Bill Hensley Memorial Run N Slam 2024 review!! Superlatives, Top players and top teams!!!!!!!

Big Tim

May 9, 20248 min read

Updated: May 14, 2024

FORT WAYNE, IN: My third consecutive time going to this event and I enjoy it everytime. It didn't have the talent of the past because two shoe companies (Nike EYBL, Adidas 3SSB) were running sessions the same weekend. Still plenty of talent to go around though and some sleepers emerged. Here we go:

Champs and a runners-up:

17U Platiunum Co-Champs were Wisconsin Playground Club UAA (WI) and Illinois Wolves UAA. Both teams made it to the finals but decided not to play. They are both on the Under Armour Circuit and both teams had some injuries. They decided to save the players to get rested and ready for the only live period in May (which is May 17-19). Congrats to both.

17U Gold Champs were the Shining Star (OH,IN,KY).

16U Platinum Champs were the Reach Legends 2026 (MI). They beat the Illinois Wolves 62-56 in title game. Congrats. I'll do the top players further down in the post.

14U Platinum Champs were the Storm (MI).

14U Platinum Runners-Up were Swish Basketball Club (MI).

Top game:

17U: Legacy Ice Elite (IN) 85 Meanstreets Black (IL) 79: Game was at Carroll High School at 10:15 at night, I usually do not attend these late games but one of the young men wanted me to check him out. This was a back and forth game where both teams took 6-8 point leads at one point. Legacy Elite came through in the last 2 minutes with 8 points in a row as Meanstreets Black made a couple of critical late turnovers. Lots of offense and it wasn't because of bad defense. It was just that the offense was better by both teams. High level game for so late at night.

Top players:

Wilson Huckeby, Reach Legends 16U (MI): 6'3" combo guard was 8 for 8 from three in the championship game vs Illinois Wolves. Just a monster display of shooting. Talk about on fire, he hit catch and shoot, off the bounce, step back threes. One of the top three point shooters I've seen this spring. Hit at least 5 threes in multiple games here.

Alex Jamison, Reach Legends 16U (MI): 6'2" guard drew a lot of fouls in the title game vs Illinois Wolves. He scored 18 points and was 6-7 from the free throw line.

Noah Mister, Illinois Wolves 16U: 6'0" point guard had 10 points and a few assists in title game. Hit two threes in title game vs Reach Legends.

Ricoantonio D'Alessandro, Illinois Wolves 16U: 6'5" wing had a game high 17 points in title game vs Reach Legends.

Kairon Rogers, Wisconsin Playground Club UAA (WI) 17U: 6'11" center was a dunk machine. I was on court 1 and they were playing on court 4 and I HEARD 4 of his dunks in once game on Friday. He continued to just dunk anything within miles of the rim. He ran the floor very well (great rim runner) and his teammates looked for him every time. He rim protected with blocked shots and hit both backboards. He had 15 points in Platinum semifinal vs Team Mookie Betts. Scored 20 points in first round game vs Ohio Buckets.

Juan Guerrero Hernandez, Wisconsin Playground Club UAA (WI) 17U: 6'5" wing athlete who ran the floor well for dunks and mid range jump shots. He also hit the glass at a high level, running the floor with energy plays. Had 14 in first round game vs Ohio Buckets.

Jake Hansen, Wisconsin Playground Club UAA 17U: 6'0" shooting guard knockdown three point shooter especially off the catch. You just can't leave him open on the wing, you might as well run down the court because it's going in. Had 12 points in first round game vs Ohio Buckets.

Nacir Beamon, Wisconsin Playground Club UAA 17U: Unsigned senior showed his explosive athleticism on nice drives and dunks all weekend. Good at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line as he attacks the lane with explosion off the bounce and takes off on defenders. Had 10 points in first round game vs Ohio Buckets.

Nick Allen, Illinois Wolves UAA 17U: 6'11" center was double machine that was scoring on post ups and power dunks at the rim. Had 20 points in a half of one of the games. Fierce competitor in the paint area. Had 15 points Platinum semifinal vs Always In My Bag.

Bradley Longcor III, Illinois Wolves UAA 17U: 6'4" point guard was consistently scoring on threes and drives to the rim. Set up teammates for baskets from three, fedding the post, and drives to the basket and either finsihing or setting up teammates for finishes. Had 15 in Platinum semifinal vs Always In My Bag.

Blake Fagbemi, Illinois Wolves UAA 17U: 6'0" point guard gets after it defensively had a number of steals pressuring the opposing point guard. He attacks the rim and can either score with the left or right, or set up teammates. He set up Sean Reynolds for game tying three in one game. The same game he attacked the basket and made the winning bucket. Coming into his own as a player.

Kaidan Chatham, Powerhouse Sports 17U: 6'2" point guard is a stat sheet filler. He's always been a great driver and finisher at the rim. He has added a nice mid range pull-up and deep threes to his game. You can't go under screens on him anymore, he'll pull up and knock down threes at a high rate. He sets up teammates and hits the glass on both ends. A constant triple double threat had 8 steals in one game. Had 20 points in first round win over OPS 2025 Evans. Division one coaches need to go watch him in the live period.

Julius Gizzi, Legacy Ice Elite Gizzi (IN) 17U: 6'3" combo guard attacks strong to the basket and finsihes through contact consistently. Had 26 points against Powerhouse Sports on Sunday. Hit one three but did most of his damage at the rim, drawing fouls and hitting 5 for 5 from the line. I was told he was the leading scorer in Indiana High School basketball last season.

Hunter Sisson, Legacy Ice Elite (IN) 17U: 6'6" wing just filled it up all night as he hit key threes and dagger threes to help team seperate. He hit 4 consectuive threes at the end of the game . He ended up with 21 points (5 threes) in win over Meanstreets Black.

Zo Clawson-Smith, Legacy Ice Elite (IN) 17U: 6'0" point guard was scoring on drives, pull-up jumpers and drawing fouls for trips to the free throw line. He had 18 points not hitting a three but attacking the rim in win over Meanstreets Black.

Malachi King, Legacy Ice Elite (IN) 17U: 6'4" wing was attacking all night and scoring at the rim playing through contact. He evened out his scoring with 16 points, 8 in each half in win over Meanstreets Black.

Ethan Edwards, Legacy Ice Elite (IN) 17U: 6'6" forward had 9 of his 13 points in second half in win over Meanstreets Black by attacking the rim and finishing.

Kevo St Hilaire, Legacy Ice Elite (IN) 17U: 6'10" center had 9 points but did some elite rim protecting in this game. He also hit the defensive glass to give his team just enough of an edge to win.

Andrew King, Meanstreets Black (IL) 17U: 6'5" wing scored at all three levels in game vs Legacy Ice Elite. He ended up with 21 points in a variety of ways hit three threes in game.

Demarco King, Meanstreets Black (IL) 17U: 6'1" point guard is a Class of 2027 player playing two levels up. He had 19 of his 24 points in the second half vs Legacy Ice Elite. He hit three LONG threes to bring his team back in the game in the second half. Made some good passes off penetration to the basket and score on some nice Euro finishes. He belongs in the conversation of the great guards in Illinois for 2027.

Keyon Kehl, Meanstreets Black (IL) 17U: 6'4" wing lefty is a very good long range three point shooter. He hit some in key times to get his team back into the game. He hit 4 threes for his 12 points in the game. Can't leave him open on the wings.

Bryce Curry, Phenom United (OH) 15U: 6'4" combo guard is ranked the #1 player in 2027 for state of Ohio. He scored 6 points but let the game come to him and made some great passes in game vs Breakaway Basketball UA Rise.

Josh Tyson, Phenom United (OH) 15U: He had a game high 17 points in win vs Breakaway Basketball UA Rise.

Ryan Dinnan, Breakaway Basketball UA RISE (IL) 15U: He had a game high 17 points vs Phenom United (OH).

Anton Strelnikov, Breakaway Basketball UA RISE (IL) 17U: 6'8" forward has had a great spring showing he may be the best big man in 2025 for Illinois. Scoring at a high level on the block and in the paint area. He had 19 points vs TNBA Ohio (HGSL).

Hayden Schroeder, Illinois Wolves UAA (IL) 15U: 6'7" forward plays so strong on the block. He has nice post moves, can power you or finesses you in the paint. Double/double machine had 19 points in game vs Shining Star Price.

Ethan Vahl, Illinois Wolves UAA (IL) 15U: 6'2" point guard is a Class of 2028 talent playing up who can explode scroing in bunches. Had 7 points in a stretch in the first half vs Shining Star Price. Had double figure games in other situations in the event. He can hit long range shots as soon as he hits the gym. High school to be determined.

Cole Kelly, Breakaway Basketball UA RISE 16U: 6'6" wing is a Class of 2028 talent playing two age groups up. He had 14 points against Midwest Pumas Useh. He also had a 31 point game on Sunday. Three level scorer who can attack on drives and finish strong at the rim. Hits the glass at a high level. Headed to Neuqua Valley (Naperville).

Damion Porter Jr, Midwest Renegade NEW BALANCE 17U: 6'4" combo guard was impressive on both ends running point guard. He had a nasty dunk (WATCH YOUR HEAD!!!). He had 20 points to go with a few assists and rebounds vs Moss Elite HGSL. Uses his physicality to get up i opposing guards and cause them headaches, whether on the ball or on the wing.