2023 Grassroots Showcase 16U Standouts
LOUISVILLE, Ky—The 16U division of the Grassroots Showcase saw several outstanding performances and games. We start our breakdown of it all with a look at some of the many standouts.
I haven’t seen Alex Young play many bad games . He’s been a source of consistency on a team that gets a lot of Ws, and he was one of the leaders behind Norcross Heat’s 4-0 record. Young’s savvy defense showed up throughout the weekend. He’s aware of his surroundings and gets deflections because of that. Offensively, he can score on all levels, and his patience around the basket stands out. He’s building a great spring resume with Norcross Heat. - Josh Tec
One of the top prospects we saw within the DMV Stags program who brought a lot of teams to Louisville for our Grassroots Showcase. The first thing you notice about Joy is his ability to create off the dribble and his shotmaking repertoire. He can score from all angles and spots on the floor. He is not going to be the biggest guard out on the floor but he makes up with it with his ability to be a playmaker. He can get to the paint and make things difficult for the defense. The 2025 point guard is a true floor-general with an ability to score and distribute the ball at a high-level. - Justin Byerly
Pierre-Louis put up some monster performances for Bad Boys National this weekend. He’s a big-time scorer from all levels. It’s not out of the ordinary to see Pierre-Louis put up 20-plus points per game, and 30-plus is always on the table when he’s around as well. Pierre-Louis’ ability to get to his spots is impressive considering that he’s a primary target of opposing defenses. He’s been a star on this team for a while now, and he should continue to put up big-time numbers for them moving forward. - Josh Tec
Heze Kent has been a monster for South Georgia Elite since the beginning of the travel season. The 2026 forward is playing up an age group and has been crushing it. It’s been fun to see him go to work this spring. He led them to another successful weekend in Louisville. Kent provides such an imposing presence around the basket. He plays more physically than most, and there aren’t many teams that have someone to combat him. He’s a rebounding machine on both ends and has good touch around the rim. He has been as consistent of a player as I’ve seen in 16U. I can count on a Heze Kent double-double for SGE when they take the floor. - Josh Tec
The Wellington Wolves went undefeated in 17U and 16U. The leader of the pack in 16U was 6-foot-3 guard Dakota Izard. He made a statement this weekend with big-time performance after big-time performance. Izard is an athletic guard that plays with plenty of toughness. He gets up for highlight dunks and provides a consistent presence on the glass. Izard is a knockdown shooter too. He’s someone that I look forward to seeing more later in the summer. - Josh Tec
Florida Pro had a heck of a weekend in Louisville. Their 16U team went undefeated with several emphatic wins under their belt. One of the stars on the team was Christian Maxon. The 6-foot-2 guard has been known for his ability to get hot from beyond the arc. We’ve seen it from him for a while on various platforms. The guy can torch nets, and he did on multiple occasions at the Grassroots Showcase. - Josh Tec
I love the effort that Springs brings to the floor. He’s a guard that’s not afraid to go out and do the dirty work, the little things that help a team win that might go unnoticed by those who aren’t paying attention. He’ll take a charge, he’ll fight for loose balls, he defends, he makes the right passes, etc. In the end, he’s rewarded with productive games. While he does all of the little things, that doesn’t mean that he can’t put points on the board. He’s a well-rounded offensive player who uses his athleticism and control at the rim. - Josh Tec
