Mitten State Mash: 15U up-and-comers

After two jam-packed days of 15U hoops at this year's Mitten State Mash, we saw a lot of bright stars; but also plenty of players who are young and on the rise.   Here's a look at some of the young guns, who we should watch for over the next few years.    Nolan is a great young combo guard, who's team went 3-1 at the showcase this weekend. He's at his best when the ball is in his hands-Nolan is a great dribbler and can evade the defense. He's also a talented distributor, who can drive into the teeth of the dense, and kick out to an open teammate on the outside.   Defensively, he seems like he'd be very frustrating to play against. He's only 5'9", but he doesn't mind mixing it up with guys who are a few inches taller than him-or going down low to throw some elbows.   Nolan says he's a pass-first guard, who's grown a lot in his athleticism and defense. He's also got signs of an early clutch gene. He buried a couple of key free throws in the final seconds of his last game of the weekend-giving his team a two-possession lead and an eventual win.     Ben is the classic hard-nosed kid that any team would be lucky to have. He's got great hustle and an innate ability to track down rebounds.   For his size, he's also developing a nice 3-point game; shooting from the outside with confidence. But when he's not shooting, he's skilled in his ability to drive the lane and distribute to teammates.   Ben is part of a tough defensive team at Hardwood Midwest; allowing only two points in the first 7 minutes against Shoebox Sports.   Ben told me that his rebounding and shooting abilities are the areas where he stands out the most right now.     Even over the course of the weekend, you could see Jordan's development as a player really start to shine through. He went scoreless in his first game, scored 6 points in game two, went for 9 points in the opening game of Sunday, and then closed out his weekend with a terrific 17 points in the team's finale.   Jordan plays on a well-balanced team, so his scoring game won't always be the one that stands out. But he's a solid scorer at all three levels. And when his shots aren't falling, he's got a great ability to facilitate and distribute the ball to teammates.     Noah plays on a very well-rounded Court Vision Elite team, but his game still stands out among his teammates.   He has a nice 3-point stroke, nailing a couple of triples in his team's win over the Detroit Bulldogs. When he isn't shooting, he's also got solid handles, and is comfortable bringing the ball up the court.   A classic combo guard, Noah can also really terrify you when he's playing defense. He absolutely hounds whoever has the ball, and he told me afterwards that defense is a big part of his game.   Noah injured his knee on the final day of the tournament, so we didn't see him play the full 4 games, but he's somebody to watch for on Michigan's AAU circuit.     Kyeme is a firecracker on the court, and a player who's unafraid to go toe-to-toe with guys who are several inches taller than him.   Defensively he's an absolute pest. He's constantly pressuring the offensive ball-handler and disrupting plays. His speed is especially noteworthy, covering a lot of ground during defensive possessions, and getting his active hands in the way of passes.   Kyeme's also strong and gritty, and his speed allows him to track down a lot of rebounds, in spite of his size. And offensively, he can always be relied on for 8+ points. In a win over PSA, he scored 17 points.   He's also a classic team-first player. He prides himself on trying to get his teammates involved. And afterwards, he's the guy going around and dapping up every guy on the roster.     Drake's Michigan Unified team went 4-0 over the weekend, proving each game why they're such a dangerous team on Michigan's AAU circuit.   Drake's coach lauds his outside shooting ability especially. On the first day of the tournament, he knocked down three 3-pointers in each game. And he saved his best performance for the final game of the weekend, scoring 18 points with another pair of 3-pointers in a blowout win.   In spite of his scoring abilities, Drake says that he's at his best when he's passing the ball and distributing to teammates. But he's also proving to opponents and scouts that he can shoot the bell with efficiency.     Aleksander is one of a handful of weapons for the LaSalle Guardians. The team went 4-0 on the weekend, but Aleksander saved his best performance for the final game of the tournament-scoring a crucial 14 points to beat a very strong Jackets Elite team.   He's a very talented point guard, who can run the offense and distribute the ball-but can also bury a 3-pointer when he finds himself open.   Licata showcased an arsenal of off-ball skills over the weekend, as well as an intensity on defense. And he's got an unreal motor; he's the kind of kid to give 120% every day.

After two jam-packed days of 15U hoops at this year's Mitten State Mash, we saw a lot of bright stars; but also plenty of players who are young and on the rise.