THE CLOSER: 15 U Sunday Standouts

Prep Hoops covered the 2026 marquee event THE CLOSER at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill in Hamilton, OH. Today, we will look at the young and rising 15 U standouts from this past Sunday that shined during the two day event in Cincinnati! Let's check out some new names with big games!    Ben Dowty is a phenomenal interior scorer who uses his large frame to score with ease in the paint. He is elite at bullying defenders in the post and converting difficult shots inside. Ben is also an excellent glass cleaner who is very skilled at converting put backs with regularity! I was most impressed with his high motor and hustle on both ends of the floor competing for lose balls. Ben Dowty is an intriguing prospect who has a great deal of strength and size that he uses well on both ends of the floor to be a true paint beast!     A dynamic competitor and scoring presence who makes everyone on his team better. [player_tooltip player_id='3550350' first='Marcus' last='Phillips'] is a difference maker for Hoop Smart 15U! He has great size and speed and elite versatility to guard multiple positions. This point guard is the definition of a leader on the floor for his team! Not only did he lead Hoop Smart 15U in scoring, but he also dished the ball very well in their win Sunday morning. Phillips also displayed his pure stroke knocking down a deep three-pointer. He has great fluidity finishing around the basket and converting around and through defenders. I'm very high on this young point guard's overall game!     A lethal shooter with the ability to catch fire quickly. Bryce Elmeier is a dynamic versatile scorer who can hurt the defense in multiple ways! Don't let him get a head of steam going down hill because there are few who can stop him from scoring! I love his high motor and competitive nature. A guard with a sturdy and muscular build who routinely grabs rebounds and looks to get out and run in transition. Very few can stop him driving straight to the basket and it takes a lot of contact to deter him from finishing! I loved everything I saw Sunday morning from Bryce and I really believe this young man has a very bright future!     One of the most crafty and skilled forwards I saw on Sunday. [player_tooltip player_id='3573714' first='Benjamin' last='Clark'] is a very talented forward who competes with great heart on both ends of the floor. Don't let him gain confidence scoring in the paint because he punishes defenses all game long! His relentless motor was on display the entire morning and he demonstrated that he is a good natural leader both on the floor and in huddles. He talks well on both ends and uses his height to deliver timely passes displaying his elite court vision. There are a lot of unique qualities that make Ben Clark a very intriguing young prospect to keep an eye on in the class of 2029!     This young guard plays with such a high motor and energy level that few can consistently match. Cristian Davis is a young guard who shows a ton of upside with his activity on the boards on both ends! Hustle and heart is what you get from this young star! Cristian may be smaller but he plays bigger with his ability to clean the glass and run in transition. He plays with an elite controlled pace to his energetic game. Davis will continue to turn heads and be a top performer with the level of fire and competitiveness that he plays with.     A crafty and talented young wing who showed great finishing ability in the paint. Wyatt Becker is a polished scorer in the interior for 937 Hoop Dreams 2029. I liked his ability to convert difficult shots in transition. He has the size to be a versatile matchup and his high motor allows him to take on multiple assignments defensively. I'm not sleeping on the upside that this young forward shows as he greatly impressed on Sunday at THE CLOSER!     [player_tooltip player_id='2928326' first='Elijah' last='Smith'] plays hard and competes with intensity on both ends of the floor. He had an excellent take to the basket that concluded in free throws. I like his aggressive attitude and willingness to attack the defense with the pass and interior scoring. He has a developing shooting stroke that shows a lot of potential. I'm really high on this young guards game and think the sky is the limit for him!     A dominate finisher who led his 937 Hoop Dreams 2029 in scoring. Caleb Hess simply gets the job done on the offensive end of the floor. Don't let him get a clean look from three or he will burn you! Hess is a dynamic finisher in the paint as well. I liked his creativity and fluid finishing around the basket. When he made up his mind to score Sunday, no one could stop him! He's a leader and a strong teammate who also defends at a high level. Overall, I was very impressed with Caleb Hess and believe that with his height and shooting ability, he can be really special!

Prep Hoops covered the 2026 marquee event THE CLOSER at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill in Hamilton, OH. Today, we will look at the young and rising 15 U standouts from this past Sunday that shined during the two day event in Cincinnati! Let's check out some new names with big games!