PGH Champions Challenge: Byron's Tournament Recap (16U/17U)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">I covered this tournament via stream, and even though I was not there in person, it was clear there were a ton of standout players and high level games throughout the weekend. The energy was high and the competition was strong. Below is a small recap of a few programs I really enjoyed watching, along with some players who stood out and made a strong impression.</h2>   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">TEAMS</h1>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='1230720' first='Team' last='Herro'] (17U & 16U)</strong> - <em>There was no program at this event as dominant as [program_tooltip program_id='1230720' first='Team' last='Herro']. Regardless of the pool, both the 16U and 17U squads finished the weekend without a single loss. The 17U team won each of their games by an average of 42 points and did not allow a single opponent to score over 30. They were dominant on both ends of the floor and left no question about who the best team in the tournament was. The 16U team followed suit, with an average point differential of 52, holding every opponent under 20 points. From start to finish, this program's top teams completely controlled the event.</em></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Play4HIm Academy (16U)</strong> - This was my first time watching this program, and the 16U team left a strong impression. They had a couple of blowout wins over the weekend, but it was their final matchup against [program_tooltip program_id='713332' first='Team' last='Wisconsin'] 16U Red that really sold me. They battled through a tough game against strong competition and pulled out a close win to finish the weekend 4-0. </li> </ul>   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">PLAYERS</h1>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>#4 Play4Him Academy (16U) </strong>- <em>A tough nosed player who has no quit in her game. She is active, aware, and full of hustle. Never stays in the same spot for too long and always finds herself near the ball or involved in the play. She makes an impact on the boards and knows how to get to the right spots to make things easier for her teammates to convert.</em></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>#2 Play4Him Academy (16U)</strong> - <em>Her awareness is what stuck out to me the most. She had a couple of heads up plays that led to easy points in transition, including a full court one handed pass that was perfectly on target and forced an immediate timeout. One of those complementary players you love to have on your team.</em></li> </ul>    <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Skye is still putting together her skillset as a wing, but her frame allows her to impact the game well beyond the offensive side. She is active on the boards and can cause a lot of disruption on the defensive end as well. Looking forward to seeing her continue to grow into her game.</em></p>     <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Lyla has all the tools to be a standout in her class. She has the length, the moves, and the mindset to be a problem for years to come. She moves well without the ball and knows exactly when and how to assert herself during a game. A name to remember.</em></p>     <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Summer just moves different with the ball in her hands. I am not sure she even realizes how much potential she shows without having to do too much. You can tell she has a strong understanding of the game but is also getting by on pure feel and flow. It would not be a surprise at all if she picks up a couple Division 1 offers before the summer wraps up.</em></p>    <p></p>