The Tune Up: Under the Radar Standouts

Before they hit the 4th, several talents were making a name for themselves at The Tune Up! Some of them did it without much fanfare and we wanted to put them in the spotlight NOW!    [player_tooltip player_id='2813970' first='Jacob' last='Lester'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2221115' first='Midwest' last='Kings']. Lester was a freshman playing some varsity that we talked about last winter and put on that younger radar but this weekend Lester played up at 17u and made us all aware, Lester is going to be a varsity impact player the next three seasons! Lester had a double double Friday morning with the 25 point, ten rebound showing against the Minnesota Suns. Lester dominated his post battles all weekend and we are excited to see what he can do as Nevis works to start a new run to the state tournament. Very good showing for the Kings.     [player_tooltip player_id='2858361' first='John' last='Omoyeni'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat']. The 6'5/6'6 forward is a player we deeply admire because he gives his team results the best way he can, buy working in the paint and getting great results in the paint. Nothing worse than a selfish player not helping his team because he is doing things outside of his realm of consistency, Big John is the opposite. He runs the floor to two hand throw down, he goes back to the basket to use a great pivot to the rim or to his improving fall away touch. In John Omoyemi a coach can trust that his top guy is going to give him a trusted eight scores and eight boards.       Carter is a 6'1 guard from Park of Cottage Grove that plays with Real Phenom Horn. Carter had a nice junior season scoring seven/eight points a game for Park and he's been improving step by step the last three months. This past weekend he had a peak of a weekend though really opening eyes for what the next twelve months could hold.   We have preached to the high heavens around there that to be a scorer you have to do it in all around ways to build points. You have to involve your teammates doing things off the ball and creating with the ball. That's what top scorers do and that is what Carter did to score his 36 against Court 45 from Iowa. Carter hit the four threes including catch and shoot makes, he scored on three pull-ups, and he attacked the rim with the ball off ball movement, he scored in transition and he moved off ball to get points.   That is how you build to a 36 point game... all around point production.     Nardos played JV for Stillwater last year (transfer rules) and I think he's ready for a big jump this winter.   Nardos has had a really nice season for Heat Morgan in a lot of different ways. He can get those feet balanced and knock out a jumper, he is really quick with the basketball and we have seen him really have success in transition and attacking lanes in the halfcourt, and he's quick to loose balls and passing lanes on the defensive end   This weekend Heat Morgan went 3-1 and Isaac had 58 point across those four games.     One of the hidden stories of the year has been the emerging scoring/playmaking of Allan playing with Elevate Skills. Weekend after weekend Allan is knocking out threes, scoring in transition, moving off ball to score, and getting fouled to get to the line to total up top weekend numbers. This weekend Allan had a 26 point game against Hoop Habits White and as we move closer to fall league basketball it will be interesting to see if Allan moves into one of those seven or eight roles that are available for time with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last='']. Omare has certainly had a good spring taking a step forward.     Robbinsdale Armstrong has really become a place where some hard working players come up quietly and then work hard to become impact players. Zimmerman might just be the next guy but now 6'3, he might not do it as quietly.   Mason played some varsity in that 9th/10th guy role at times last year and he played JV. Since then he's moved over to playing with Real Phenom and has had a fantastic season. This past weekend Mason just had a 32 point game for his Real Phenom 16u team beating the Heat Gedeon team. The beautiful thing about what Zimmerman did this weekend was that his all out effort came from the offense size AND the defensive end.   Mason has a burst going by players and that quickness often ranks with the best on the floor.     In watching Ahmed a few different times now over the past half year, I think he has a chance to be a really good passer. There are some angles he hits ahead of the play development that has really caught my eye. If those playmaking assists are joined in bulk by a lot of the easier passes, I think Ahmed has a really bright future in that regard.   Ahmed can also score the ball which makes him a nice combo guard (along with the 6'3 height). He's pretty crafty and creating space with the dribble and quick step to space. Jumper is solid and hit with a good percentage as well. I'm really curious about his senior season.

Before they hit the 4th, several talents were making a name for themselves at The Tune Up! Some of them did it without much fanfare and we wanted to put them in the spotlight NOW!