AAU Spotlight: Team Richmond 17U

<p>With everything still in limbo but some AAU tournaments starting to happen, we decided to do a series to spotlight some of the AAU teams across the state this summer. Today, we look at Team Richmond 17U.</p> <p>Team Richmond, run by Del Harris, has emerged as one of if not the premier non-shoe company team in the Richmond area if not the whole state over the past few years. TRGR has produced over 30 players playing in college over the past three years, with guys ranging from the Big 10 all the way to star D3 kids as well.</p> <p>This was supposed to be their second season on the very formidable Hoop Group Showcase League, and with a stacked roster that includes a lot of scholarship talent they would have had the chance to compete with the best of the best in that league. Below, you’ll see their roster along with a breakdown of a few key guys and underrated guys on their group.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Roster</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="798761" first="James" last="Patterson"] | 6’5” WG | Carmel School 2022</p> <p>Cole Grubbs | 6’9” C | James River 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="697137" first="Caleb" last="Kenney"] | 6’6” F | Douglas Freeman 2021</p> <p>Noah Adams | 6’0” G | Woodberry Forest 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957903" first="Garrett" last="Cox"] | 6’6” F | Glen Allen 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="697128" first="Mac" last="McDonald"] | 6’2” G | Collegiate 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="687659" first="Zy’Ever" last="Wingfield"] | 6’4” WF | FUMA 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="798735" first="Erik" last="Prosise"] | 6’1” G | Trinity Episcopal 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="798716" first="Isaiah" last="Simmons"] | 5’8” PG | Steward School 2021</p> <p>Anour Mellouk | 6’8” F | FUMA 2021</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957900" first="Kaleb" last="Bingham"] | 6’5” WF | James River 2021</p> <p><strong>Key Players and Recruitment</strong></p> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id="697128" first="Mac" last="McDonald"] | 6’2” G | Collegiate 2021</em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/McDonald-Mac.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1016665" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/McDonald-Mac-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>MacDonald has been with TRGR from day one and has emerged as one of the top high academic kids in the state for the 2021 class. He’s evolved from a catch-and-shoot guy to someone who can create his own shot off the bounce, and he’s evolved from a role player to a go-to scorers with a great killer mentality and a high IQ. He led the Prep League in scoring last season which includes numerous high major recruits, and if he had a chance to play in AAU and camps in live periods this summer he was bound to pick up all sorts of offers from schools in the northeast and beyond. He holds offers from Mount St. Mary’s and Army.</p> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id="697137" first="Caleb" last="Kenney"] | 6’6” F | Douglas Freeman 2021</em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Kenney-Caleb.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1016668" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Kenney-Caleb-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Kenney is another guy who you have to feel bad for because this summer he would have had a chance to show coaches what he can do against other talented guys on the AAU circuit. Kenney has quietly been a stud at Douglas Freeman the past few years, as he’s been a starter from day one and was named to the All Region team last year. He’s a versatile guy who can play inside-out, he’s long and athletic and finds ways to be productive on both ends of the floor and he has some major upside moving forward. He’s another guy who is a high academic and high character kid, and he holds a division one offer from North Florida, and a few division two offers including Lees-McRae and Fairmont State.</p> <p><em>Anour Mellouk | 6’8” F | FUMA 2021</em></p> <p>Mellouk may be the best kept secret in the state, as the Netherlands native played up on FUMA’s post grad team and showed flashes of promise and upside when I watched them play. He’s a hybrid forward who is long and naturally athletic, he can guard and play multiple positions and when I watched showed the ability to be a versatile three-and-d guy moving forward. He plays all over the place defensively, can use his length and athleticism around the rim and he seems to just now be scratching the surface.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Under the Radar Guys</strong></p> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id="957903" first="Garrett" last="Cox"] | 6’6” F | Glen Allen 2021</em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Cox-Garrett.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1016669" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Cox-Garrett-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Cox is a guy that schools at almost every level should be recruiting because he is a good student and good kid that is highly skilled at his size. He isn’t the most athletic guy but Cox is a guy who can play on the wing or be a stretch four, he can shoot it with great consistency from deep and he can create shots using his size to shoot over guys. He’s a high IQ kid on both ends and can fit into multiple systems as well.</p> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id="957900" first="Kaleb" last="Bingham"] | 6’5” WF | James River 2021</em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Bingham-Kaleb.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1016670" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Bingham-Kaleb-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Bingham is a late bloomer who had a breakout year at James River last season and may be a guy who would thrive in a post grad situation after next year, which TRGR has always had kids do well. Bingham has a high ceiling as he’s a long wing with a big frame and a natural athlete, and he seems to be getting more athletic as he’s finished growing. He’s a guy who scores it in bunches and can do so from multiple levels, he has big potential on the defensive end and he’s a good rebounder too.</p> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id="798761" first="James" last="Patterson"] | 6’5” WG | Carmel School 2022</em></p> <p>Patterson is another late bloomer who had a great year at Meadowbrook last season and will transfer to Carmel School where he’ll reclassify to the 2022 class. This should be a great move for him, as he’s developed and improved every season and he’s grown into his body and has the frame and athleticism to translate to the next level. He’s a huge threat when he gets downhill, he brings intensity on both ends and still has room to improve moving forward.</p>