17U Wings Who Shined at The Finale

<p>Prep Hoops highlighted several of the top 17U wings at The Finale, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889495" first="Owen" last="Braxmeyer"], [player_tooltip player_id="889515" first="Sam" last="Derning"], [player_tooltip player_id="730642" first="Tanner" last="Hecht"], [player_tooltip player_id="889462" first="Alex" last="Littlejohn"], Philippe Manga, [player_tooltip player_id="889487" first="Isaac" last="Patterson"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="891898" first="Aidan" last="Shaw"].</strong></p> <p>But there were so many great wings at the tournament at Kansas City that the kids from Kansas deserve a second look.</p> <p>Here is another handful of top Kansas wings to compete in the 17U Division of The Finale (in alphabetical order and with club and high school listed):</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="599759" first="Joe" last="Berry"], Kansas Hoggs 17U, Washburn Rural:</strong></p> <p>Berry is a man with immense ability who has to adapt to the team around him. At Washburn Rural, he is the focal point of the offense and plays a hybrid post/wing, often catching the ball in the lane. On the club circuit, he spends more time on the wing. He’s developing the skills he’ll need to play at the next level. He is strong, athletic, and smart. He doesn’t force anything, but when the opportunity is there, he can shoot, drive to score or pass or facilitate offense on the perimeter.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1072886" first="Trayon" last="Grant"], Team KC Pip 17U, KC Washington:</strong></p> <p>The 6-foot-4 Grant is smooth and fast up and down the court. He is an excellent ball handler and draws a lot of fouls pushing the ball through the defense. His size allows him to see the floor. He can drive into the lane to dump the ball to open post players or kick it out to shooters. He also makes opportunities by slicing through the lane to open spots.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="730629" first="Jacob" last="Hanna"], TBB KS - Gaddis 17U, Andover:</strong></p> <p>An elite athlete, Hanna is fast and simply outruns defenders at times. He is quick enough to cut through defenses without the ball, or to drive by defenders with the ball. He’s always going to the goal. He can outleap taller players for rebounds, and he’s active all over the floor on defense. Hanna’s athletic ability is widely recognized, but his patience, skill and high basketball IQ deserve notice as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1072890" first="Cody" last="Meracle"], SSA White 17U, Manhattan Chief:</strong></p> <p>The 6-foot-5 small school star deserves a lot more recognition than he receives. He is a deceptive athlete who can run and jump. He doesn’t spend a lot of time with the ball in his hands on his club team, but he’s productive. He can drive, catch and shoot midrange jumpers, and post up. He’s springy and blocks shots. He cleans up a lot of garbage for SSA White, scoring on putbacks.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1072878" first="Patrick" last="O’Neil"], Team KC Hooks 17U, Olathe East:</strong></p> <p>A long and quick athlete, the 6-foot-4 O’Neil is a hard-working and versatile performer. He is a fine ball handler who can move without the ball to find opportunities, or create them off the drive. He’s equally comfortable in the post or firing from beyond the arc. On defense, he’s got active hands and anticipates interceptions.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1070207" first="Kale" last="Purcell"], SSA White 17U, Holton:</strong></p> <p>Similar to O’Neil, Purcell is a leaper and a quick athlete who received honorable mention 4A last season. He’s scrappy, never giving up on a play. He is explosive and rangy. Though just 6-foot-3, he is not afraid to post up against bigger men. He has a quick pull-up jumper and is effective on midrange shots. He can score from the perimeter, or put the ball on the floor to get to the hole, where is quick off the floor. He runs hard at all times and blocks shots with his hustle and hops.</p>