Saturday Ohio Superstars: NIKE EYBL Atlanta
SUWANEE GA — The height of the entire 17u division was incredible. Guards are routinely 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6. Bigs can run the floor better than ever. These are the players that jumped off the page Saturday night amidst the hoopla. Kaleb Wesson |…
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Continue ReadingSUWANEE GA — The height of the entire 17u division was incredible. Guards are routinely 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6. Bigs can run the floor better than ever. These are the players that jumped off the page Saturday night amidst the hoopla.
Kaleb Wesson | 2017 | All-Ohio Red 17U
Don’t come in the lane half-hearted. Kaleb Wesson will send your offering back without a receipt. Still not a fleet-footed post, Wesson is better at his strengths and improving his weaknesses. Wesson clearly has been working on his 15-footer. He still does not rebound all over the floor, but he gets every single errant shot in his area. Oh, and he stuffed Brian Bowen (future pro) in front of Bowen’s friends and family. Cold-hearted.
Kyle Young | 2017 | King James 17U
There is no avoiding the truth and King James 17u got smacked in the face by California Supreme. Still Young fought like a champion. Young’s balance really makes him elite. He is not the strong lug you expect. The change of direction and straight line speed of Young screams Big 10 starter. There are not many holes in his game, plus he fights through tough times.
Marcus Shaver | 2017 | Las Vegas Prospects 17U
Dalonte Brown | 2017 | All-Ohio Red 17U
Dalonte Brown had a very difficult mark in Brian Bowen, widely considered a top 20 player nationally. Brown stayed with him on the defensive end, while slashing right into the Michigander’s chest. Brown can be really good, but needs to be supported by teammates and coaches. He has a well-rounded game. The heart of his game is finding his way to offensive rebounds and generally leaping over unaware opponents.
Alex O’Connell | 2017 | Team United 17U
Alex O’Connell and his Team United pulled one of the bigger upsets of the day. By finally congealing and scoring in tandem, AOC and his Team United teammates knocked off Las Vegas Prospects in overtime. O’Connell has a nose for the basket. Even when he is facing the other way with his hands on the floor, picking up the ball, O’Connell is thinking score. Always thinking score. O’Connell intends to take several college visits in June. He has nearly two dozen offers with Pittsburgh the latest.
David Collins | 2017 | All-Ohio Red 17U
Most of All-Ohio Red reside in the substantial shadow of Kaleb Wesson (Ohio State verbal), but David Collins helps feed the big man. Collins’ eagerness to swing the ball and also feed Wesson helped All-Ohio Red pounce on Meanstreets late Saturday night. The Meanstreets clipped AOR late though. Collins is the perfect intangibles guy for a surprisingly balanced team. Facing Meanstreets, Collins scores 11 points with 4 assists.
Brian Bowen | 2017 | Meanstreets 17U
The lofty Brian Bowen (La Lumiere) was not dominant. He was actually poor, considering his elevated stature. Still, Bowen closed the game out with poise. By pulling down critical rebounds, turning over an opponent, and making his free throws, Bowen proved he knows how to win despite struggling.
Jordan Goldwire | 2017 | Team United 17U
Oft-overlooked PG Jordan Goldwire (La Lumiere) was magical against the Las Vegas Prospects (Troy Brown, Charles O’Bannon). Facing a frightening comeback Goldwire put together a flawless two minute stretch. He buried a three-pointer, blocked a baseline jumper, and dropped a behind-the-back pass without interruption. The Atlanta kid captured an overtime win for his Team United squad.