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2022 Grassroots Basketball Finale: 16U Standouts

26, Jul 2022

2022 Grassroots Basketball Finale: 16U Standouts

VIRGINIA BEACH—The 16U division was a blast to follow in Virginia Beach. These are the guys that will be fully on the forefront of many recruiting discussions over the next year. They’re about to take steps forward in every aspect of their basketball careers. Before that advancement, these are some of the guys that made eye-catching statements at the Grassroots Finale.

 

Casey Etienne

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Class
2024
|
Position
PG
|
Height
6' 3"
|
School Team
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
18
State Pos. Rank
2

 

Regardless of division or age group, three wasn’t a player that had a more productive overall weekend than Etienne. His presence on the court was felt in every aspect of the game as Etienne routinely flirted with quadruple-doubles. Offensively, the South Florida guard is lightning quick and uses his speed to blow by defenders and cruise to the rim. While he boasts high point totals, Etienne is unselfish and shares the ball well. On the other end of the floor, he uses his quick hands and good timing to rack up steals. He’s a player that coaches emphasize on scouting reports but still can’t stop. We saw him light up Best of the South earlier in July, and he did the same thing in Virginia Beach to close the month. - Josh Tec

 

Parker Robison

Chattanooga, TN

Class
2024
|
Position
PG
|
Height
5' 11"
|
School Team
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
33
State Pos. Rank
12

 

Floor general. That’s the most appropriate way of describing Robison in my book. He’s as pure of a point guard as I saw over the weekend. Robison controls the pace of the game well on offense and is a savvy defender. From 3-point range, Robison is consistent and reliable. He can get on a hot streak from out there and stretch a close lead into a blowout pretty quickly. Point guards like Robison are always going to be in demand because of how valuable it is to have a steady presence running the show. Wherever his recruitment may take him, I’d venture to say that he’ll be a coach’s favorite at the next level. - Josh Tec

 

Christian Maxon

Port Saint Lucie, FL

Class
2025
|
Position
CG
|
Height
6' 2"
|
School Team
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
12
State Pos. Rank
4

 

This kid can absolutely sling it from deep with zero hesitation. The three-ball is pure, and he has it in him to penetrate into the midrange areas and sink the 10-to-15 footers. He can convert at the rim with the best of them and isn’t shy about absorbing contact if it means getting players into foul trouble. It was impressive to see him sink four treys to go along with 16 points in a game vs. All-In Beasts, where AIB was doing a great job of defending the perimeter. But, it didn’t matter to Maxon. It never does. - Jerome Reed

 

Brandon Jennings

Chester, VA

Class
2024
|
Position
CG
|
Height
6' 4"
|
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
NR
State Pos. Rank
NR

 

Jennings has a ton of upside with his positional size and length. The 6-foot-4 guard plays well both on and off the ball. He’s a smart passer and playmaker who routinely makes good reads with the ball in his hands. Jennings is able to get by his man often and scores well at the rim. He’s shifty and can almost daze an opposing defender before taking off and utilizing his speed to blow by them. This Team PUSH squad has a lot of weapons, and Jennings routinely stood out on their run through the 16U bracket to championship gold.  - Josh Tec

 

MJ Williams

Farmville, NC

Class
2025
|
Position
PG
|
Height
5' 10"
|
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
15
State Pos. Rank
3

 

Williams comes out of famed Farmville Central high school. The high school in eastern North Carolina has produced guard after guard after guard. MJ Williams is looking like a 2025 Prospect that is going to fall in line with all the great guards out of the school. He has a knack for scoring, can knock down the long ball, and can get to the rim. He’s a typical eastern North Carolina guard that plays hard and just gets baskets. - Justin Byerly

 


Josh Tec
Editor-in-Chief

Josh Tec is a Georgia State graduate with a degree in journalism. Tec aspires to work in basketball media as his career continues. At Georgia State, he graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors and was recognized as a leader in the classroom. Outside of basketball, Tec loves movies and perpetually seeks out his next favorite film.