Dynasty Hoops Memorial Day Classic: Saturday Standouts (17U)

<p>Man, it feels good to be back in the gym! </p> <p>After a brief hiatus for school I was super excited to get back in action and travel to DME Academy in sunny Daytona Beach for the <a href="https://twitter.com/DynastyHoops">Dynasty Hoops</a> Memorial Day Classic! I was able to catch some serious talent from the Central Florida area and as far as Puerto Rico as they battled it out over 2 days! Here were the ballers who really stood out:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="829437" first="Zach" last="Johnson"], PG, 2022, Team 100 Tampa/Sickles</strong></p> <p>Johnson was balling out on his way to winning the tournament MVP as Team 100 Tampa was able to capture the Gold Varsity Division Championship. The 6’ point guard was the motor for the Team 100 squad for the entire tournament. His ability to get downhill was too much for opposing point guards, He led the charge for his team on the offensive end and seemed to be just as good at sitting off the ball and directing traffic as he was at getting a bucket whenever his team needed one. Team 100 was without a doubt the best team in the building for the entirety of the tournament and Johnson was the key reason why. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1060188" first="Nolan" last="Moran"], PG, 2023, Unknown Elite/Lake Brantley </strong></p> <p>Moran was a threat on both ends of the ball all weekend. While he isn’t the most physically dominant player on the floor, his IQ makes him a valuable asset at any level, but an even more lethal one at the AAU level. While a lot of AAU offensive and defensive schemes are based on physical movement and running, Moran is able to turn the offense into a fluid system where players can find easy baskets. His positioning of defense is top notch, and he was in the right place at the right time almost all weekend, allowing him to generate steals efficiently. In a Saturday game against Orlando Tropics, he was on triple-double watch all evening as he was able to facilitate and hustle for rebounds for 32 straight minutes. Moran is an intriguing prospect who, with the right adjustments, could be a great pass-first point guard next season. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="955581" first="Ethan" last="Jackson"], F, 2022, Team 100 Tampa/Tampa Catholic</strong></p> <p>Jackson was a surprise standout for me during the weekend. The modest 6’3" forward has a special talent that put him (literally) a head above everyone this weekend: his bounce. He’s a freak athlete who was able to soar above the rim for putbacks, huge dunks, and rebounds on both ends. You have no other choice but to foul Jackson as he goes up or run the risk of getting boomed on. He was able to bounce above defenders with ease and finish around the basket as a result. With a Tampa Catholic squad already loaded with high level talent, Jackson will add an athletic touch and should be a guy to keep your eye on this summer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Cover photo credits to Dynasty Hoops.</em></p>