U16 Nationals Wrap: Boys standout prospects

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We saw plenty of fantastic contributors throughout last week in Bendigo for the Under 16 Australian National Championships, but who were the best prospects long term? Keeping in mind these athletes were born in 2010 or 2011 (a fact which I’m sure for many of you will make you feel very old), so there is so much still to play out in their physical and mental maturation, not to mention their skill-sets, so any analysis is more fascination than forecasting. 

We know from history that U16 production does not necessarily predict long-term success, a short perusal of the event’s history will illustrate that fact. With that said, it was a great event to identify some young talent with promising potential, and with the challenging task of keeping a list down to ten names, here are some of the prospects that caught my eye.

Jordan Kaesler (Queensland South)

22.6 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 4.9 APG | 43% FG | 20-57 3PT (35%) | 3.1 SPG

If there was one individual takeaway on the boys’ side of the tournament this year, it was Jordan Kaesler.

With polish far beyond his years, Kaesler topped the competition’s individual scoring and assist averages, but it was how he did it that truly impressed - Kaesler was handling the ball in tight spaces, shifting defences and splitting double teams as he got to wherever he wanted on the floor.

A crafty finisher who can utilise both hands and rise with great elevation into one of the purest jump-shots of his age group, Kaesler was a dominant scoring threat, as well as a solid distributor.

Stevan Tasic (Vic Metro)

17 PPG | 10 RPG | 2.75 SPG | 34-53 FT (64.2%) | 1.8 APG

Like many on this list, the most dominant U16 athletes are often the most physically developed, and Stevan Tasic was able to use his frame, physicality, and motor to dominate for the Victorians all week. Tasic averaged a double-double, disrupting defensively, attacking in transition,using his size in the paint, and converting better than most at the line,making him a really tough cover, including in the gold medal game, where he scored 20 points and grabbed 7 rebounds against an undersized South Australia Metro.

Johnty Dynan (Tasmania)

16.4 PPG | 11.9 RPG | 3.0 APG | 29/39 FT (74%)

Projecting bigs at an early age can be challenging, but Johnty Dynan was both the most dominant big man of the week and possesses key qualities that make him an exciting talent for the future. Standing at 202cm, Dynan’s size posed problems for teams in this age group, yet what truly set him apart was his movement. He has the rare combination of being an agile rim runner with a great motor, with the ability to handle the ball while attacking the rim.
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Benjamin Ware-Drakeford (Vic Metro)

13.3 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 4.4 APG | 42.8% FG | 9-42 3PT (21.4%)

Point guard Ware-Drakeford was the leader of a deadly Vic Metro offence, showcasing great skill in creating plays off the dribble and hitting shots from beyond the arc.

Ware-Drakeford has a scorer’s mindset and was very confident scoring at multiple levels all week, especially out of ball screens. The main challenge for Ware-Drakeford as a prospect might be his quickness in creating advantages off the dribble, as defenders grow bigger and stronger.

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Riley Powell (Tasmania)

13.7 PPG | 9.6 RPG | 11/30 3PT (23%) | 11/20 FT (55%)‍

Tasmania had a tough week of results, but that doesn’t mean they lacked talent on display, and Riley Powell certainly impressed. The powerful forward has a solid frame, but beyond his ability to use his size down low, he also showed he can handle the ball and stretch the floor from three. Between Powell and Dynan, Tasmania had a dominant front court that did a lot of the heavy lifting for the Islanders throughout the week.

Jackson Hood (Vic Country)

11.7 PPG | 10.9 RPG | 46.3% FG | 29-43 FT (67%) | 1.2 SPG

Another mobile big who had a highly productive tournament,Jackson Hood was the standout for Victoria Country. Generally too quick for most bigs, Hood was impressive attacking the rim, and his rebounding was dominant. Expecting Hood to continue to grow in the coming years, his mobility and footwork should make him a versatile forward in the long term. We didn’t see him have the green light from the three-point line, but solid free throw conversions suggest some long-term potential to shoot the ball.

Dylan Lomman (South Australia Metro)

12.9 PPG | 6.6 RPG | 2.2 APG | 1.9 SPG | 25.7% 3PT | 12-22 FT (54.5%)

The stats might not necessarily favour Dylan Lomman, but I think the silver medal winner’s top scorer deserves credit for his contributions throughout the week. Despite difficult shooting splits, the lanky wing was heavily relied upon to take and make tough shots, and he showed great form and a quick release that indicates he has significant potential as a shooter. It will be interesting to see how his frame and game develop over the next few years.

Barry Akingbade (Vic Metro)

7 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 8/12 FT (66%)

Bottom age big man Barry Akingbade may have come off the bench for Victoria Metro, but he was by far the most intriguing physical prospect competing. Standing around 6’6, his size is notable for a 2011-bornathlete, but what may be even more impressive is his strong frame, long arms,big hands, and ability to rise above the rim on both one and two feet. More than just an athlete, there are several promising signs on the skill front,with promising shot mechanics and solid post footwork.

It looks like Akingbade will be a forward or big man in the future, so his future physical growth will be fascinating to follow, and his hands and motor will also be key attributes to monitor going forward, but the potential upside looks very high. It will be exciting to see what he contributes as a top-age player next year.

Will Dooley (NSW Country)

10.8 PPG | 12.5 RPG | 2.4 BPG | 50% FG | 8-14 FT (57%)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DL12e_Bz4wv/?img_index=1
It was hard not to notice big man Will Dooley. Standing at 6’10, he literally towered over the competition, leading in individual rebound averages and blocking 2.4 shots per game. It's clear that someone of his size at this age could have professional potential. Although he moves predictably and somewhat sluggishly for his height and youth, there’s some optimism about his skill development - Dooley showed strong passing vision during the week, as well as touch from the free-throw line (6’10).

Stephen Yiah (Vic Metro)

8.9 PPG | 9.5 RPG | 1.5 SPG | 50.8% FG

It would be very easy to list the Vic Metro players from top to bottom on this list, but I want to make a special mention of Stephen Yiah, who physically imposed himself on the competition all week. Yiah likely has the most physically developed frame of all prospects, with broad shoulders and an extremely long wingspan, and demonstrated no hesitation in using his size - bullying opponents physically and dominating the glass - while also proving to be a versatile impact player defensively.

Developing perimeter skills will be crucial for Yiah, who currently has limited ball skills and range, coupled with a challenging week at the free throw line. The next few years of growth will reveal whether he’s just an early physical bloomer or a genuine top prospect in the future.

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