Pentagon Schoolers 16U National Team: Season Write-up

Sioux Falls, SD - This group is full of college prospects! [player_tooltip player_id="963747" first="Joe" last="Sayler"] has committed to SDSU, and there are many more players from this squad that will go on to sign with college programs. Read below to find out about the Schoolers from the 16U National Team. The Schooler program and director of Teams Taylor Fechner, of the Sanford Pentagon, put together a really nice group to compete with some of the best teams in the midwest this year for coach Buster Vincents squad. This group of talented young men finished the 2021 club season with a (24-7) overall record and a (10-1) mark in the Sanford Pentagon Tournament Series (SPTS). The 16U Schoolers Nationals claimed rights to the SPTS regular-season title within league play and entered Tournament action as the top seed. In the SPTS Tournament, the Schoolers fell in the title game to MN Fury Antl 84-81 in a thrilling double-overtime game. These guys established themselves as a high-scoring (80ppg), fast-paced team. They play with a great spacing template and have an energy-creating ball movement style of play that led to an astonishing amount of assists at 19 of them per game. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/16uschoolers.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1262475" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/16uschoolers-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="135" /></a> <h3>Team Comments from Coach Buster Vincent</h3> "I am really proud of our guys! We have 7 starters on this team and every one of those guys would give up a starting spot for their fellow teammates to have that role, It’s what makes us special. Just a bunch of unselfish dudes who like to compete and win games." Where do I start? How about [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] that guy will do anything to help the team. Or the fact that we have the best player in the League in [player_tooltip player_id="963747" first="Joe" last="Sayler"]. The list of guys and their abilities on the basketball court is deep and wide with this group. It has been such an honor to take the credit from these guys when they win games and so easy to just point the blame at them when we lose. Of course, I am only kidding!!! But my point is, teams are only as good as the players and we have a pretty darn good team! The success of this group and the success they will have in the future both as a team and individually is because of the countless hours they put into this game and into the development of their skill sets. As the coach, I am just their biggest fan from the best seat in the gym. We really challenged these guys to chart and stat their success and development this summer. Shooting challenges, time charts, individual workouts, and then utilizing the full scope of the Sanford Pentagon and its training staff and resources. Our entire team is made up of guys who are committed to becoming the best basketball player and teammate they can be while developing lifelong friendships and memories." <h3>ROSTER</h3> [player_tooltip player_id="963747" first="Joe" last="Sayler"] 6’3 White River - 21.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1 spg The SDSU commit led the schoolers in points this summer with 658. Joe has shown us all why the Jackrabbits believed in him at such a young age with his play this summer and he has possibly established himself as the best player in SD regardless of class. He has an ability to take games over and be impressive to the toughest of critics. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/olivervincent-crop-1125x739-1626125719.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1235319" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/olivervincent-crop-1125x739-1626125719-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] 6’1 Sioux Valley - 18.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.7 apg, 1.9 spg He may be the best in the game when it comes to finishing at the rim and creating open looks for his teammates. Oli led the schoolers in assists this summer with almost 7 per contest and charges taken on the defensive end at 12. He is the ultimate competitor on the basketball floor and plays much bigger than his frame making him very difficult to defend. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/whitney2-crop-1125x739-1628396212.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1261443" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/whitney2-crop-1125x739-1628396212-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="963749" first="Elliot" last="Whitney"] (2023) 6’0 SF Lincoln - 10.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 spg Elliot has really improved over the summer in many facets of the game. Everyone knew he could shoot, but he really started to show that he is quite good with the ball in his hands. Elliot will be a huge asset to Lincoln this year at the guard position and will continue to prove he can do much more than just shoot the ball. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1262503" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/barr-crop-1125x739-1628566869-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] 6’1 Aberdeen Central - 8.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 spg The hardest worker on the court every time he steps foot on the hardwood. Spencer led the schoolers on the defensive end with 63 steals this summer 2.1 per contest. He was tasked with many roles and positions to help mold the schoolers this summer and excelled at all of them. He was everything from a PG to a 4 man when the team played with five guards on the floor at times. [player_tooltip player_id="963766" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] 6’8 De Smet - 6.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 0.4 apg, 1.5 bpg Damon has really developed his ability to make a move and finish with a guy on his back this year. His footwork is much improved as evident in his drop-step, and up-&-under moves. We have noticed his ability to seal opposite and also to create space by reverse and forward pivots while having better toughness with the ball. He led the schoolers on the glass this season with 8.1RPG. Porter Ihnen 6’4 Lennox - 8.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg *Playing up a year (2024 class). Porter is a crafty southpaw that joined the 16U National Team after [player_tooltip player_id="963758" first="Spencer" last="Fernholz"] tore his ACL. In fourteen games of action Porter helped the schoolers from the left wing to a 10-4 record. Porter rebounds well as a bigger guard and can play several positions on the floor to create match problems for opposing teams. [player_tooltip player_id="1227942" first="Jacob" last="Vandeweerd"] 6’8 Canton - 4.6 rpg, 6 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 0.4 apg Jacob is a monster at protecting the rim. He led the National team in blocks with 57 this summer. Jacob runs the floor really well for a big guy which helped space the floor for the Schoolers and lead to many easy baskets. Jacob plays hard at both ends and has a nice touch on the ball to 20ft. [player_tooltip player_id="963758" first="Spencer" last="Fernholz"] (2023) 6’3 Miller - 6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 1.4 bpg Spencer was playing his best basketball of the season when he suffered a torn ACL injury in Minneapolis which sidelined him for the remainder of the summer. Spencer is super bouncy and athletic and we look forward to monitoring his return to play progress. [player_tooltip player_id="963755" first="Steele" last="Morgan"] 6’4 Mitchell - 3.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.4 spg, 0.3 apg Steele plays hard and rebounds really well. He can play a guard position if needed and also go down and bang with the bigs. Steele will really be a huge X factor for the Kernels this winter when he joins back up with his Mitchell teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="1204807" first="Aiden" last="Jensen"] 6’8 Madison - 2.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 0.3 apg Aiden has really improved this summer. He has the size to take smaller guards into the blk and post them up and he has the shooting ability to hit the 3-ball. His length helped create issues on the defensive side of the ball. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/PentagonSchoolers.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1168856" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/PentagonSchoolers-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" /></a> Over the last two years together, the core group of this schoolers squad has forged a very impressive record of 54 wins and only 8 losses together. The 16U National team was once again lead by two 1st team All-state selections in [player_tooltip player_id="963747" first="Joe" last="Sayler"] and [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"]. Anchoring the group down low was a pair of giants in [player_tooltip player_id="963766" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1227942" first="Jacob" last="Vandeweerd"] both standing at 6’8 and powering in at an impressive 240 pounds. Joining these four in the lineup was 6’4 Porter Ihnen. This group never lost a beat with their first two substitutions bringing in PG and defensive stud [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] and shooter [player_tooltip player_id="963749" first="Elliot" last="Whitney"]. [player_tooltip player_id="1204807" first="Aiden" last="Jensen"] and [player_tooltip player_id="963755" first="Steele" last="Morgan"] round out the roster. <h3>RECOGNITIONS</h3> Best Rebounder: [player_tooltip player_id="963766" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] Top Scorers: [player_tooltip player_id="963747" first="Joe" last="Sayler"] & [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] Defensive stopper: [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] Most Improved: [player_tooltip player_id="963766" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] Hardest worker: [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] Mr. Positive: [player_tooltip player_id="963758" first="Spencer" last="Fernholz"] Mr. Grit: [player_tooltip player_id="963755" first="Steele" last="Morgan"] Most Unselfish/Assist Man: [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] & [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] Best Rim protector/Shot Blocker: [player_tooltip player_id="1227942" first="Jacob" last="Vandeweerd"] Mr. Creative: [player_tooltip player_id="963749" first="Elliot" last="Whitney"] <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/schoolers16U.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1184889" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/schoolers16U-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> <h3>SCHEDULE</h3> Spring Jam Sioux Falls- April 24-25th SPTS Omaha (OSA)- May 1-2nd SPTS Minneapolis (Heat)- May 15-16th Great Plains Alliance St. Cloud (Comets)- June 24-26th Summer Slam Sioux Falls - July 9-11th SPTS Finals (Schoolers) Sioux Falls - July 16-19th Nike Hardwood Classic Kansas City- July 23-25th