Perry Ayers of Team Manimal.
There were so many players that improved their stock at the State AAU that there are too many to name, but several players really stood out to me.
Perry Ayers, Team Manimal: One of the most outstanding 2016 talents of the weekend was Ayers, who put on a display of athleticism on both ends of the floor for the upstart Manimals. He is at his best when attacking the basket on the offensive end, and his court vision leads to involvement of his teammates with his ability to dish the basketball. He is even more impressive on the defensive side of the ball with his quick feet and hands, especially in a full court press. The Bowling Green native needs to work on his outside shot, but his motor seems never ending, which makes it hard to keep him off the court.
Carson Williams, Hoop Dreams: The big man from Owen County was the best big man in the 9th grade tournament. He threw down several big time dunks while showing how well he runs the floor. Williams also showed very nice touch with the mid-range jumper and is very tough to handle on the post. It will be interesting to see if the 6’5″ forward can create more of an outside game, especially since he would probably be a 3 in college. Carson is definitely a kid to keep an eye on as he grows as a player.
Mason Faulkner, Team Manimal: Faulkner is the makings of a complete point guard with his size, handles and stroke. Faulkner wants to have the basketball when the game is on the line and isn’t afraid to take a game over if needed. He does a great job of distributing the basketball and seems to excel in transition in an up tempo type setting. Mason seemed to flourish in the Manimal style of play, but I wonder how he would react in a slow down pace and how it would affect his decision making on the court. As the Caverna HS product continues to improve it will be exciting to see just how good this kid could be.
Evan Hall, The Ville: The Knott County sophomore was a big cog in The Ville’s lineup over the weekend and it felt like he grabbed every rebound that fell off the rim. Hall does a great job of using his body, blocking out, and making sure he is in great position in the paint. He also looked great in the high post, hitting jumpers when given them and not forcing bad shot attempts. He stayed mostly in the paint and it would have been nice to see him have more attempts from outside 10 feet, but Hall will be an excellent 2nd option for Knott County after Camron Justice next high school year.
Michael Stafford, The Ville: The Trinity sophomore, who didn’t get to see a whole lot of minutes for the veteran led Shamrocks last season, will definitely play a major factor next season. Stafford has a knack of finding lanes to basket and finishes more often than not. He also did a great job of getting to the free throw line. What stuck out to me the most about Stafford was his ability to get to the rim and his bulldog attitude. One play I remember was him getting blocked, but that didn’t stop him from going right back into the paint on the next trip and scoring on a nice driving layup. Trinity seems like they could be reloading again.
Chris Hudson, Hoop Dreams: The junior from Hazard showed he can score inside or out and will be a tough mismatch for almost any team. The 6’7″ forward has a nice outside shot, hitting several from beyond the arc, and is also a horse in the paint. His defense is lacking and I question his motor, but the talent is definitely there. This will be a big year for Hudson to really push himself to be one of the elite players in the state, or he could possibly get lost in the shuffle. One thing is for sure, Chris Hudson has a big body and talent to boot.
Chris Cunningham, Louisville Magic: The Henry Clay junior looked really good as the Magic rolled to the AAU state title. With so many talented players on one squad, it was sort of hard to pick out just one player. Having watched Cunningham in high school, he seemed a lot more comfortable playing AAU than he did in the winter. The 6 foot point guard was a floor leader and it seemed like he was always in the middle of something positive. He also displayed a nice shot when left open, doing a very good job of keeping the defense honest, especially with so many other offensive weapons on the floor. I could see Cunningham running a mid-major team in college as his basketball iq usually puts him in the right place to make positive plays. A trustworthy guard that makes positive team plays for his teammates can play on my team any day.
Other players to keep an eye on
D’Angelo Hunter, Louisville Magic, 2014, PRP
Brent Bach, Hoop Dreams, 2014, Augusta
Malik Dow, Hoop Dreams, 2016, Ballard
Tyler Sharp, Manimal, 2016, Bullitt East
A couple of thoughts about the Kentucky State AAU:
Need to do something about officiating. Seemed like a ton of calls determined the outcome of games. No surprise there, huh?
Also, someone needs to get together with all the coaches and put together a program with all the rosters. I am sure everyone would love to know who they are watching, that way the media can give these kids publicity. A lot of times an event like this could help a kid get some college looks.
If you haven’t ever been to the State AAU and you need a gym fix, this is definitely an event you need to check out.
