City of Roses Live: Weekend Standouts

<p>The City of Roses Live took place this past weekend and the 17U Showcase division featured some very competitive play. Some top teams from the Pacific Northwest took the court against some teams from states such as Utah and California, and in the end it was Play Hard Play Smart out of California that captured the title with a 57-55 win over Cache Valley Elite of Utah.</p> <p>Here is a look at the that stood out to us during the tournament (please note that our focus was largely on teams from Oregon and Washington):</p> <p><strong>Nate Rawlins-Kibonge, Team P.U.S.H. (2021 Jefferson)</strong> - In every game, Rawlins-Kibonge did what the 6-foot-7 post did for Jefferson all year long - dominate the glass on both ends, protect the rim with his shot-blocking, and essentially make every shot he took down low. But what Rawlins-Kibonge also showed was some additional versatility to his game. One thing he displayed in his arsenal was the ability to grab the defensive board and then take it coast to coast for the finish or dish it off to a teammate for a score. He also showed some ability to create facing the basket. On one memorable play, he had the ball on the wing and then drove past his defender to throw down a thunder dunk over two people. Rawlins-Kibonge was the top player we saw all weekend.</p> <p><strong>Kadeem Nelson, Maeko (2019 De La Salle North)</strong> - Maeko made it the furthest out of any of the Oregon-based teams, reaching the semifinals, and Nelson was a big reason behind that. The unsigned senior was extremely active on both ends, and on defense he really used his length and quick hands to disrupt ball-handlers and passing lanes for steals. Offensively he fought hard for buckets underneath but also knocked down some outside shots. Nelson noted that he's hearing from numerous NWAC schools mainly Lower Columbia - head coach Mickey Polis was in attendance - and at this point would be a steal at that level.</p> <p><strong>Malik Kelley, Maeko (2020 Roosevelt)</strong> - Kelley is a tough matchup because of his strength and nimbleness for his size and he was able to utilize both very effectively in the tournament. Whether it was posting up or facing the basket, the 6-foot-3 forward was able to use his body to create space and bully past opponents, while being nimble enough to avoid getting called for the charge on most occasions. One of Kelley's specialities is grabbing the defensive rebound and immediately dribbling up court and by doing so was able to get Maeko in transition for easy scores.</p> <p><strong>Donnelle Irvin, Team Bradley (2020 Stadium)</strong> - Team Bradley had a number of guys who could score but a guy who could definitely fill it up was Irvin. The 6-foot-3 junior was able to knock down threes off the catch and shoot but also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor a little to create and hit pull-up mid-range jumpers or drive to the basket. Defensively he stayed in front of his assignment and was active with his hands.</p> <p><strong>Jourdan Joseph, Seattle Swish (2019 Mt Tahoma)</strong> - We had the opportunity to catch one game in the Premier division and we caught a good one as we got a look at Joseph. At 5-foot-11 with a body that's still developing physically, Joseph makes up for his lack of size with his motor and ability to make things happen. Joseph was solid both with and off the ball making the right play, hitting perimeter jumpers while also attacking the basket without any fear. Joseph is likely headed to Puget Sound for college basketball as he awaits to see what the spring might bring him from his play on the circuit.</p> <p><strong>Trevon Richmond, Deep III (2019 Jefferson)</strong> - Richmond continued to do this spring what he's been doing - take charge offensively by taking it strong to the basket and really getting after it on both ends. He was able to knock down some open threes and facilitate for his teammates as well. Richmond has been in contact with Humboldt State and Cal State San Marcos and is planning to visit both schools soon.</p> <p><strong>John Miller, Team Jones (2020 Tualatin)</strong> - He only showed up for one game and his college future is undoubtedly in football, but the small tidbit of action we saw from Miller was certainly quite memorable. The Oregon State linebacker commit used his strength to effectively dominate around the basket which was expected, but he also showed some range on his jumper. But what really stood out was the way he shone with his freak athleticism. He threw down no fewer than three fast break dunks, two of the two-handed variety, one of which was an and-one alley-oop finish that brought the house down. Throw in the bravado and swagger and Miller certainly made an impression on everyone who got a chance to see him play.</p>