PH Freshman Showcase: All Region Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In its second iteration. The Prep Hoops showcase took place in Grand Rapids this past Sunday. Last year it provided a look at players who would soon become household names early in their careers. Players such as [player_tooltip player_id='1588161' first='Cameron' last='Ryans'], [player_tooltip player_id='1588191' first='Braylon' last='Frantz'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1588168' first='Noah' last='Arnold'] stood out last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After covering players from the I-96 corridor of Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids respectively. Following are a list of standouts from miscellaneous regions. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1974621' first='Kaelin' last='Tate'] 5-10 Paw Paw (pictured) </strong>First player I have written about from “the town so nice, they named it twice”. I know that is a bad “dad joke” but I've been waiting long time to use it. Tate definitely gets the award for most efficient performance. Due to a bad hamstring only played in one game. However did enough in that one game to merit mention. Tate is more on the stocky side of most of the guards in the camp. While still having plenty of speed and explosiveness. I'll be curious to see how much quicker he looks on two good legs. While playing through injury. It was also easy to see his toughness and level of aggression. Offset a slight loss of explosiveness with extremely deep range from the perimeter. A few of them were absolute bombs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140501' first='Jakyi' last='Brown Abston'] 5-9 Coldwater </strong>Like Tate a powerfully built point guard prospect. Thick upper body and broad shoulders. Absorbed contact on his many drives to the basket. Had a tight handle and seemed to have a mature understanding of how to play the point guard position. Coldwater has been an excellent developmental program the last four years. That doesn't look to be changing. As Abston was joined by fellow 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2140509' first='Landon' last='Dirschell'] on Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2141004' first='Isaiah' last='Burton'] 5-10 Saginaw Heritage </strong>Burton was Tate's backcourt partner in the first contest of the day. In that game showed off his scoring touch and ability to play off the ball. After Tate's departure was able to show his point guard skill set. Is an explosive athlete but plays under control. Drives the basket without fear. Good finisher despite not being the tallest prospect. If he is able to play up at varsity level. Will have some good players to learn and play off of. [player_tooltip player_id='1112377' first='Tyler' last='Ode'] (Toledo) and [player_tooltip player_id='1112372' first='Braylon' last='Isom'] (Miami OH-FB) will be one the better forward tandems in the entire state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140473' first='Braylen' last='Williams'] 5-10 Saginaw Heritage </strong>I have no operational role in the camp. Just a scout. So to anyone listening. Putting Braylon Williams and [player_tooltip player_id='2141008' first='Brayden' last='Williams'] on the same team was a little hard on your boy. Combined their similar names with their similar games. It was lot to wrap my mind around. Williams was smaller and faster than the other Williams. Should form a good future duo at Heritage with Isiah Burton </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2110729' first='Andrew' last='Valerio'] 6-0 Flushing </strong>Staying in the Tri cities area for this next prospect. Valerio showed the ability to both shoot and handle the ball. Also competed hard on the defensive end. Got out quickly in transition and finished well at the rim. Has good size and skill set for both backcourt positions already. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140507' first='Kesean' last='Hobbs'] <strong>6-2 Benton Harbor </strong>For the first time in a while. The storied program at Benton Harbor will be rebuilding a bit next year. Hobbs showed the potential to be a part of the rebuild. Has good size already for any of the perimeter positions. Plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Which isn't a bad thing. Has been well tested in the Harbor Imoact AAU program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140502' first='Javeir' last='Word']6-1 Kalamazoo Central </strong>Started in the Kalamazoo area— and we'll end our tour there. Like Hobbs will be playing for a storied program going through a slight rebuild. Word showed explosive athleticism. Slender frame but was not afraid to throw his body around. The United Persuit grassroots has been producing some excellent Southwest Michigan prospects in the last four years (see [player_tooltip player_id='1974621' first='Kaelin' last='Tate'] above) Word could be next player on that list. Should team with 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1796744' first='Isaiah' last='Theodile'] to keep the Maroon Giants in tournament conversation for the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->