17U HoopSeen West Tip-Off Top Performers, Part I
Let’s run through the top overall performers from the HoopSeen West Tip-Off at the amazing Bell Bank Park. Today we start with Part I from the 17 and under division.
He makes winning plays. That line gets tossed around a lot in basketball and sometimes its generality doesn’t get the weight probably deserves. With Kai, his winning plays mattered the most in the games where winning plays were needed. Team Arizona Black was 4-0 for the event, starting off the season with a bang. When the NCAA Live Period comes around in April, this is a team that will challenge all comers and Kai’s feel for the game, ability to run an offense as a passer, scorer and playmaker should shine. He’s a ball-player, to the core. - Justin Young
When you need a bucket, Gonzeles is the guy. He knows how to get ‘em and when to get ‘em. Crafty with the handle, quick with the pull-up jumper, keeping up with him is a tall task for defenders. Gonzales knows how to find his spots and he’s elite in constant motion. Guarding him takes a full can of stamina. When the game is up-tempo, he’s at his very best. Gonzales can break players down with his dribble and get to the basket with ease. He has learned how to finish over bigger defenders and score in traffic. On defense, the peskiness wears on the opoosition. Point blank, he knows how to maximize his game on both sides of the ball. - Justin Young
Simply put, there wasn’t a bigger and tougher guy to contend with in the paint at the HoopSeen Tip-Off. Big and present, Amenhauser did a nice job of playing above his shoulders. The Grand Canyon-bound center doesn’t do things he’s not capable of and that’s the beauty of his game. The self-awareness serves him well. As he continues to add some more nimbleness around the cup and a variety of moves in the post, he could continue to play in a way that puts him on the hardwood sooner than later when he gets to college. - Justin Young
What a weekend it was for the lead guard, who is headed to Angelina College. Johnson was one of the best guys in the backcourt in the entire event. He is a dynamic driver with a great knack for a bucket or a crafty pass to the right player. He’s wildly competitive and has the size paired with confidence that should allow him to make big strides in his game moving forward at the junior college level. Johnson should be a name to chart after his first dive into the collegiate game. The bones are there for a big level up when he gets to Texas for his JC career. - Justin Young
Payton is a talented guard who can score at all three levels. His shiftiness and high-level athleticism allow him to finish at the rim with finesse and slam it down. His jumper is smooth off-the-catch and off-the-bounce from all ranges. He also knows how to make the right passes when defenses collapse. After a postgrad year, Payton is ready to be a star at the next level and is going on a visit to high level D2 Northern State in the coming months. - Todd Zollinger
