17 U guard standouts from Midwest Jamfest

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midwest Jamfest brought many of the top Hoop Group teams to Westfield, Indiana as they competed in a live period event with college coaches from a variety of levels there to watch prospects compete. In this article we'll break down some of the 17 U guards who stood out at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1421141"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Ohio Buckets were a main attraction for a lot of college coaches at the event and in the one game I caught of them against Team Loaded 757, Laukhuf was a key piece to their victory. A lead guard with impressive size, Laukhuf can play on or off the ball. A clutch pull-up 3-pointer then a spot-up 3-pointer the next possession gave his team some breathing room and they were able to hold on to the victory. I was also impressed by Laukhuf's hands on both ends, being active defensively and catching passes in traffic. I think Division II and NAIA programs should be all over Laukhuf and he might leave Fort Wayne next weekend with a couple offers if he continues his impressive play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1467911"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One of the smallest guys on the court no matter where he's playing at, Penrod makes up for it with skill and heart. An excellent shooter, Penrod was making shots off the bounce and the catch from behind the 3-point line all weekend, he hit three 3's in the first few minutes against Hopson Elite. The biggest offensive question for Penrod will be whether he can create space against top athletes and there were moments where he got room to pull-up and others where he struggled to get by the initial defender. Defensively I was encouraged by what I saw from Penrod, his size is obviously a limiting factor but he competed on that end and wasn't afraid to put his body on the line and take a charge. I expect Penrod to receive a lot of interest from small college programs before the summer is complete.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1285274"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Getting to see Kaiser this weekend was a priority and he lived up to what I'd been hearing about his game leading into the weekend. A quick processor of the game, there aren't many better passing guards than Kaiser in Ohio's 2024 class. Making the right read quickly and getting the ball where it needs to go is an underappreciated skill and Kaiser certainly moves the ball faster than the defense can move. This wasn't surprising as Kaiser led the GCL Co-Ed in assists as a Junior. While he struggled to hit from the outside in the two games I caught, Kaiser did knock down 42% of his 3-pointers for Carroll as a Junior. Another guard for small college programs to check out on this Team Wildcat HGSL squad.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1941945"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Brenner impressed me for Ohio Buckets - Young as he was another priority watch for me this weekend after recently being offered by Kentucky Christian. I was really impressed with Brenner's ability to shoot it off the catch with a handful of 3-pointers in the game I caught of his team. Brenner is also a solid athlete with a head of steam, figuring out ways to finish at the rim through shot blockers. As a slasher, Brenner played under control and found open shooters when the defense collapsed. I expect Brenner to continue to receive scholarship interest as the spring and summer progresses.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1285254"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"From a team perspective, Hopson Elite struggled going 0-2 in games I caught of them over the weekend but Bays stood out individually. An impressive ball handler and athlete, Bays made some plays off the bounce to create space for either a finish at the rim or a skip pass to a shooter. bays also knocked down a couple tough step-back 3-pointers including one with under two minutes to play that tied the game against Arsenal Hoops. If Bays continues to score this efficiently and create for others at a high level, he will be a priority small college guard prospect with the potential to attract scholarship interest as well. A clear stock riser from this weekend in my eyes.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1941946"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"A new name for me, I'd been hearing good things from Mallernee on social media and from small college coaches and finally got my chance to watch him. The Licking County player of the year had an impressive weekend for an Ohio United squad that went 3-1 this weekend. Mallernee had three 3-pointers in the game I caught of his team and led the way with 19 points. Mallernee also finished with both hands at the rim and was finishing off either one or two feet depending on the situation. Diving on the floor for loose balls, I liked the effort levels I saw from Mallernee when the ball wasn't in his hands. Small college programs should get to know Mallernee sooner rather than later.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644fe0a0a38ee"} /-->