AAU Preview: Manimal Elite 17u

<p>With an AAU season looking more and more likely in the coming months, it’s time to preview some AAU teams. We start with last year’s 16u State Champions, Manimal Elite. They return 4 players who have played together in each of the last two AAU seasons.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Roster:</strong></span></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Name</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Height</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Position</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Class</td> <td style="width: 20%;">High School</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="793756" first="Isaiah" last="Mason"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’4</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Wing</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Bowling Green</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="922995" first="DaShawn" last="Jackson"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’3</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Wing</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Frederick Douglass</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="923003" first="KJ" last="Crump"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">5’8</td> <td style="width: 20%;">PG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">University Heights</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="922996" first="Anthony" last="Woodard"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’2</td> <td style="width: 20%;">CG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Logan County</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="793786" first="Mason" last="Moore"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’3</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Wing</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Rowan County</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Javaughn Smith</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’0</td> <td style="width: 20%;">SG</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Bardstown</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Meek Ater</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’8</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Post</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Caverna</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Kooper Jacobi</td> <td style="width: 20%;">6’6</td> <td style="width: 20%;">PF</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2021</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Silver Creek (IN)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Player to Watch:</span></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="793756" first="Isaiah" last="Mason"]. Our third ranked player in the 2021 class, Mason has shown flashes of being a mid major or better D1 prospect at times. The 6'4 wing can play on the ball some as well but is at his best as a driver coming off the wing. Isaiah has 4 D1 offers so far and should attract more coaches this summer.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">X-Factor:</span></strong></p> <p>"Rooster" Woodard. He doesn't get the promotion that other kids on the team get (mostly because he's likely to play football in college) but Woodard is the engine that makes this team go. His energy level makes the difference for the squad and he causes the opposition problems on the top of their press defense. Rooster was the MVP of the 16u state tournament last May and his impact on this team goes beyond the box score.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Potential Surprise:</strong></span></p> <p>Javaughn Smith. Smith is a solid combo guard who finished as one of the top shooters in the state last season. Likely to be the main man at Bardstown this season, Javaughn hasn't played high level AAU before and he could sink or swim on a team full of guards and wings. If he can handle the uptick in competition, he could be a surprise to coaches who are out to see this Manimal group this summer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>