Grassroots Team Spotlight: 34Hoops 17U

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri continues its spotlight on grassroots teams with a look at the 34Hoops 17U team.</p> <h4>Roster</h4> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824211" first="Sonny" last="Amabile"] 5’9" Windsor: A quick pass-first point guard who knows how to run a team and keep all of his teammates involved in the action. He is very effective at getting into the lane and kicking the ball out to open shooters or dumping it inside for easy layups. Has a very good feel for the game. He averaged 10.8 points and four assists while making 37 percent of his 3-pointers.</p> <p>Tyler Edwards 5’9" Fort Zumwalt North: A solid combo guard who was a nice complimentary player on a district championship team. He handles the ball well and makes good decisions with the basketball. He will play a much bigger role next season as a senior.</p> <p>Brycen King 6’2" Ellington: A slender wing player who is a very capable 3-point shooter. He moves well without the ball and does a good job of coming off screens and getting to the open spots. When he is on his game, he can light it up from long distance in bunches.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824192" first="Tyce" last="Laubinger"] 6’10" Park Hills Central: A developing post player who is the biggest player in this part of the state. He has continued to make improvements over the course of the year. He has a nice presence in the paint with his rebounding and shot blocking. He has improved his mobility which helped him score around the basket. He's still a work in progress, but he's on the way up.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="822967" first="Matt" last="Martin"] 6’5" Windsor: An unsigned 2020 who plays a very solid and fundamental game around the basket. His footwork is good and he has a variety of moves to help him score in the low post. He can also pass the ball well from the post. He averaged 8.3 points and 8.4 rebounds while blocking nearly two shots a game.</p> <p>Jordan Mertens 6’7" DeSoto: An improving post player who has continued to improve over the course of the year. He has impressive length which enabled him to averaged nearly two blocks a game. He catches the ball well and he has a solid touch around the basket. As a junior, he averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field. </p> <p>Adrian Neal 6’2" Kirkwood: A slashing lefty guard who knows how to maneuver his way in and out of traffic to get buckets in the lane. He can change speeds and directions while advancing to the basket. He is also a solid defender with quick hands and quick feet to create turnovers.</p> <p>Bryce Simpson 6’7" Kirkwood: A developmental post player who has good height, length and mobility. He is a solid rebounder and defender who runs the court well. He is also a solid passing threat.</p> <p>Dillon Stewart 6’1" Kirkwood: A capable guard who has a solid perimeter stroke from 3-point range off the catch. As a junior, he averaged six points a game on a balanced Pioneers' team.</p> <p>Donovan Tullock 6’0" Crystal City: An athletic combo guard who plays with a lot of pace. He excels in the open court with his speed and ability to get into the lane and create offense. He is also aggressive at the defensive end. As a junior, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="824181" first="Zach" last="Whaley"] 6’3" Hillsboro: A long and lanky southpaw who played a solid role on a senior-dominated team. He is a capable defender who can get into the passing lanes. He plays well without the ball and knows how to find the open spots. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds. He is primed to play a much bigger role as a senior next season.</p>