2023 16U All-HoopSeen Association
The future of the HoopSeen Associaton is healthy and in good hands. We had a good look at the next wave this season and came away impressed with the players and performers at the 16 and under division. Meet our All-HSA team for the 16U group from the 2023 season.
One of the stories of the HoopSeen season was Nic Niare’s rise with the Monarchs. We knew our friends from north of the border had talent, and from the first weekend they came down, Niare was a player that caught our collective attention. From his frame to his toughness to his versatility, Niare jumped off the page as a no-brainer prospect for D1 coaches. As we became more familiar with the intricacies of his game, we gradually grew to like him more and more as a prospect with each weekend. Niare already checks plenty of boxes on both sides of the ball. As a defender, he can lock up multiple positions with his combination of length and athleticism, and as a scorer, he showed the ability to put points on the board from all over the floor. His recruitment is starting to take shape early with schools like St. Bonaventure having extended offers, but by this time next year, we’re expecting a lengthy list of next-level suitors for him. - Josh Tec
Norcross Heat was one of the best, most consistent teams in the 16U division, and Alex Young was their most consistent player. At every stop, Young has delivered on the HoopSeen platform whether it’s in a camp setting, in the 16U division, or playing up in 17U. He is productive across the board. His offensive game was one of his hallmarks with his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter while also playing like a veteran post player as a guard. His patience, tenacity around the basket aren’t only apparent as a scorer but as a positional rebounder as well. Young isn’t going to overwhelm with size or athleticism, but he has a good feel for the game and he’s a worker. An underappreciated aspect of his game is his defensive awareness. He has a good idea of where the ball is at all times, and he has a valuable combination of good hands and timing to block shots or get deflections. - Josh Tec
We have had the privilege to watch this prospect for a few years now and man has he just improved and improved over the course of those years. He has the understanding of the game that many coach’s sons are instilled with and he makes that known out on the floor with his ability to make decisions and make the right play. Howard is growing into his body and will be a force next season on the HoopSeen circuit. He’s a lot of fun to watch because he has explosiveness and a sense for scoring the ball. His dad played at Charlotte and is the namesake of the team that he shines for. - Justin Byerly
There weren’t many presences in the 16U division as imposing as South Georgia Elite’s Hezekiah Kent. Big, burly, he dominated games with his physicality. Kent dominated the glass and often got a majority of his consistently high point totals via his offensive rebounding prowess. His hands combined with a soft touch around the rim allowed him to be an efficient scorer and reliable target for his teammates to dish the ball to. An underrated part of his power in the post was his ability to limit opponents’ opportunities on offense. South Georgia Elite thrived in low-scoring games by design, and Kent was a major part of that. Never a blackhole when he got the ball down low, Kent used his presence as a way to shrink defenses and find open teammates. Kent never tried to do too much. He understood the assignment every time we saw him. - Josh Tec
When thinking about the travel season that was, there might not have been as productive of a player in the 16U division as Team Wright’s Ladainian Brooks. He did it all for Team Wright all season. The 6-foot-7 guard/wing was the primary option on offense as an on-ball creator and scorer. He showed that he’s a quality slasher with a solid foundational skill set that can continue to improve. On the other side of the ball, he’s a versatile defender who uses his size, length and athleticism to guard pretty much every position at this level. He boasted some eye-popping stats throughout the season, and that’s something we’ve seen out of him dating back to 2022. He’s tracking to be a no-brainer D1 talent who should have plenty of interest around him next year.
