Grassroots Team Preview: MoKan Elite 17U
MoKan Elite 17U
The return of the Porter family to the state of Missouri is affecting basketball across the state and it has touched the MoKan Elite family as well as the University of Missouri.
One year after Michael Porter, Trae Young, Jared Ridder and others helped MoKan Elite win the Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship, MoKan Elite is back armed with several players who are receiving high major attention, including 6’11 2018 PF Jontay Porter.
Both Jontay and Michael Porter were a big part of the MoKan family last year, but left to attend high school in Washington when Michael Porter Sr. took an assistant coaching position at University of Washington .
With the dismissal of head coach Lorenzo Romar, Porter Sr accepted an assistant position for Cuonzo Martin at Mizzou. A few days later Porter Jr. committed to the school and not long after that Jontay committed to return to MoKan.
“Things have certainly come full circle for us with the return of Jontay,” MoKan Elite head coach Chris Neff said. “The last time we thought we were going to be around Jontay and his family was when they left the Hardwood Classic last year. We still kept communication and relationships, but never figured we’d see him on the floor wearing the red and black.
“It’s been a pretty wild month.”
He will team with five star big man Carte’Are Gordon to form one of the better front lines in the EYBL circuit.
The squad will feature six players who played in the MoKan program last year, including two who played with the 17u squad. Neff said the program was still in flux at the point guard position.
Jontay Porter, 6’11, PF/C, 2018, undecided
Porter is a skilled big man with the ability to face the basket, shoot from the mid-range and 3-point line. Porter is a good passer and ball handler and a terrific shot blocker as well. He had been committed to the University of Washington as well.
Carte’Are Gordon, 6’9, PF, 2018, Webster Groves
A five star recruit, Gordon has committed to new St. Louis head coach Travis Ford. He is a powerful, dynamic athlete with a huge frame and a developing skill set that allows him to handle the ball and attack defenders off the bounce or battle in the paint around the rim.
Israel Barnes, 6’4. SF/SG, 2018, Wichita Southeast
He’s a tough-as-nails competitor who brings size and athleticism to the wing. Barnes can attack off the bounce, shoot from the outside, and is a versatile and strong defender. He currently holds an offer from Tulsa but don’t be surprised if his stock takes off in the next few months. Although he has been a part of the MoKan program since his eighth-grade year, Barnes had never played with his age group until last year when he competed for the 16U. He has impressed throughout the preseason, which has included 13 practices.
Cooper Kaifes, 6’3, SG, 2018, Mill Valley
Kaifes was a state champion as a sophomore and entered his junior season is one of the top perimeter shooters in Kansas but suffered a broken ankle late January. He has since returned to the court and has impressed according to Neff. Kaifes has sneaky athleticism and can throw down an occasional dunk and has good, quick feet with a high basketball IQ.
Malik Hall, 6’6, SF, 2019, Sunrise
Hall was in the Meanstreets program a year ago and attended Sunrise this past season where he was the leading scorer in a talented program. He is an athletic wing player that often played inside for Sunrise, but is more of a wing player than an interior player. He presents mismatch problems for opponents and lives on the baseline.
Parker Braun, 6’8, PF, 2018, Blue Valley Northwest
Braun is an explosive leaper who has good size, athleticism and the ability to defend in the paint. He has a smooth perimeter shot and has the potential to develop into a stretch 4. He has grown several inches over the past year and has seen his stock rise. A year ago he opened his time with MoKan on the select team, but earned playing time on the Elite squad and has continued to ascent as a player.
Ochai Agbaji, 6’4, SG, 2018, Oak Park
Is an athletic wing player that has seen his stock rise over that past year. He is coming off a strong summer that saw him earn a handful of Division I offers. His high school team improved from just a handful of wins to nearly 20 this past season. He has an old-school mid-range game and can shoot the 3 ball as well.
Roman Wilson, 6’10, PF, 2019, Park Hill
Has only been playing basketball for a few years, but has already earned several Division I offers and has a high ceiling as a player. Possesses all the tools with long arms, explosive athleticism and a solid skill set as well as a willingness to bang in the post. Wilson is just scratching the surface of his potential.