Gold Crown: The 16U Tune Up Headliners

The 16U division had the best matchups of the week in my opinion and that is where I continuously found myself this event. Every trip around the gym seemed to produce another player worth pulling the notebook out for. This group separated itself by consistently impacting games against quality competition, not just with production, but with the little plays that help teams win. These are the 16U standouts that left the strongest impression during the PH Tuneup at Gold Crown.   We have showcase season coming up and with the end of club scene coming quickly, rankings, and showcases here, now is the perfect time to lock in with a subscription.    Some of the biggest risers in our rankings started by showing up & showing out at a showcase & they're approaching quickly! Your showcase evaluation could be the one that changes everything.   Freshman & Sophomore Showcase - August 8th (Rankings Immediately following) Top Expo (2027 & 2028s) - September 13th    Use Dev26PH25OFF at checkout for 25% OFF & receive a custom registered graphic that comes with it! Lock in now!     Kalimba might be a top 5 watch for me in the 2028 class, and I think he's one of the biggest risers of the entire summer. I thought he was good already, but the zone he's in right now, there aren't many players playing better basketball than him right now. He's versatile, aggressive, and plays with pace, and that was on display all event. He also went and played 17U, and there was not that much drop off. On 16U, he was dominant, and that's when it got fun. In Collective's two best games of the weekend against Magic and Tru Colorado, he showed up and was one of the top 2 players on the court. Kalimba has good size as a 6'3 combo guard who shoots the 3-ball, puts the ball on the floor, and makes smart reads on his passes. I'm extremely high on him right now and am curious to see how he looks for the rest of the Summer heading into the Fall.      Hadzic is a player who caught our eye all weekend with his ability to keep standing out in games despite not having the ball to be effective. He's a hard-working forward who has a motor, shows off a high basketball IQ, and won't be outplayed on the floor. Against Tru Colorado, he was one of the reasons that Collective looked like they were in control as he owned the glass, went to the basket strong, and threw his body, and either scored and went to the FT line. He has good footwork and a feel down on the block and uses his size to his advantage. Every shot that went up, he went after it; he set screens in half-court situations and proved himself. Solid outing for the 6'5 forward.      If we're talking pure basketball ability, Robinson has one of the more complete skill sets in the 2028 class. He can create with the ball in his hands, finish comfortably with either hand, and make advanced reads that very few players in the state even attempt. He also stretches the floor with his jumper, and those traits showed up throughout the event. What makes him so intriguing is that there are still areas of his game that can unlock another level. As he continues learning to stay even-keeled through the highs and lows of a game, his natural talent becomes even more impactful. There were stretches at the PH Tuneup where he completely controlled the game, and those moments are a reminder of just how high his ceiling is. The foundation is there, and the more consistently he channels that competitive edge, the more complete a player he's going to become. I walked away wanting to see more of his game as I thoroughly enjoy how he plays, I just want to see it come together and him use it all to his advantage.      Harvey is a player I keep asking myself if it's just a solid stretch that he's on right now, and each time I see him, he proves to me that this just might be who he is now. There has been a massive improvement in his game from when I first watched him to now, and it shows in every game. He moves well, competes on both ends of the floor, and is low maintenance. He goes and gets it. Harvey grabs rebounds and starts the break. He drives the lane and looks to finish above the rim. Lately, he's been more assertive, and that has gone a long way in him, flashing as often as he does. Harvey has a face-up game and is starting to push that once he gets it. He sets screens and rolls, has a mid-range game, and is a name to know moving forward. I liked how he played at Tune Up, especially on Day 2 when he had to be the big man option. He puts together stretches that go under the radar to many others but stand out to those paying attention. Solid player whose only getting better.      I think that at the UNC Team Camp, I deemed Dario as back, but after seeing him at Colorado Live and now taking over and looking like one of the top players at our event, I truly believe he's back. Dario looks different right now, and it's not just in the true PG; you know what you're going to get. He's taking over in games and looking like THE GUY. When he went and played 16U, it looked too easy for him. In their matchup against Colorado Magic, I feel like he was the best player on the floor, and he hit about 4 3-pointers in the game. He's still breaking down defenses and getting to his spots, finishing around the rim and attacking as a PnR maestro, but it's just all being pieced together right now. He was one of the best pure PG's on the weekend as he's instinctive and opposing teams refuse to press him because he easily handles pressure, he gets downhill, and the shot looks consistent right now. He's been on a stock rising Spring/Summer, and he might not say it, but he's gotta be playing with a chip on his shoulder as these all appear to be prove it spots. Well, Dario, we get the message.      Jay is a heart over hype type of player, and he moves with confidence, which I enjoy. He plays with an edge, attacks on every possession, and never backs down from bigger defenders. His first step at Tune Up is what stood out to me as he got to where he wanted. Defenders struggled to stay in front of him, and once he got downhill, he looked comfortable finishing or making the next play. What stood out most was the swagger he plays with. He wanted the ball in big moments, embraced a larger offensive role than we're accustomed to seeing during the season, and proved he can create against quality competition. Defensively, he guards close and is good in screen navigation, even getting multiple calls from just beating guys to the spot, which you love to see in smaller guards. This event felt like the beginning of him introducing himself to a much bigger audience, and I left wanting to see what his game looks like as he continues balancing scoring with running a team. Can't wait to see him in that true PG role.      Lam is still a bit of an under-the-radar guard, but there were enough flashes throughout the weekend to leave me wanting another evaluation. He's had these flashes before, so it's good to see that his game is expanding. Lam plays with good pace, keeps the offense afloat, and goes into score mode at times. We saw him get in a zone, and the opposing team struggled to stop him. When the defense gives him space, he's more than capable of stepping into shots or turning the corner to create for himself. What I appreciated most was that he didn't need to dominate the ball, but when it found him, he made good things happen. He moves without the ball, doesn't panic once he gets it, and looks to score. As he continues growing into a larger role offensively for his HS team, we see him doing the things right now to get on more radars

The 16U division had the best matchups of the week in my opinion and that is where I continuously found myself this event. Every trip around the gym seemed to produce another player worth pulling the notebook out for. This group separated itself by consistently impacting games against quality competition, not just with production, but with the little plays that help teams win. These are the 16U standouts that left the strongest impression during the PH Tuneup at Gold Crown.