Top Performances by 16U wings/bigs at the #MidwestGrindSession
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The Midwest Grind Session brought so many top performers to Wichita last weekend that it would be just about impossible to identify all the top Kansas sophomores involved. But without trying to make an all-inclusive list, here are some of…
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Continue ReadingThe Midwest Grind Session brought so many top performers to Wichita last weekend that it would be just about impossible to identify all the top Kansas sophomores involved. But without trying to make an all-inclusive list, here are some of the performances from ranked 16U Kansas guards (in alphabetical order):
Bryce Beisner Bryce Beisner 6'7" | PF Beloit | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-7 forward, 2024, Beloit HS, SSA Hoops Elite Black:
Beisner is a workhorse for SSA. He runs the floor well for a big guy, defends the paint, and goes after every ball in the air. He showed this weekend that he can run to an open spot, catch and drill the open deep ball. That will pair nicely with his ability to score through contact in the paint.
Mikey Brand Mikey Brand 6'5" | SF Bishop Carroll | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-3 forward, 2024, Bishop Carroll HS, Team Dream (pictured):
Of this list, Brand is the only one not yet ranked on the Prep Hoops 2024 list. But that will change in time. Brand was a significant contributor to his high school team as a sophomore, and he really impressed at the Wichita event. He’s a physical, tough forward who can drill the outside shot just as easily as he can make a play in traffic in the lane. He’s a fighter who muscles his way to a lot of rebounds and draws a lot of fouls.
Emmett Gaskill Emmett Gaskill 6'3" | SG Hugoton | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, Hugoton HS, SSA Hoops Elite Black:
Gaskill isn’t really a post player, but he’s a big wing who can do a lot of things all over the floor. He works hard on defense and on the glass, gets to the line, and can hit the open shoot from deep and midrange. He’s Mr. Consistency for SSA.
Nash Johnsen Nash Johnsen 6'7" | C Conway Springs | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-7 center, 2024, Conway Springs HS, Kansas Team 2024:
What an embarrassment of riches Kansas Team 2024 has in Johnsen and teammate Eli Lawson Eli Lawson 6'7" | C Bennington | 2024 State KS . Not many teams have one good big man. They have two. Johnsen and Lawson were interchangeable in the post, but also spent considerable time on the floor together. Johnsen is very fundamentally sound, as well as athletic. He runs the floor well, is very powerful on the glass, and scores with either hand in the paint. He also looks like he’s having a lot of fun while he’s at it.
Eli Lawson Eli Lawson 6'7" | C Bennington | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-7 center, 2024, Bennington HS, Kansas Team 2024:
Similar to his running mate Johnsen, Lawson gets a ton of points in the paint, catching and scoring in the post or on the more through the lane and off misses. He has a very quick release once the ball is in his hands. He blocks shots, battles through contact, and never stops working. These two bigs give Kansas Team 2024 an element few club teams have, the ability to play an old-school, get-the-ball-inside style.