Ice Platinum 17u in what ended up being one of the most competitive games of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There a couple of prospects that we were specifically wanting to see for [program_tooltip program_id='2076224' first='DistinXion' last=''] 17u, but it was [player_tooltip player_id='2964484' first='Wyatt' last='Plisky'] (Evansville Central H.S. 2027) who first really stood out and caught our attention. The 6'4" forward finished a couple of fluid right hand drives from the elbow/high post area, came from the weak side to block a shot defensively, and then started initiating offense as a ball handler and passer. He is a new name, under-the-radar prospect from the Pocket City to keep an eye on heading into this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2807644' first='Paul' last='Ridgway'] (Sullivan H.S. 2027) was a consistent dominant force for [program_tooltip program_id='2076224' first='DistinXion' last=''] throughout the contest. The 6'7" left-handed forward did a little bit of everything to showcase his well-rounded offensive skill set. He displayed his ability to stretch the floor by stepping out to hit a couple of three-point shots, showed off his physical strength by punishing smaller defenders inside, and also handled the ball some as a driver. His skill set at 6'7" combined with his physical strength makes him a very intriguing prospect in the Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridgeway ended up leading the way with 22 points for [program_tooltip program_id='2076224' first='DistinXion' last=''] in the victory. [player_tooltip player_id='2622250' first='Coby' last='Sykes'] (Eastern H.S. 2027) added 14 points and Plisky finished with 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Additional Notes and Standouts</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Soil UA Rise 17u came up short against a talented [program_tooltip program_id='2471005' first='Legacy' last='Ice Elite'] team, but their interior duo of Quinn Chandler (Elkhart H.S. 2027) and [player_tooltip player_id='2951652' first='Quentin' last='Bridgeman Jr.'] (South Washington H.S. 2027) made some good plays. Both are 6'6" forwards that moved well for their size, rebounded their area consistently, and showed the ability to finish up around the rim. Those are two good names for small college coaches to keep an eye on heading into the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560344' first='Brody' last='Hartman'] (Triton Central H.S. 2028) stole the show while playing up a year with [player_tooltip player_id='2860120' first='Midwest' last='Stars'] 17u in their win on Saturday afternoon. The 6'2" guard dominated off of the bounce consistently finishing at the end of his drives on the way to a game-high 25 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A trio of Jimtown High School sophomores were excellent in a pair of wins for [program_tooltip program_id='3587267' first='Indiana' last='Impact'] - Smith 16u on Saturday. [player_tooltip player_id='2442377' first='Zander' last='Whitaker'] was the most consistent scoring 23 points and 22 points respectively. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='2617841' first='Dominic' last='Fey'] scored 16 points while also adding a bunch of rebounds and assists in game one and then scored 22 points in game two. [player_tooltip player_id='2442397' first='Jackson' last='Woolwine'] showed off his perimeter shooting ability hitting six three-point shots in game one of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->