The Endless Summer: 17U Mid-season awards

<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"> <h5><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">The Endless Summer.</span></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">A weekly column and blog by Cory B. McKinnis.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="float: left; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 75px; line-height: 60px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 10px; padding-left: 3px;">T</span>hrough about half of the summer grassroots season (save the possibility of a pandemic erupting our plans), I have seen five tournaments and added at least one thousand miles to my car, though it has been a tremendously rewarding experience. After watching and evaluating scores of new talents over the past two months, it is due time we begin the process of updating our prospect rankings -- and believe me, it <em>is</em> a process. During the next month, we will be working diligently to revise those lists with the inclusions of new players and athletes who have climbed the ladder this summer. I believe our updated rankings, particularly for the class of ’21, could be some our most thorough, comprehensive updates to date. Today, I am assigning mid-season superlatives</p> <h4 style="text-align: center;">Mid-summer All-grassroots team</h4> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffd6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">M.V.P</span>.:<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745355" first="Sean" last="Pedulla"]</strong></span> | Team Buddy Buckets PG | Edmond Memorial ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>If you have paid any attention to the grassroots landscape for the 2020 summer (let alone our countless articles with his name in the lead), you probably have heard of Pedulla. The shifty sharpshooter has not only excelled in his senior summer, but he has put up D-I performances against a few of the nation’s best: Keyonte George, Jordan Walsh, DaeShun Ruffin and others. Along with his high play has come the offers. Tulsa, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and others have entered their names in the Pedulla raffle so far, and it’s unlikely they will be the last to offer. </p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1015790" first="Raul" last="Nunez"]</strong></span> | Oklahoma Hustle CG | Choctaw ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Nunez, whose name has yet to grace the 2021 prospect list, will soon become a high-ranking member of the rankings after more than a couple standout performances with Hustle. He checks in about 6-foot-4-inches with a powerful frame and impressive agility. Nunez has showcased elite shooting capabilities, especially from the dribble, and the awareness to utilize both his size and speed in the interior.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="938861" first="Israel" last="Hart"]</strong> </span>| Next Level PG | Midwest City ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Hart’s confidence has paid off well for him as a go-to scorer for Next Level and primary facilitator. His elevation has improved in spectacular ways, and he plays with such fearlessness around the rim that he may be now one of the best slashers in the state. Aside from his at-the-basket play, he has performed each of his on-ball responsibilities competently; defending, handling the ball, passing and playmaking.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="938847" first="Caison" last="Hartloff"]</strong> </span>| Tulsa Hawks SG | Claremore ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>All of Hartloff’s traits check the boxes. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/The-Endless-Summer-mid-summer-II.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1016699 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/The-Endless-Summer-mid-summer-II-300x150.png" alt="" width="300" height="150" /></a>A 6-foot-5-inch frame, defensive adherence, off-ball shooting talents and a high motor have made his senior summer one of the best in the state. Hitting shot-after-shot, Hartloff has the ability to knock down spectacular shots exclusive to only a few hot hands in the state with college-ready efficiency. His scoring talents have only been rivaled by his defensive capabilities as he has left more than one tournament recording double-digit blocks. Hartloff earned an offer from Arkansas Tech on June 26.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0; height: 21px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745368" first="DJ" last="Freeman"]</strong></span> | H&amp;H Elite PF | Casady ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Freeman has played an excellent summer as an add-on for the H&amp;H senior squad, producing at least a highlight-a-day through the early summer. The explosive, handy stretch-forward has been performed with as unprecedented perimeter play as he has excellent interior play. On a game-by-game basis, Freeman has been <em>on: </em>punching the ball through the hoop in the half-court, hitting mid-court step-backs, launching triples from the spot or even handing post-to-post assists through traffic, Freeman has displayed his do-it-all play.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0; height: 27px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 27px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Comeback player:</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="938855" first="Jake" last="Gendron"]</strong></span> | Tulsa Hawks SG/SF | Bishop Kelley ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>After missing a significant stretch of his junior season, Gendron has not missed a beat this summer. Polishing his old skills and crafting new ones, Gendron’s outstanding play -- as well as his recruiting value as a 6-foot-5 three-level scoring guard -- has helped him to acquire three offers so far. A talented sharpshooter, Gendron has played with his regular excellence while also developing his interior scoring skills; I have been most impressed by his determination around the rack, finishing well through contact and exploring his short-to-mid-range game.</p> <table style="height: 21px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 100%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Breakout player:</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="938851" first="Josh" last="Price"]</strong></span> | Oklahoma Hustle SG | Edmond North ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Price has been a well-kept secret to this point in his career; now, he is among the best shooting weapons in the region. An impressive off-ball shooter, Price has boosted confidence to hit shots from the dribble in his senior summer, and it has been a spectacular improvement to an already-developed skill-set for him. Also more confident inside the perimeter, Price has a new knack for the floater-game, a scoring attack that has a high success-rate for him.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ffd6d6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Unsigned M.V.P</span>: <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931235" first="J’Lynn" last="Counter"]</strong> </span>| Oklahoma Chaos CG | Southmoore ’20</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Counter should be playing somewhere the next time we get to see college basketball; a combination guard who has already played a significant on-ball role for a 6A tournament-qualifying team, Counter has an arsenal of scoring attacks that use his height, explosive athleticism and hand-work. Time-and-time again, Counter has hit shots from the catch, hit shots from the handle, slashed through the lane with ease, pulled up from the mid-range and adapted in every way to score the basketball.</p> <h5 style="text-align: center;">Honorable mention</h5> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="955401" first="Marcell" last="Perry"] | Oklahoma Chaos SF | Southeast ’22</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745367" first="Colby" last="Onyekuru"] | Oklahoma Swarm SF | Edmond Santa Fe ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745358" first="Dalante" last="Shannon"] | Team Buddy Buckets CG | Edmond North ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="955384" first="Ethan" last="Scott"] | Team Buddy Buckets SG | Mustang ’22</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="1015787" first="Kirk" last="Cole"] | OK Flight PG | Southwest Covenant ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745366" first="Landry" last="Harris"] | OK Power PG | Edmond North ’21</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="938864" first="Ian" last="Sluice"] | OK PWP CG | Metro Christian ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745374" first="Danquez" last="Dawsey"] | BTR PG | Lawton MacArthur ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="773474" first="Tobias" last="Roland Jr"]. | BTR SG | Putnam City North ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745371" first="Sean" last="Franklin"] | Team Buddy Buckets SG | Choctaw ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="938854" first="George" last="McCurdy"] | Tulsa Hawks PG | Broken Arrow ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="937985" first="David" last="Owusu"] | H&amp;H Elite SG | Westmoore ’21</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="953451" first="Anthony" last="Turner"] | Oklahoma Chaos P-F | Classen SAS ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="938849" first="Curtis" last="Rose"] | OK Flight PG | Carl Albert ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745359" first="Marlo" last="Fox"] | OK PWP PG | Sand Springs ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745360" first="Jackson" last="Skipper"] | BTR PF | Sapulpa ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 16.666666666666668%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745365" first="Jeff" last="Nwankwo"] | Oklahoma Impact PF | Putnam City North ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 15.537432036804685%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="745377" first="Josh" last="Nwankwo"] | Oklahoma Impact SF | Putnam City North ’21</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 25%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="1015840" first="Chad" last="Milne"] | H&amp;H Elite SF | Allen ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 25%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="937986" first="Jackson" last="Lawley"] | H&amp;H Elite PG | Tishomingo ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 25%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="938867" first="Jarrett" last="Birdwell"] | Oklahoma Power SG/SF | Kingfisher ’21</span></td> <td style="width: 25%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="1015836" first="Ian" last="Golden"] | Oklahoma Hustle PG | Broken Arrow ’21</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>