The Platform: Friday Night Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second time this grassroots season. I headed back into to the shadows of Midway Airport for a tournament. The Platform's opening night produced some high level play in a brief three game opening night session. Following are my observations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy'] 17U Looked Ready to Go</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some neighbors from North kicked things off with a dominant and balanced victory. So balanced it was hard to pick an individual standout. I'm going to highlight the physical forward tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='3139207' first='Sam' last='Tsai'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tsai is a 6-3 jack of trades type forward who put up 12. The Oregon (WI) product scored from all over the court. He showed good elevation and the ability to finish above the rim. Seim was a little bigger at 6-4 with big broad shoulders. The Fall River prospect might have been a tad bit more explosive vertically. Put down a highlight reel dunk in transition. He also showed the ability to stretch the floor two first half threes to post 11 points in the contest. Speaking of threes, [player_tooltip player_id='2828995' first='Graham' last='Luetscher'] paced the team with 20. The 6-2 Middletown sharpshooter was automatic from beyond the arc with four threes. Intrigued to see how this team plays on Saturday as the competition stiffens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sharks Academy 16U with Strong Backcourt Triumvirate </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was impressed with the Sharks Academy 16U backcourt at an event in the spring. Even with one of their top players playing at another event this weekend. They still produced an effective three headed monster of a backcourt attack. [player_tooltip player_id='2834506' first='Gabe' last='Harris'] (pictured) keyed it all as a traditional old school pass first point guard. The stocky 5-10 St Patrick prospect forcefully organized the team and got them into their sets efficiently. Physical and with a low center of gravity. The good ball handler was difficult to turnover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3594554' first='Elliot' last='Bell'] (ORFP) was a skinnier prospect but an exciting scorer. At 5-11 played a more off the ball role and scored in a variety of ways. Not an above the rim finisher (at least from what I saw) But got out in transition quickly. Showed a nice high arching floater that he used to get off over bigger players. Even with his slender build took smaller opponents into the post and scored with drop steps and turnarounds. Both Harris and Bell finished with 14 points in the victory over Wisconsin's [program_tooltip program_id='2075260' first='ABP' last='Athletics'] The trio was finished out by St Patick prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2953858' first='Joseph' last='King'] Harris' regular season teammate was a little smaller at 5-9. But he was shifty and quick with ball in hands. Changed directions on a dime and had a very tight handle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='2075807' first='Ray' last='Allen Select'] 16U Almost Stages a Big Comeback </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Call it a strange coincidence. I thought I was done for the night. On my way out the door, in a meandering conversation with another scout, the movie "He Got Game" came up. Shortly afterward I caught the eponymous [program_tooltip program_id='2075807' first='Ray' last='Allen Select'] 16U's nearly stage a late comeback against one of the many local [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] squads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They were led by tall playmaker<strong> Logan LaValle</strong> (Waukesha West) The 6-3 Milwaukee area wing initiated offense and showed the ability to possibility to be a big point guard. Good shooter for his size from beyond arc. Also had the physicality to play near the basket. He was joined on the wing by by fellow Waukesha West prospects [player_tooltip player_id='2801470' first='Jordan' last='Schroeder'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2407890' first='Zion' last='Vale'] (6-1) I don't have the most detailed scouting report for this trio. As I only caught the tail end of their contest. But they most certainly showed fire power and the ability to score quickly. Hoping to catch them more throughout the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->