Mid-Summer 16U Top 10

In my last post, I took at look at the top teams at the 17U level this summer. Now let's take a look at the 16U level.

1. 43 Hoops-Carr. Deep and athletic. Ross Travis has really come on for them this summer. Jordan Smith is one of the best shooters in the class. Freddie Young and Estan Tyler are a pair of quality point guards. Jake White and Thomas Schalk are 2 of the top 2011 prospects. Marquel Curtis is a powerful wing. Due to more impressive head-head wins against same opponents (SYF and Derrick Rose), they get the nod over ...
   
2. Minnesota Pump N Run. A very different squad than the 43 Hoops squad, but just as dangerous. Alex Richter is a beast on the wing. Mike Yahnke is the purest back to the basket post player I've seen at this level this spring. What they lack in athleticism is made up for with the size and physical play. Having Eric Robertson at 100% for July will give them another major weapon. A head to head win in Kansas gives them the nod over...
   
3. Howard Pulley Black. Marvin Singleton is a beast at the power forward slot and Marcus Alipate gives them a very solid point guard. Myles Barnes is a slippery post player and Nick Latzke is another standout shooter. Add in the grit of Evan Battle (who always seems to have a snarl on his face like somebody just insulted him)
4. Just like 17U, the Comets Elites come in at #4. Jayme Moten (who thankfully got rid of the cornrows and went back to the world's best hair) at the point is tough and fearless, Seth Hinrichs is a big 2 and with Bryan Reeves and Simon Krych up front, this is a very good and deep team.
5. MN Heat Elite. Rob Daul replaces Alex Richter on the wing as a bull in a china shop type. Add in the versatile Preiner twins (Luke needs to keep the duct tape on so we all can tell them apart) and bulldog Riley West on the perimeter with Ryan Burns and Jon Christenson inside. Not a fun team to play but not as deep as the top clubs.
6. Now it gets tough as I could pick any of 4 teams here and be happy with it. 43 Hoops II is my vote here. Big with Travis Rollo and TJ Okafor up front, athletic with Jared Bervin and Marcus Dorsey on the wings and Derek Dahl and Raijon Kelly at the point. Add in Jeremy Borg who fills a nice role for them. They blew through the MN Select tourney at the beginning of the month and if it weren't for giving up a 19 point lead to Glory, they'd be playing for the big prize this weekend.
   
7. Wear Out The Net. They have nice size with Spencer Pankonin and Otto Pfefferle inside but Max Watts is the guy who gets it done for them.
   
8. MN Wrath gets this spot. They had a nice run in Iowa after their MYAS schedule. Jack Klukas, Ben Kortum and Bronson Scheff give them players with varsity experience. I also like what Connor Nord did for them inside last weekend.
9. Minnesota Magic Elite for their body of work despite a close loss to the MN Wrath this weekend. They're athletic with guys like Joe Carpenter and Rodney Pierce-Tyler. Daron Garvis and Vaughn Thada give them perimeter quickness and they have size with Connor Quicksell and Robert Ndondo-Lay.
10. Minnesota Glory. Ben Figini has been clutch for them all season and Joe Zangel is a developing name. Credit has to be given for winning 3 close games this weekend to keep the #1 seed.

Honorable Mention: Team Minnesota Elite who knocked off 43 Hoops last weekend but lost to MN Magic and blew out by MN Wrath in Iowa. Minnesota Fury Gold who won their pool in Iowa and took Wear Out The Net to the wire last weekend in a game they probably should have won.

Let's root for 43 Hoops Carr to meet Pump N Run in Chicago in July to settle all the debate since they won't get a chance to revisit last year's district championship game.