Championship Sunday at the 2018 GNBA Championships was rocking on in Waukegan, Illinois with some outstanding games and some excellent performances from the young prospects. Read below to catch a rundown of what some of the different players did to place themselves amongst Sunday’s top players…

CHASE BONDER – 2022 – SF – KESSEL HEAT
Early in their win against Swing, Bonder set the tone for his team by playing hard on each end and went to work around the hoop. He got himself to the free throw line with his aggressive play and got a rhythm going. Then he started to knock down some other shots, including a couple three’s which showed off his versatility and ability to play inside and outside. Bonder also was really good on the glass and pulled down some tough rebounds.

JACK CAMPION – 2022 – G – PACK ATTACK
Campion had a really strong quarterfinal outing, helping his team advance in the tourney behind his hot hand on offense and his efforts defensively. Using his quickness, Campion was able to get to spots on the floor and get good shots off, making some tough shots on the drive. Perhaps with bigger impact, he also sank 3 three-pointers and led the way with 16 points.

CHASE CARTER – 2022 – F – GAIN ELITE
Carter plays with a lot of hustle and a lot of energy. In the semifinal matchup, Carter really lifted his team’s effort with his, and he was consistently looking to get to the hoop. Carter was always in attack-mode and with his size and burst up the floor, he was a challenge to slow down. He got to the free throw line often and converted at a decent percentage. Carter also showed he can sink the jumper at times as well. He had 16 points in the semifinal game.

TAISON CHATMAN – 2023 – G – GAIN ELITE
While the Championship game was one to forget, Chatman had himself a solid day in their previous games. He has a good skill-set and can run the show or play off the ball. In the semifinal, he played more off the ball, and then once he had it in his hands, Chatman went to work attacking the paint and forcing the defense to foul him to try and stop him. He went to the free throw line several times, but also put his jumper on display, knocking down a few shots both on pull-up jumpers and a three-pointer as well.

STEVEN CLAY – 2022 – G/F – WI PHENOMS
Clay has an outstanding skill-set and can do just about anything needed on the offensive side of the ball. He put those skills to work on Sunday to help guide his team to the Championship crown. Long and developing more athletically, Clay showed his ability to shoot the ball from the outside some, he put it on the floor and got to the cup for scores through and over crowds in the lane, and also showed his ability to stop-n-pop, pulling up on the baseline as the defender kept going and knocked down the jumper. He also rebounded well and brought energy into the game when he was on the floor.

DALEN DAVIS – 2023 – PG – WI PHENOMS
Davis had a really strong game overall for the Phenoms in their final outing Sunday. He has good handle, moves on the court smoothly and with good feel for the game, and he made plays throughout the game. In the first half in particular, Davis was excellent getting into the lane and then finishing with good body control into the defense. He had good touch off the glass and on the rim, and then also showed a pull-up, knocking down a deep jumper with the defense bearing down. In the second half, he scored at the hoop a couple more times and also proved he could it the three as well. Davis finished with 19 points.

JADEN EVANS – 2022 – G – ALL-IN ATHLETICS
Evans connected on a number of shots from the inside, and from the outside in Sunday’s first games. He had good control and was constantly looking to find good shots, and in doing so found some looks that he converted, burying 3 three’s en route to a 16-point effort.

JAKE HAMILTON – 2023 – G/F – IL PREDATORS ELITE
Hamilton made some big plays during Championship Sunday, and was strong again in the title game. He was good with the ball in his hands, making plays both scoring and passing. Off the ball, he cut well and got to the hoop for some buckets, and he was solid defensively as well.

NOLAN HAWK – 2022 – F – WI SWING
Hawk played as kind of a stretch-4 for the Swing and really left his mark attacking the hoop from the wings and from the baseline. When he got to the rim, Hawk did really well playing through fouls and making shots, and he was also good in transition by running the floor and catching on the fly for scores. The gritty wing/forward was also able to score from the perimeter, showing a good variety to his offensive game and finished with 17 points.

DAYVION JOHNSON – 2024 – G/F – MAC IRVIN FIRE
Johnson was on a tear for Mac Irvin in the final game and dominated the game with his play. Johnson just kept attacking the hoop throughout the game and put the defense on its heels. Johnson got the free throw line several times, getting a number of And-1 opportunities and making 7 of the attempts, completing the win with a major 22-point performance.

AMARION NIMMERS – 2022 – SG – QUAD CITY ELITE
Nimmers was simply a scorer for Quad City, once again hitting shots throughout the day and making plays with the ball in his hands. Spotting up or off the dribble, Nimmers was able to knock down some timely shots for his team to help them advance into the semi-finals. He had 17 points in the quarterfinal, connecting on a couple three-point attempts and some other jumpers as well.

COOPER NOARD – 2022 – SG – ALL-IN ATHLETICS
On fire… That’s an appropriate way to describe what Noard was from the field in the morning game for All-In. The young off-guard was hunting his shots throughout the game and was burying them at a high clip, draining 5 treys and also making both his free throw attempts. He finished the morning run with 19 points.

TYNAN NUMKENA – 2022 – G – QUAD CITY ELITE
Numkena played really strong in a couple different games Sunday for Quad City, as he really put pressure on the defenses with his constant driving to the basket and using his strong frame to play tough when getting to the paint. He finished a number of opportunities inside, and several through contact or being fouled. He also showed he can shoot the ball, knocking down some jump shots from the mid-range area. He was also really strong on the boards. Numkena had 18 points in their final game.

JACKSON PAVELETZKE – 2022 – SG – WI PHENOMS
Paveletzke was an integral piece to the Championship run for the Phenoms, using his hot hand shooting to pull his team back from being down throughout the semi-final game. Paveletzke was in the zone, knocking down 4 big-time three’s and finished with a game-high 18 points. He continued the hot shooting in the title game as they went on to win handily.

ELIJAH REESE – 2022 – G/F – QUAD CITY ELITE
Reese was outstanding in the quarterfinal matchup Sunday. He was constantly on the attack and making plays for both himself and for his teammates. Being a bigger, stronger guard, Reese was able to get to the hoop at will at times and finish, but also showed good control and vision other times in finding the kick-out to open teammates off the drive.  Beyond the dribble penetration, Reese was also on target from the perimeter and hit 3 triples in the first half, finishing with 19 points.

CONNOR ROFFERS – 2024 – SG – WI SWING
Roffers looks to be a big-time player coming up, as he was absolute money for his team to keep them in the hunt down the stretch in their final outing. The young guard was accurate early and often from the three-point line with 5 in the game. He has a great eye for the hoop and was knocking down jumpers and played strong with the ball as well, running for 23 points, also having sank 4 free throws in the game.

KESHON SINGLETON – 2023 – G – PREDATORS ELITE
Singleton was almost dominant with his play in the 13U title game, using his athleticism and instincts, combined with a nicely developing skill-set offensively, to make plays for his team and help them in their rout to the trophy. He got steals on defense, he pushed the ball and made plays in transition to score. Singleton also was strong in the half-court as he made strong moves to the basket and finished, and then also showed off a nice little jump shot off the pull-up.

REGGIE THOMAS – 2022 – G – MARTIN BROTHERS
Thomas found ways throughout the game to attack and score. He ran the floor and scored on the break, he pushed middle hard or slashed without the ball to score from short-range off the catch, and attacked the paint to finish at the rim. Thomas got the three-pointer to fall as well, and scored 18 points in the game.

PARKER THOMPSON – 2022 – G/F – WI SCHOLARS
Thompson was getting buckets all game long for the Scholars in an early morning run. The knock down scorer was on the money from the perimeter where he buried 4 three-point baskets, but he was also able to get to the hoop at times and finished with good touch off the glass. He had 21 points in the game.

SETH TRIMBLE – 2022 – G – WI PHENOMS
Trimble was really solid for the Phenoms, seeming to make plays whenever they needed a big bucket in a couple of their games. Particularly in the semi-final matchup when the Phenoms were trailing late in the game, Trimble re-entered the game and hit a couple challenging shots that really lifted his team. He scored from the mid-range area with a strong handle and good ability to get the defender off balance and then rise up and score it. He also hit a three in the game, and was good from the free throw line. Trimble scored 17 in the game as they won it late, and then he played really well again in the title game.

MAC WRECKE – 2023 – F – RAY ALLEN SELECT
Wrecke had a really strong performance for RAS in an early win Sunday. The young forward prospect was really good on the glass on the offensive end and helped his team get several second and third chance scoring opportunities. As the game wore on, he started getting to the bucket more as well and scored on the drive or off the rebound and finished with 15 points.

2018 GNBA CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL CALL

14U GNBA CHAMPIONS – Wisconsin Phenoms (WI) 
14U GNBA 2ND PLACE – Gain Elite (MN)

13U GNBA CHAMPIONS – Illinois Predators Elite (IL)
13U GNBA 2ND PLACE – Ray Allen Select (WI)

12U GNBA CHAMPIONS – PGE Bolden (WI)
12U GNBA 2ND PLACE – Mac Irvin Fire (IL)

OTHER WINNERS
14U GNBA Consolation Champions – Team Ramey Nettles (MO)
14U GNBA Consolation Runner-Up – Kessel Heat (IL)

13U GNBA Consolation Champions – Kessel Heat (IL)
13U GNBA Consolation Runner-Up – Quad City Elite (IA/IL)