Spencer’s Standouts-Monarch Sports-St. Mary’s Summer Shootout

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend, I went and checked out the Monarch Sports-St. Mary's Summer Shootout. It was a fun environment that showcased numerous players and teams from across the state. It was a fantastic opportunity to see some serious emerging talent. Here are my standouts from the event:<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2194806' first='Zen' last='London'] <strong>Mountain Pointe</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zen showed out this weekend on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he was a pest getting steals left and right. He has excellent lateral speed to stay in front of quick guards, but he can also battle with the bigs down low. He has such a great feel for the game as well. He is always cutting and getting easy layups. He sprints the floor hard every time, and his teammates find him. Zen can also hit the 3-ball to keep defenders honest. With the way Zen plays, he will continue to make a huge impact for Mountain Pointe in every game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1956218' first='Marcus' last='Isaac'] <strong>Mountain Pointe</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big man was impressive this weekend. He is playing more physically in the paint, which is a good sign. He is trying to dunk every chance he gets. Marcus has an elite midrange, which he used fairly often. Standing at 6'8, he will rise right over you. His best attribute might just be his shot-blocking ability, though. He racked up numerous blocks in the games I watched, whether it was coming from the weak side or from getting beaten and then recovering up top. Marcus has loads of untapped potential and will be even scarier once he unlocks it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1464983' first='Mick' last='Riordan'] <strong>St. Mary's</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mick continued to show more levels to his game. He was attacking the basket super well in these games. He was able to get by defenders effortlessly and then finished through contact at the rim. He is very cerebral and uses all of his fakes very well. He was hitting deep threes this weekend, which gave him and his teammates more room to operate. Mick will continue to expand his game and get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2552787' first='Landen' last='Martineau'] <strong>Casteel</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The strong point guard consistently showcased his elite shooting ability throughout the weekend. Landon orchestrated the offense with great poise during these games, proving he can create and get his shot off from anywhere on the floor. In addition to his offensive production, he is a locked-in, strong defender who will undoubtedly continue to put in the work to elevate his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2533459' first='Kutter' last='Workman'] <strong>Casteel</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The former JV star absolutely showed out during the opening weekend of summer ball. A dynamic athlete, he routinely cut through the lane to slam it home with authority. He also displayed highly polished post moves down in the paint to go along with a smooth jumper from beyond the arc. Standing at 6'7", Kutter utilizes his length to its full capability on both sides of the ball and looks like an immediate stock riser this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2297438' first='Oliver' last='Burbach'] <strong>Brophy College Prep:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sharpshooter thoroughly put his skills on display by making threes all weekend. In addition to his perimeter threat, he consistently attacks the basket and shows he can finish craftily around the basket against taller defenders. He is a natural leader on the floor and will be incredibly important for Brophy this year/summer as he looks to help lead them to wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->