#PHOKState: Top shooters in 17U, Pt. I

Bryce McKinnis

June 23, 2020 @ 08:32 AM

The list below includes the names and brief evaluations of the best shooters in the 17U age bracket at the 2019 Prep Hoops Oklahoma State Tournament. Please note that the players listed are among the players I was able to watch, exclusively. <hr /> Jordan Thompson 2020 [program_tooltip program_id='2075880' first='Team' last='Buddy Buckets'] 17U/Southmoore point guard <ul> <li>Versatile</li> <li>Automatic</li> <li>Clutch gene</li> </ul> A college coach asked me about shooters in the 2020 class ahead of Buddy Buckets's semifinal matchup with [program_tooltip program_id='2078402' first='Team' last='Griffin'] 16U. The first player that came to mind was Southmoore's Jordan Thompson, whom I mentioned to the coach. Thompson didn't disappoint when he knocked down four shots from long range in that game, both out of the dribble and from the catch. Thompson's ability to become automatic in the clutch is what makes him special. He can play either the primary on-ball or off-ball guard position and still hit a few shots from long range either way. <hr /> MJ Warrior 2020 Below The Rim 17U/Putnam City West guard (pictured above) <ul> <li>Playmaker</li> <li>High motor</li> <li>Versatile</li> </ul> https://twitter.com/mjwarrior03/status/1130565318135418881?s=21 Similar to his predecessor in this story, Warrior can shoot the ball well from the off- or on-ball position on the perimeter. In a quarterfinal loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2078402' first='Team' last='Griffin'] 16U, where BTR found itself with a lead with two minutes left on the clock, Warrior kicked it into high gear by finishing shots from outside and dominating the scoring game. I also like Warrior's ability to slip into the in-between spots of the floor and pull up from the dribble. Warrior is gritty, consistent and collected, even when the game is on the line, allowing him the confidence to hit those shots. <hr /> Trentez Scales 2020 Below The Rim 17U/Putnam City West point guard <ul> <li>Gutsy</li> <li>Deep shooter</li> </ul> When you talk about guys who are unafraid to take shots, PC West archer Trentez Scales epitomized fearlessness at the State Tournament. Scales's confidence derives from the amount of time he spends in the gym and his score-first mentality. Winners want the ball in their hands with the game on the line, and Scales was that guy for BTR. He not only shot the ball efficiently from the 3-point line, but stretched the floor with daring, remote shots out of the dribble from far beyond the arch. <hr /> Did we miss something? DM @McKinnisBryce via Twitter to let us know.