MEQUON, Wisc. — Saturday’s action at the annual NY2LA Sports Next Level Invitational saw thrilling performances and college coaches packing the house for the first of three live July evaluation periods for NCAA Division I college coaches.
Top performers
Tevin Ali — PF — 2018 — Elite Nation Basketball
Ali is a rangy, 6’7 2018 forward who brings activity to the court at both ends of the floor. He has a good feel for getting open around the basket and showed the ability to finish tough chances in the paint. He and xx form a tough 1-2 punch on the ENB front court as each player compliments the other’s skill set. Ali is a good rebounder and finisher around the rim and can also handle the ball a little and play on the perimeter.
Jack Brahm — F — 2018 — Playground Elite
Brahm had quite a minute stretch on Saturday, scoring seven quick points that included an alley-oop slam, a 3 and a steal and a bucket. A 6’5 wing player, Brahm often plays inside for PE where he is needed but has a lot of perimeter skills that translate well to the next level. He can knock down perimeter jumpers and is tough enough to guard interior players and get on the boards.
Flynn Cameron — PG — 2017 — AUSA
Continues to impress this weekend with another big performance against SEMO Storm, going for 23 points and displaying a feel for getting to the bucket and making plays off the dribble. He has good court vision, is a good rebounder and displays a nice Euro step that catches defenders off balance.
Branden Ellis — SG — 2018 — Kessel Heat Black
A 6’4 shooting guard, Ellis had a big performance on Saturday morning against North Oakland Wolfpack. He is a skilled guard with the ability to knock down shots, get to the bucket and make plays off the dribble. He is a heady defensive player who came up with several steals and in the open court he can be tough to contain. Ellis went for 14 points against the Wolfpack.
Luke Hyde — PF — 2018 — Elite Nation Basketball
A big, physical post player with good feet and athleticism. Hyde really pursues the ball off the glass at both ends of the floor. He is a good finisher around the basket, but is also skilled enough to face up and shoot the mid-range jumper off the dribble or move all the way out the free throw line. On Friday he scored a game-winning bucket against AUSA on an in-bounds play as time expired, and on Saturday he was a handful for All In Athletics scoring 11 points and adding nine rebounds in the first half alone. He finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
Antonio Reeves — SG — 2018 — Mac Irvin
Reeves shot lights out in the first half, then attacked the bucket in the second half for easy baskets. He and Xavier Pinson complement each other well in the Mac Irvin backcourt and both pass the ball well and find the open man. Reeves is a long, rangy 6’4 shooting guard who can get hot from the perimeter, but also handles the ball well and creates chances for himself and others.
Marlon Ruffin — F — 2018 — Playground Elite
A junk yard dog type player who does a lot of dirty work in the paint, Ruffin also gets on the boards and works hard at the defensive end, At 6’5, Ruffin showed he is also a knock down outside shooter. He is tough around the bucket with the ability to finish chances that would difficult for most, but he can also handle the ball, shoot from the outside and is good at attacking the bucket. He knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points to lead Playground Elite in a tough loss to Wisconsin Playmakers on Saturday.
Hayden Spenkel — PG — 2018 — SEMO Storm
Spenkel is a point guard with a strong, physical 6’2 frame and a bulldog mentality on the court. He is solid with the ball and doesn’t turn it over, and displays a knock down shooting stroke. He made several 3-pointers from well beyond the arc throughout the weekend and shows confidence and good mechanics. He knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points in a hard fought loss to AUSA on Saturday.
Kellen Witherell — F — 2018 — All In Athletics Linton
His outside shooting helped lead All In Athletics Linton rally from a big deficit against ENB and get within three points. Witherell is a good 3-pointer shooter, can shoot from the mid-range and is willing to get in the paint and on the boards. He had two points in the first half against ENB but got hot in the second half and scored 18, including three 3-pointers, and finished with 20 points.
Stock Boosters
Ethan Anderson — SG — 2018 — Wisconsin Playmakers King
His calling card is a pure outside shooting stroke, but Anderson has good size at 6’4, a projectable basketball frame and build as well as a good all-around skill set. He connected on three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points in a hard-fought win over Playground Elite on Saturday afternoon and came up with several big plays, especially early in the contest.
Cade Callaghan — SF — 2018 — Tri City Thunder
Has a nice inside outside game and went to the post with a nice fade away jumper in the second half in a contest against Indy EBC on Saturday. Callaghan has good size at 6’4 with a strong build, handle the ball well and brings a physical style of basketball to the court, Callaghan isn’t afraid to get in the paint and mix it up.
Brandon Hanley — SG — 2018 — SEMO Storm
Hanley can really shoot it from the outside and showed off his outside shooting touch throughout the weekend. On Saturday, he connected on a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 first-half points to help give the Storm a first half lead.
Lochlan Hutchison — PG — 2017 — AUSA Silver
A stocky, 6’0 point guard that carves out space and gets to the bucket. Hutchison showed on Saturday against Team Cal Elite that is a capable outside shooter who can make big shots when they are needed the most. He sometimes makes questionable decisions, but he is a good all-around leader and playmaker for AUSA.
Drew King — G/F — 2018 — SEMO Storm
Kid can really stroke it from long distance. He had four 3-pointers and 18 points in a loss to AUSA on Saturday. He has good size at 6’4 and the ability to play multiple positions at both ends of the floor. King also impressed with his passing abilities.
Richard Leenaars — PF/C — 2017 — AUSA Silver
Leenaars needs to get stronger, but he showed he is a player to keep an eye in the future. Listed at 6’10, Leenaars is long, really runs the floor well and is extremely active on both ends of the floor. Has a little Euro in his game, can start the break off a rebound or steal with the dribble and has a terrific feel for passing the ball, often times even passes up good chances in the paint to make an extra pass to an open man.
Zach Ludwig — PG — 2018 — Tri City Thunder
Underrated point guard type that can handle the ball and shoot from distance. Has a nice, smooth 3-point stroke and is capable of pulling up off the dribble. He is able to get in the paint and find open teammates and dropped off several nice passes throughout the weekend.
Eric Peterson — SG — 2018 — Tri City Thunder
A 6’3 guard, Peterson helped the Thunder run away with an early morning game on Saturday against Indy EBC. He finished with 11 points to lead all scorers and showed off a diverse inside-outside game. Peterson has a nice outside shooting stroke and is a capable finisher around the basket.
Kyle Soderberg — F — 2018 — North Oakland Wolfpack
Came off the bench to put on a shooting display for North Oakland Wolfpack. He made three 3-pointers in the first half and helped his team erase a big early deficit, then added eight points in the second half. At 6’4, Soderberg has good size and is able to get on the boards.