Run N Slam: Saturday Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Run N Slam, the historic and premier grassroots event in the Midwest took place this past weekend in Fort Wayne. After spending Friday evening in one singular gym. I started "Glenwood Mall shuffle". If you know you know... the drive through the back parking lot of a mall to get between the two main gyms. Following are nine standouts from a loaded Saturday slate of action broken down by class</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2027 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2276974' first='Stevie' last='Hall'] <strong>6-2 Detroit Cass Tech</strong> <strong>(pictured) </strong>Playing with Indiana Elite, Hall exploded against an Ohio Basketball Club that featured a strong backcourt. Put up 26 points and they were not empty calories in a close contest. The skeleton key for Hall will always be the size/ratio. Is a taller point guard. But has the "waterbug" type speed and lateral quickness you see more often see in sub six-foot packages. When the outside shot is falling, he can really put defenders on their heels. If you have to guard him close, he will blow by you. If you sag has the size and elevation to shoot over most defenses. Cass Tech was deep at the Run N Slam in terms of player participation. At least five by my count. Hall should lead a strong senior laden Cass squad that will be one of the top teams in Michigan's largest classification. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140483' first='Christian' last='Cast'] <strong>6-3 Detroit Country Day</strong> Due to mid-career knee injury Cast has been slightly off the beaten path after a fair amount of early headlines. After missing out on grassroots last season. He is back with Wisconsin's Addidas squad, Power 5. The carry skill that impressed so much as a rising freshman remains. Cast has advanced court vision. Really sees plays develop quickly both when trying to score, and when finding opportunities for teammates. Stays out of trouble with ball. Doesn't over penetrate and always has a safety valve when defenses collapse. Be it a teammate or often just the basket. Accordingly operates well in the mid-range and in two-man situations. Complements it all by being an excellent live dribble passer. Is also a good shooter from beyond the arc and the mid range. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2276971' first='Seth' last='Hahnenberg'] <strong>6-7 Lansing Catholic</strong> Lansing area post has spent most his grassroots career playing with an Indiana AAU team. It was good to catch him this weekend. With his fundamental and versatility ethos. Fits right in with the Hoosier state. I watched him play against Michigan Unified on Saturday afternoon. In line with the previous description, didn't do anything that would blow you away statistically. Just made winning plays. A matchup problem for his opponents beefy and bigger frontline. Was too quick on the offensive end, and more than held up defensively. A "grab and go" one-man fast break showed his speed, ability to get out in transition, and passing acumen. A walking double double. Kicked off Saturday with 10 and 10 against Midwest Clutch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3270513' first='Noah' last='Holt'] <strong>6-5 Detroit Mumford</strong> Hahnenberg's opponent with Michigan Unified. Holt showed the bouncy perimeter game that has long placed him near the top of this class. Big bounding steps help him cover a lot of ground on the perimeter. Gets to his spots with relative ease. Is an electric finisher at the rim. Gets up quickly and avoids contact in the air. At times I would like to see him seek out contact and finish through it. Not a point guard but is a good enough ball handler to play the point in a pinch. Kept coming hard for Unified even after a significant point spread opened up. There will be a new coach at Mumford next year and Holt has dealt with change throughout his career. If he can find a stable spot at the next level (do they still exist in the portal era) he could blossom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ka"Shawn Gill 6-5 Overtime Elite/International Academy of Flint </strong>Like Cast, the Flint product produced some early headlines before dissappearing from the Midwest for a bit. Gill's departure was not due to injury. As he left the state to participate in the Overtime Elite program. Back in the Midwest playing with Wisconsin's Power 5. Gill was very impressive as a plus sized wing prospect. I thought he was more of a post when I watched him last. Looked every part of the top 100 national recruit status he has attained. Much better ball handler than I remembered. Also showed a smooth and effortless release on his perimeter shot. Skinny and will probably need to add weight to his frame. However, played with a wiry strength and nasty streak that might make that a moot point. Does he still count as a Michigan prospect? After some recent changes in the Overtime Elite program, it is not out of the realm of possibility. Could be a state championship altering prospect if/where he chooses to return. He is just that good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joseph Arnold 5-10 Dearborn Divine Child</strong> Plays for former Detroit Rogers standout <strong>Eric Evans</strong> (Duquense) at Divine Child and it shows. Arnold is the definition of shifty. Changes directions and stops and starts on dime. Quick first step and has no problem getting to the rim. The size dings him at the cup. A good athlete but not an above the rim finisher. Seems to understand the nuances of the piont guard position and is a true floor general. Played well in a close loss to the above mentioned Power 5. Part of exciting returning core at Divine Child with 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2446086' first='Malik' last='Bush'] and fellow D-Rice 2028 <strong>Denham Butler. </strong>Could be a sleeper state contender in Division II in Michigan next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2413073' first='Jalen' last='Gauthier'] <strong>6-7 Imlay City</strong> Not going to lie, I had planned on seeing the Michigan Unified 16U team play at some point of the weekend. I just wasn't planning on Saturday afternoon. They were playing on an adjacent court, and I had a different game I was scheduled to see. I looked over to see Unified trailing by 16 points to a team from Ohio. I thought I would give the game a few minutes before heading out. Gauthier had other plans. Came alive and gave his squad a chance to win it at the end. A coach's son and I have long been intrigued by the fundamentals and size combo. Just wasn't sure about the athletic explosiveness and strength. You can now cross those concerns off the list. From high flying one handed rebounds. To finishing through contact on the block. Gauthier appears to be coming into his own physically as an upperclassman. A Thumb area prospect to monitor in the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2029 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Reynolds 6-0 Wyoming Kelloggsville</strong> The Rockets of Kellloggsville have some excellent young talent. This was my first time catching Reynolds and was impressed. Smooth and composed player who does not resemble a freshman. What he does resemble is older brother CJ, a top player in Michigan's 2027 class at East Kentwood. Plays at his own pace but still gets to his spots easily on the perimeter. Good elevation and gets off the ground quickly. Able to hang in the air and make adjustments. Has a thick frame that absorbs contact on drives. Good ball handler who showed the ability to distribute. Put up 25 points in the game I watched but didn't feel like he was hunting stats or putting up reckless shots. For what is worth, the program had his height listed at 6-0. I thought he looked a little bigger. That will be important as it will have a bearing on his long-term position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2822822' first='Pabegg' last='Anyijong'] <strong>6-9 Grand Rapids Christian </strong>I didn't catch as much of this player as I hoped on Saturday. As an injury curtailed his participation. However, I saw enough to elevate his status in my personal notes. In the past I would say he was more project than prospect. Not the case after this weekend. While still slender appears to have grown into his lengthy frame nicely. Moves more fluidly and with more purpose. Still needs to improve in offensive assertiveness and overall skill level. That being said, is in two excellent developmental programs (West Michigan Premier, GR Christian) So I expect the present developmental curve to stay in the upward trajectory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->