Summer Slam Sunday Standouts: Top 17Us

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some of the top teams from Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin were in Sioux Falls last weekend for the Summer Slam. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here were some of the top 17Us from play Sunday:</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957156" first="Austin" last="Klug"], SE Lightning Herber</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Klug looked excellent Sunday for Lightning Herber, showing off multi-level scoring ability and defensive flexibility. He’s a big, physical guard who uses his size to create his own shot off the bounce and he’s a strong finisher at the rim. His 3-point shot is his strength and he plays with a great understanding of how to play off the ball and make himself available for kickouts.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774868" first="Chance" last="Fazio"], WC United</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fazio has come a long way in the last few years, and his mobility and footwork in the paint allow him to produce efficiently and consistently. He does a good job establishing post position or walling off defenders around the rim, and he’s got good hands to secure tough passes in traffic. He’s a strong area rebounder and defends the rim at a high level without fouling as well.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774733" first="Bryce" last="Lance"], SW Stars</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lance makes the game look easy with his ability to score from all levels, make plays and defend multiple positions. He’s a smooth ballhandlers who can get his shot off against anybody in the halfcourt and he’s smart and adept as a cutter and catch-and-shoot guy off the ball. His size and strength allow him to competently defend all perimeter positions too.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774753" first="Colton" last="Roderick"], MN Comets Elite</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Roderick plays the game with an effortless kind of smoothness and his ability to produce efficiently and consistently make him one of the best players in the 2021 class. He was the best player for the Comets throughout the weekend and was the only guy that consistently broke down defenders and made plays for himself or his teammates.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957216" first="Dawson" last="Kellen"], SW Stars</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kellen is a physical presence on the interior and does a great job playing a simple style. He sets picks, he crashes the glass, he finishes around the rim and he defends the paint at a high level. On a SW Stars team that has a lot of talented guards who can create, Kellen does a lot of the dirty work inside and makes a big impact.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774936" first="Andrew" last="Kunelius"], SE MN Lightning Herber</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kunelius doesn’t need much time to make an impact. He’s a high-effort guy on the defensive end, with the size and strength to guard bigger or smaller perimeter guys. And his athleticism is a big plus on the offensive end of the floor, where he’s an excellent slasher and finisher who can make plays in transition.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774899" first="Ben" last="Giles"], Fury Syverson</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Giles is an explosive, high-energy guard who can really get to the rim and make plays. His defensive effort was awesome on Sunday, as he does a great job pressuring the passing lanes, fighting through screens and harassing ballhandlers.</span></p>