2026 All-HoopSeen Association 16U Team
August 20, 2026
The 2026 HoopSeen travel season is officially in the books and, as usual, the depth of talent was fun and impressive. Our staff debated, deliberated and now delivers our All-HSA 16U Team for the season. These players came through in a big way for their respective team and program and stand at the top as some of the best players in independent travel basketball.
Zion Dixon, Devin Butts Elite - Zion Dixon was one of those guys who just continued to grow on me every time I watched Devin Butts Elite. DBE had plenty of talent across the board, but Dixon never got lost in the mix. His motor was probably one of my favorite things about his game. He played hard, stayed around the action and brought an aggressiveness that allowed him to impact the game without forcing anything. Whether it was attacking when the opportunity was there, making something happen on the glass or bringing energy on the other end, Zion always found a way to get involved. By the end of our circuit, he had gone from somebody who caught my attention to somebody I expected to make an impact every time I watched DBE. Dixon is also one of those guys I could see taking a big leap over the next year and getting a real boost in his recruitment. The tools and motor are there, and if the rest continues to come together, don’t be surprised if his name starts picking up some steam.
Brody Pryor, Cereal Killers - Brody Pryor was a huge piece of what made Cereal Killers work this year. At 6-foot-5, he played that small-ball five/four role and found a way to impact the game in a multitude of ways from the frontcourt. He could battle around the basket, rebound, use his physicality and give them another guy who could make something happen offensively. What I liked was that Brody wasn’t limited to one thing. Depending on what Cereal Killers needed, he could find a way to give it to them. His play from the frontcourt made this group that much better, especially with all the guard play they already had around him. Pryor gave them a different element and was one of those guys whose value became more obvious the longer you watched this team.
Cole Amonett, Tennessee Tigers - Cole Amonett was a guard I trusted pretty quickly this year. That’s probably the best way I can explain his game. When the ball was in his hands, I rarely felt like something bad was about to happen. He played under control, understood pace and had a really good feel for when it was time to get somebody else going or call his own number. I love guards who don’t have to over-dribble to prove they can handle the basketball, and Cole was that type of guy for the Tennessee Tigers. He could run the show, get to his spots and make the right read when the defense gave him something. The more I watched him, the more I appreciated how much he controlled for this team. Amonett was one of the better floor generals I watched in our 16U division and was an easy guy to put on this team.
Xavier Barber, Norcross Heat - I’ve been on Xavier Barber since early in the year, and I’m not getting off that train anytime soon. Xavier has some real juice. His first step is quick, his handle is tight and once he gets a defender turned, he’s getting into the paint. What separates him for me is that he doesn’t get there without a plan. Barber sees the floor. He can make the drop-off, kick it out when help comes or get creative and finish the play himself.
I thought Xavier looked ready for a breakout early on, and as the circuit went along, we started seeing more and more of it. The confidence continued to grow, the shot-making was there and he had stretches where his presence completely changed the feel of Norcross Heat. There are certain guards where you can feel the game change when they get going, and Xavier is one of those guys. He’s been one of my favorite guards to follow throughout our HSA season.
Samari Pettus, UpNext - Samari Pettus was one of my favorite two-way guards on our circuit. At 6-foot-4, he already had the size to give opposing guards problems, but what I really liked was that he actually wanted to guard. Pettus used his length, stayed active with his hands and could make a ball-handler uncomfortable for an entire possession.
That’s what separated him for me. His impact wasn’t tied to whether his jumper was falling that day. He could disrupt things defensively, turn defense into offense and still give UpNext production on the other end. A big guard who can make life difficult for you on one end and then come back down and make a play on the other is always going to have my attention. Pettus brought that two-way presence consistently and earned his place among the best guards we had at 16U.
Brantley Addison, YBG - Brantley Addison is one of those guys where the intrigue starts before the ball even goes up. He’s 6-foot-6 on the wing, and then you realize he can actually shoot the basketball too. That’s when things start getting interesting.
I watched Addison have stretches this year where his size and shooting really changed how teams had to defend YBG. You can’t just stick a smaller guy on him because of the size, but giving him space isn’t necessarily the answer either. That’s a nice problem to create at the 16U level. What excites me with Brantley is that I still don’t think we’re looking at anything close to the finished product. A 6-foot-6 wing with touch, perimeter skill and room to keep developing is somebody I’m going to keep an eye on. There’s a lot to work with here.
Kale Martin, Cereal Killers - Kale Martin brought some toughness to the Cereal Killers backcourt that I really enjoyed watching. He played with confidence and never seemed bothered by the moment, which mattered on a team that found itself in plenty of competitive games throughout our circuit. Kale wasn’t scared to go make a play. If there was an opening, he attacked it. If his shot was there, he was ready to take it.
What I liked most was the mentality. Some guards need a few possessions to get comfortable before you start seeing their game. Kale always seemed ready to go from the jump. And on a Cereal Killers team with several guys capable of producing, he still found ways to make his own presence felt. Martin gave this group another confident guard who could put pressure on a defense and make plays when they needed them. He was a big part of what made Cereal Killers such a tough group throughout our HSA season.