GRMC 16U All Stars

<p>With clubs from across the Midwest gathered to do battle at the Grind Region Memorial Classic, there were countless good performances deserving recognition. But a handful of players stood out.</p> <p>A few 2024s actually were among the top players in the 16U comp over the weekend in KC. But we’ll save mention of them for another list.</p> <p>Here is the Grind Region Memorial Classic 16U All Star Team (in alphabetical order):</p> <p><strong>Christian Hughes</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, Gateway Knights, Kirkwood HS:</p> <p>Hughes is a consummate point guard. He’s a strong leader, both in word and in deed. He gets his teammates the ball and coordinates the offense, but he’s equally effective attacking the basket himself. He’s got surprising athleticism, with good hops and quickness. He gets to the basket and finishes without making it hard on himself. He buries the 3-pointer with quick release and feel for open spaces.</p> <p><strong>James Lee</strong>, 5-foot-10 guard, MPJ Elite, Battle HS (pictured):</p> <p>One of the most electric ball handlers at the KC event, Lee was as entertaining as he was effective. He’s got brilliant start-and-stop and crossover moves to go with his blow-by quickness. Any defender by his side is immediately left behind. Lee can get to the basket in the blink of an eye, but he also has a step-back jumper and a decent stroke from the outside.</p> <p><strong>Joseph Mayberry</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, Gators Elite, Lancaster HS:</p> <p>Mayberry is a guard/forward who can make plays at all five spots on the floor. He’s got the length and size to be an absolute monster with the ball in the open court. He’s got great athleticism to rip down rebounds in traffic, push it end-to-end, and finish with explosiveness. He’s got a 3-point stroke and smooth midrange jumper.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1070117" first="Keaton" last="Stone"]</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, Arkansas Rising Stars, White Hall HS:</p> <p>Stone is a really skilled wing who has a knack for putting up points. He was one of the most consistent scorers at Kansas City, showing off the ability to score at all three levels. He’s got a combination of height, length, explosiveness and driving ability that helps him finish in the lane. He also has a really solid midrange game, and can knock down threes.</p> <p><strong>Collin Vick</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, MN Rise, Owatonna HS:</p> <p>A guard who gets teammates the ball on time, Vick sees the floor and gets everyone running. He isn’t just a drive and dish point guard, though. He put up a ton of points in Kansas City, mostly from driving through traffic and putting the ball up with touch. Vick defended effectively and was a ball hawk when the ball was in the air. He turned a lot of interceptions into breaks the other way. He plays bigger than his height because of his hops and knack for making plays deep in the lane.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2^nd Team:</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1167329" first="Javaris" last="Moye"]</strong>, 6-foot-4 guard, Gateway Knights, Kirkwood HS</p> <p><strong>Aadhi Ayyappan</strong>, 6-foot guard, Tulsa Hawks Blue, Bartlesville HS</p> <p><strong>Jackson Muse</strong>, 6-foot guard, Midwest All-Stars, Belleville East HS</p> <p><strong>Ty Blake</strong>, 6-foot-4 forward, TC Elite, University HS</p> <p><strong>PJ Pounds</strong>, 6-foot-7 forward, Gain Elite Minnesota, DeLaSalle HS</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>3^rd Team:</strong></p> <p><strong>Kevin Parker</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, Missouri Flight, Parkview HS</p> <p><strong>Eli Shetlar</strong>, 6-foot-4 guard, TBB KS, Andover HS</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1071872" first="Devin" last="Conley"]</strong>, 6-foot-2 guard, Mentality Gold, Pembroke Hill HS</p> <p><strong>Ali Booker</strong>, 5-foot-9 guard, Illinois Hoopville Warriors, Bogan HS</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1113525" first="Caden" last="Hawkins"]</strong>, 5-foot-10, Illinois Bears 1, Carterville HS</p>