Another early spring event that has attracted quality teams over the last few years, the Ryze Tip-Off took place March 25th & 26th at LakePoint. It provided another opportunity to get an initial look at different teams in some serious matchups that set the tone for the next 3+ months. Here are a few guys who made notable impacts during the 2 days.
6’7” Joah Chapelle (2024/Wood Elite)
Wood Elite has been racking up some notable victories during the first few weeks of the travel season. They have a deep team with a lot of different contributors and I feel like Chapelle’s impact should not go overlooked. He’s a great overall athlete who brings a lot of energy and really uses those athletic tools on the defensive end. He contests shots all over the place while also showing that he can go out on the wing to move his feet & defend guards. Although still fairly raw on offense, Chapelle had flashes of potential in a few areas on that end & was pretty reliable converting around the basket, resulting in an average of 9.3 PPG in their 4 games. Continuing to gain experience should help Chapelle a lot as we approach the summer months.
6’5” Brady Shoulders (2024/Stars Nashville)
Playing alongside some talented perimeter guys who can make things happen with the ball in their hands, Shoulders understands his role and finds ways to produce without demanding many touches. I really liked his effort on the offensive glass as he created problems for opposing teams by crashing nonstop. He has a strong, mature frame that helps him to go through bodies for boards and then drawing contact to either finish inside or force fouls. The physical effort plays were there all weekend from Shoulders, but he is also more than that as he can stretch the floor with both his shooting & passing ability. Given the makeup of the Stars team, what Shoulders brings to the table will be valuable & important to their success in UA Rise games.
6’5” Sean Van Dorn (2025/AE5)
Van Dorn had a very consistent weekend for AE5, helping them to wins over TSF and Game Elite. He scored at least 15 points in each game, showing various pieces to his game at different times throughout the weekend. AE5’s team plays with a clear chip on their shoulder & I feel like it starts with Van Dorn’s intensity & competitiveness. He is constantly involved in the action and showed he can be effective in different situations. When their backcourt got going, he was productive playing away from the ball and made multiple explosive plays inside. But, he also displayed some skill himself handling & attacking in the open court to put pressure on the defense in addition to connecting on a few 3’s. I’m excited to see how the rest of the spring & summer go for him.
6’5” Cade Murphy (2026/Fastbreak)
A Ryze event last May was where I first watched & became impressed with Murphy. He was back at LakePoint again for this year’s Tip-Off and produced at an even higher level this time around. Playing up in the 17U division as a 2026, he finished the tournament as a Top 5 overall scorer at 23.5 PPG. That average speaks for itself, but what stood out to me is the way in which it came. Murphy showed that he has a variety of tools in his bag when it comes to scoring & could adapt to what was available in each matchup. His 3-point shot is clean & effective but he doesn’t settle for it. Murphy has a good base of moves & fundamentals when attacking off the bounce and has touch from different areas of the floor. I also liked some of the things he did as a cutter & sneaking in for putbacks. There’s a lot to like with Murphy for being just a 2026 prospect and his name will continue to pop up.