Other Top Performers from Pitt Jam Fest

Many other hoop stars from the state of Indiana also had great weekends. Some have already had their star rise and helped to improve their perception with their play, while other budding talents made a name for themselves with some eye-catching, had-turning performances. Here's a few of note. Unfortunately with a full docket of coaching responsibilities, I can only see so many other games (or partial games), so this list is not as comprehensive as I would like. Anyways, here are some other top performers outside of the 15U age group!

Michael Chandler - Spiece Indy Fast Break 2011 - Chandler, a current Louisville commit, may have had his most solid weekend ever in AAU play. Despite being nearly 6'11 and despite being on one of the best teams for producing big men in the country in Lawrence North, Chandler still has plenty of haters and doubters. He did play on the junior varsity for a portion of last season, but when your varsity roster includes around seven upperclassmen who are 6'7 and bigger, minutes are tough to come by. Chandler picked up the slack this weekend for Fast Break as his high school teammate Ryan Taylor, another UL commit, did not play his best. Big Mike had a double-double in their quarterfinal game, scoring 20 and pulling down about a dozen o so boards. He had around ten blocks too, so it may have in fact been a triple double. Great hater-silencing performance by Chandler.

Travis Carroll - Spiece Indy Heat 2010 - The Danville product has to have Boiler fans salivating at the thought of his arrival in West Lafayette. The 6'10 big boy is just what Purdue needs: a dominating inside presence to go along with their fantastic wing and guard play. Carroll is a beast on the blocks with a bevy of moves, and he plays solid post defense, giving up nothing easy. He also has improving range out to the three point line, but fear not Boiler nation, he's no Calasan part two.

Donnie Hale - Spiece Indy Heat 2010 - Hale, from New Albany, continues to prove critics wrong. The man who has no position continues to stuff the stat sheet despite being an undersized 6'7 four man. His seven-foot reach makes him a nightmare on defense, blocking and altering shots and getting plenty of tips. He also has an improving midrange game and can face up on plodding post players. Being a lefty helps him too, as some of his moves are not as predictable.

PJ Boutte - Spiece Indy Fast Break 2011 - Boutte is the 2011 point guard from Indiana who gets the least love compared to guys like Marquis Teague, Dee Davis, and Jalen Packer, but the Howe Hornet is just as productive as the names mentioned. Boutte is quick as lightning with the ball in his hands, he rarely turns it over, is suffocating on D, and is now consistently hitting from deep. Oh, and he continues to set up teammates for easy buckets, his greatest asset.

Tony Springmann - Spiece Select 2011 - Looking for someone to clean the glass? Need a garbage guy who will do all the dirty work it takes to win close games? Look no further than Springmann, a 6'6 or 6'7 bullish forward from Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger. His game is not the prettiest to look at, but the red head man-child will do whatever it takes to control the paint on both ends and make his teammates' lives easier in doing so. Love how hard this kid plays - non-stop motor.

Indiana Elite teams were at the Grassroots this week, but I look forward to seeing them again in a few weeks at the Adidas May Classic in Bloomington.