Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Fort Wayne, IN (Future150) -- The 2013 Bill Hensley Memorial Run N' Slam Classic kicks off tonight in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the event will be absolutely loaded with quality talent.
The seniors-to-be division will be the most loaded, with several of the most dominant AAU teams in the country taking part.
Spiece Indy Heat, All Ohio Red, Mac Irvin Fire, Tead Thad, Milwaukee Running Rebels, Wisconsin Playground Warriors, Indiana Elite, Louisville Magic, and Meanstreets are just a few of the big name programs who will do battle this weekend.
Here are a few storylines Future150 will be watching for this weekend...
Will Big Name Point Guards be Able to Cool Off Chris Chiozza?
The star of AAU season to date has been Team Thad point guard Chris Chiozza, who has emerged as a top five lead guard in the country in the 2014 class. This weekend will serve as a stiff test with JaQuan Lyle, Charles Matthews, and several other big name point guards looking to get in the way of the Memphis star.
UCLA, Florida, Illinois, Ohio St, Indiana, Tennessee & Louisville remain in the hunt for the Lyle, while John Calipari and Kentucky have recently visited the Matthews, the St. Rita star.
Will Top 20 Stars Return From Injury This Weekend?
While the 17U field is already stockpiled with talent, it could become very interesting if injured prospects Leron Black, Jahlil Okafor, and Trey Lyles suit up in Fort Wayne.
All top 10 prospects in Future150's rankings, Black and Okafor have been sidelined with ankle injuries, while Lyles has been dealing with an apparent knee injury. There are rumblings that Leron will be in action this weekend, but there's no word yet if either Midwest star will suit up.
Will Quentin Snider Continue His Strong Spring?
Our #33 prospect in the country and #7 point guard comes into the weekend under-the-radar with big name point guards getting all the publicity. However, that shouldn't take away what he has done so far this spring.
Two weekends ago, he impressed us with his strong play at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest, and this weekend, he could really make a statement when matched up against guards such as Chris Chiozza and JaQuan Lyle.
Is Kevon Looney a Top 5 Prospect in 2014?
After leading the Milwaukee Running Rebels to a championship over Team Thad last weekend in Biloxi, Mississippi at the Gulf Coast Hoop fest, Looney looks to carry that momentum to Fort Wayne this weekend.
He ended the tournament strong last weekend, finishing with 30 points and double digit rebounds in a dominating performance. He cemeted his status as a top 10 prospect in the 2014 class, and another big weekend will have him creeping very close to the top of the rankings.
He has a great feel for the game for a big man. He can play both the three and four positions on the floor, and when his mid-range jump shot is falling, he becomes nearly unguardable, which is exactly why powerhouse programs like Duke are vying for him.
2015 Ohio Star Rising Fast:
Outside of the 17U action, there will also be tons of talented underclassmen taking the floor this weekend. The most talented of the bunch could be Future150's #18 prospect in 2015, Carlton Bragg.
He has had an outstanding spring so far, and he is making a big push toward rising into the top 10 when we release our next rankings update.
He can score the basketball in a variety of ways, has a high motor, rebounds, and blocks shots. He has as much upside as anyone in his class, and it will be fun to watch him this weekend.
Comments:
What is the take on the Class of 2016? King James Shooting Stars had a very good weekend.