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.
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
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
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
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
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
