Grassroots HoopFest 17U Scouting Reports: Bo McCaleb Select & N.O. BB Club
The Grassroots HoopFest tournament over the Easter weekend (April 16) was the last big grassroots event in New Orleans and we'll wrap up the coverage with scouting reports for the 17U-15U divisions before the Spring HoopFest tips off on Friday.
NOLA 23 swept all three divisions and the 17U team beat Bo McCaleb Select 66-39 in the championship game and slipped past the New Orleans Bulls 48-44 in the semifinals. Bo McCaleb Select beat New Orleans Basketball Club, 55-54, in the other semifinal game and below are a few takeaways on the top players, as well as links to coverage of the event.
- Grassroots HoopFest 17U Scouting Reports: NOLA 23 & N.O. Bulls
- Grassroots HoopFest 16U Scouting Reports: NOLA 23 & Louisiana Jaguars
- Grassroots HoopFest 16U Scouting Reports: N.O. BB Club & N.O. Elite
- Grassroots HoopFest 15U Scouting Reports: NOLA 23 & River Parish Rockets & N.O. Elite
- NOLA 23 sweeps 17U-15U Grassroots HoopFest Titles
- NOLA 23 vs. Bo McCaleb Select: 17U Championship (Video)
- NOLA 23 vs. New Orleans Basketball Club 16U Championship (Video)
- NOLA 23 vs. River Parish Rockets: 15U Championship (Video)
- NOLA 23 vs. New Orleans Bulls: 17U Semifinals (Video)
- NOLA 23 vs. Louisiana Jaguars: 16U Semifinals (Video)
- New Orleans Basketball Club vs. New Orleans Elite: 16U Semifinals (Video)
- NOLA 23 vs. New Orleans Elite: 15U Semifinals (Video)
Bo McCaleb Select
Jovon Williams — Helen Cox 2018 6'4 W/F
Williams competed at a high level throughout the game and most of his baskets came in transition. He has good size and speed for his position and held his own inside matching up well with DeVaughn Thomas. Williams spent his junior season at West Jeff and next year will be his first at Helen Cox.
Lance Madison — Warren Easton 2018 6'3 CG
Madison caught my eye with his play on both sides of the floor, particularly on defense. He got his hands on a bunch of passes for deflections or steals and showed good later lateral quickness with a willingness to give up his body for charges. Offensively, he has good speed and handles in transition, knocked down a couple of shots off the dribble in half court sets and has solid vision as a passer as well.
Edmond “Eddy” Thomas — Slidell 2018 6'3 CG
Thomas is an athletic combo guard that played the role of facilitator for Bo McCaleb Select and he pushed the pace at the right times to get his team easy buckets. He's one of several impressive prospects at Slidell, which upset top-seeded East Ascension in the playoffs this past season.
Jarrin Hopkins — Northshore 2018 6'1 PG
Hopkins competed from start to finish even when the game got out of hand and had a knack for finding his way to the rim in transition or half court sets. The lefty is a smooth finisher and has more of a scorer's mentality as a lead guard.
New Orleans Basketball Club
Ferontay Banks — Comeaux 2018 6'1 PG
Banks is a scoring guard that plays his best in uptempo situations. He also had his 3-point shot going and buried a big triple with 1:01 left that gave N.O. Basketball Club a 54-52 lead. Banks' confidence is growing and he's really coming into his own as a player.
Jonathan Cisse — St. Thomas More 2018 6'2 CG
Cisse wasn't at his best in the parts of the semifinal game I caught but he's a name to know nonetheless. He's a very good shooter with a super smooth game and he also showed more aggressiveness getting to the rim at St. Thomas More this past season.
