Grassroots Preview: MoKan Elite 17U
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — MoKan Elite is gearing up for a grueling Nike EYBL slate this weekend at the MADE Hoops Warm Up. MoKan has one of the nation’s most talented rosters with the likes of Michael Porter, Trae Young, Carte…
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Continue ReadingBENTONVILLE, Ark. — MoKan Elite is gearing up for a grueling Nike EYBL slate this weekend at the MADE Hoops Warm Up. MoKan has one of the nation’s most talented rosters with the likes of Michael Porter, Trae Young, Carte Gordon and others.
Compared to last year’s MoKan squad, the 2016 version is deeper and more talented according to head coach Rodney Perry, who also coached the 2015 version. Perry said the strengths are a host of highly ranked recruits, as well as several up-and-coming players.
“We have a lot of players who are being recruited by high-major programs,” he said. “But we are working on our team chemistry. We have to figure out how to play with each other.”
Perry said the squad is trying to develop team chemistry this weekend in Bentonville, and got off to a big start Friday night, running away from the Mobile Warriors with a 72-21 score.
“It’s nice to finally be able to practice against somebody else instead of practicing against ourselves,” Perry said. “That is the big thing, we have somebody to go against and find out what we need to work on and clean up. How do we get better?
“That is our focus every day.”
While the core of the group was together on the EYBL circuit last season — Michael Porter, Trae Young, Bryan Trimble and Derrick Walker — MoKan is promoting several players from its younger teams and adding two new faces.
Moving up from the 16U team are Washington commit Jontay Porter, Jared Ridder, who is one of the top recruiting targets of Xavier head coach Chris Mack, Cam Davis and Chris Teahan.
The squad has picked up five star 2018 big man Carte’are Gordon and Tulsa Central point guard Elijah Landrum.
Perry said despite the talented roster, several players will be making their first appearance this spring on the 17U EYBL circuit and there might be an initial adjustment phase.
“You can guys how it’s going to be, but until you are actually in it and do it yourself, you have no idea about it,” he said. “We have four guys who played with us last year in the EYBL as far as leadership goes, who have been through the gauntlet and know how it goes and they can help prepare the other guys.”
MoKan Elite 17U
Michael Porter, 6-8, Tolton (2017)
Chris Teahan, 6-5, Rockhurst (2017)
Jared Ridder, 6-7, Kickapoo (2017)
Cameron Davis, 6-0, Kickapoo (2017)
Elijah Landrum, 6-0, Tulsa Central (2017)
Trae Young, 6-2, Norman North (2017)
Bryan Trimble, 6-3, Sunrise (2016)
Derrick Walker, 6-8, Sunrise (2016)
Jontay Porter, 6-9, Tolton (2018)
Carte’are Gordon, 6-9, Webster Groves (2018)