There was plenty of talent at the 16U level of the NY2LA Sports Invitational. This included some known names as well to some new names all playing at an extremely high level.

Brock Brown – 2028 – G/F – MidPro Academy

After showing his great shooting ability last month at the Swish N’ Dish Tournament and during an all-state sophomore season, Brown once again did here at this tournament. In his one game the sophomore knocked down four threes in a tight game. He scored 18 points in this game with his pure jumper from the outside. More than just a shooter, Brown stands out with his great positional size at 6’6” along with his length and a growing ability to make plays off the dribble.

Traverse Emery – 2028 – SG – Wisconsin Legends

It was a breakout tournament for Emery who scored the ball very effectively throughout the weekend helping his Legends to three wins. On Saturday he scored 10 points in a single half and followed that up by scoring 18 points in a game, both in wins. He plays with good toughness and scored it effectively in a variety of ways. Whether the 6’2” two guard was going strong to the basket on drives or cuts, spotting up for threes, hitting the offensive glass for put backs, or getting to the line, Emery was consistently scoring the ball.

Jackson Koester – 2028 – G – Milwaukee Trailblazers

Koester was one of a few standouts from this deep and talented Trailblazers team that went 3-1. This included scoring the first five points in their first game helping them to a one-sided victory to open the tournament with 10 first half points. He is a high IQ, two-way guard who was just consistently making plenty of plays throughout the tournament. Koester plays under control with the ball and moves well maneuvering through defenders to get into the paint and finish but also shot the ball well spotting up from three. His great impact also extended with his energetic play to his very tough on ball defensive play as well to rebounding well as a guard, especially on the offensive side.

Liam Laidig – 2028 – SF – Kessel Heat

It was another standout tournament for Laidig as he is showing he is a player to know in Illinois’ 2028 class. He was highly impactful throughout the tournament in a trio of wins including scoring 25 points in their final game helping Kessel to a tight win. He is an athletic and active 6’5” wing forward who showed his ability to take over on both ends. He has a good blend of size, strength, perimeter skills, and quickness to be able to score it effectively driving to the basket as well as posting up or from the dunker spot. He was also very effective getting out in transition with multiple dunks in a single game. With all his tools, Laidig also showed the ability to be a paint protector but also moves well defending the ball out on the perimeter.

Evan Luchetti – 2028 – G/F – 24UP

Luchetti is a highly versatile and impactful player who was consistently making plays. This included making a ton of plays down the stretch of a tight game versus a very good Team Hali squad. Over his four games, he averaged 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. He is a smart 6’3” wing who knows how to play along with having a highly versatile game and playing with great energy. The wing got to the basket often throughout the tournament using both his moves as well as his strength but also shot it well from three. He played big finishing the ball at a high rate around the basket versus plenty of size using his frame and aggressiveness but also showed his quickness defensively.

Emmett Munson – 2028 – SF – River City United

With the consistent and highly impactful player of Munson throughout the tournament, River City United went 4-0 with some dominant wins. This included one of the top scoring performances of the tournament with 29 points in a game Saturday. Munson is an energetic and physical 6’4” wing forward with a solid build who showed a lot of abilities over his four games. He was very efficient scoring the ball around the paint including posting up but was also tough to stop as an aggressive straight-line driver using his physicality. He also made a big impact defensively with his big motor both blocking shots all around the paint as well to his tough on ball perimeter defensive play.

Jacoby Vance – 2029 – PF – Team NAF

Vance was a big reason why Team NAF had four wins during the tournament including one in which they started the game on a 19-2 run. In the first half alone of this game, he already scored 13 points. Throughout the tournament he showed his scoring ability getting it done inside and out. Even while playing up a level, Vance already has good size at 6’6” and strength to score it effectively around the basket but also shoots it very well from the outside hitting three threes in a single half doing so at a high percentage. He also showed his paint protection ability with multiple blocks in a single game.

Derek Williams – 2028 – SF – Team Hali

Williams shined throughout this tournament as a highly impactful player in addition to showing even greater upside to help his team to a 4-0 record. In a win on Saturday, he scored 18 points and then followed that up on Sunday by scoring 19 points in a comeback win. Much more than a scorer, Williams can do a bit of everything on the court as a physical and athletic 6’5” small forward with a well-rounded game. He scored it very well all tournament getting to the rim as a driver and cutter but also showing a growing jumper hitting some threes. Williams also showed his high-level defensive play being so tough to beat off the dribble while defending multiple positions very effectively. Williams is a fast-rising player in Wisconsin’s 2028 class.