CP3 MDC 17U Standouts (Part 2)

<p>There were quite a few big time tournaments throughout the country this weekend, and one of the best ones was the CP3 Memorial Day Classic that brought down a number of EYBL programs and some of the top independent programs in the southeast as well.</p> <p>There was tons of talent on every court and many games went down to the wire, and with so much talent we’ll have to break the standouts up into multiple pieces. Here’s a look at part two of the 17U standouts, with a look at some of the top players from Virginia and the DMV.</p> <p>You can check out all the games on the CBG Live Network <a href="https://cbglivenetwork.com">here</a>!</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1091481" first="Elijah" last="Kennedy"] | 6’3” WG | Boo Williams</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Kennedy-Elijah-BWSL.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1207521" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Kennedy-Elijah-BWSL-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>There wasn’t a single guy who boosted his stock more than Kennedy this weekend, as the 6’3” wing who will prep at Combine Academy next year showed what all of us in VA knew, that he can flat out go. Against some of the best Nike teams in the event including Mokan and Takeover, Kennedy showed his ability to fill it up in a number of ways and scored it in bunches while making big shots for his team down the stretch in close games. The lefty wing showed his ability to get hot quickly and fill it up in bunches with his athleticism in the lane, his ability to make shots from deep and he attacked closeouts and made shots from multiple levels consistently.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="777065" first="Tyrell" last="Ward"] | 6’6” WF | Boo Williams</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ward-Tyrell-crop-3226x2118-1615401767.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148079" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ward-Tyrell-crop-3226x2118-1615401767-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p>Ward joined this Boo Williams team for the first time this weekend, and he was exactly what this Boo group needed as they looked like a totally different team going 4-0 and beating three other EYBL teams throughout the event. One of the most versatile guys on the east coast, Ward is a playmaking wing who can put it on the deck and run the pick-and-roll, he has great vision and playmaking ability and he can score it from multiple levels as well. His versatility on both ends of the floor allows him to play multiple positions and makes him a walking mismatch, and even if he isn’t the top scorer on the team he’s able to impact the game in so many different ways when he’s on the floor.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815585" first="Efrem" last="Johnson"] | 6’3” WG | Boo Williams</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Johnson-Efrem-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1063292" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Johnson-Efrem-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Johnson is one of the most underrated two guards in the country, and he showed it this weekend as one of Boo’s top scorers and shot makers throughout the event. The 6’3” off guard is an elite shot maker that can play on or off the basketball, and his ability to make and create shots from well behind the three-point line makes him a great option late in the shot clock. He’s a microwave guy that can get hot quickly, and he has a good feel as a scorer and can make plays for others as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815597" first="Brycen" last="Blaine"] | 6’3” CG | Team Marsh</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaine-Brycen-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082840" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaine-Brycen-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Blaine had a breakout weekend for Team Marsh, helping them have a good weekend including big wins over some very good teams including Team Takeover and Sheed Wallace Select. He stepped up as the leader and go-to guy when his team needed a bucket, showing his ability to play with the ball in his hands and make tough shots from multiple levels including many contested shots from the midrange late in the shot clock. He’s a crafty guy that gets to the free throw line often and can make plays for others, and he showed some toughness playing through injuries late in games and coming up big for his team.</p> <p><strong>Bryson Kitrell | 6’0” PG | Team Marsh</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kitrell-Bryson-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1061566" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kitrell-Bryson-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Kitrell continues to show that he’s one of the top available guards in the 2021 class as he has had a great spring and played well against some very good teams this weekend. The 6’0” point guard is smooth off the bounce and has developed nicely from just a knock down shooter to a guy who can put it on the deck in pick-and-roll and isolation situations and can get to the rim and finish over bigger and more athletic guys. He has a great skillset and good feel off the bounce, and he has terrific footwork when he’s in the lane to finish at the rim.</p> <p><strong>Knasir “Dug” McDaniel | 5’9” PG | Team Takeover</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201614" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>McDaniel continues to have a terrific spring as he looked like one of the top point guards in the country this weekend, and showed out against multiple guys who are ranked ahead of him including some top 30 guys in Jaden Bradley, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Skyy Clark. A lightning quick guard who is a blur in transition and has a quick first step, McDaniel is able to create for himself and others with ease and is a great guy to have the ball in his hands late in the shot clock as people simply can’t stay in front of him. He’s a pesky defender on the ball and is great in the press as he shoots passing lanes, he has improved his ability to hit shots from deep and score from multiple levels and he has a great feel and high IQ with the ball in his hands making him a good playmaker as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962785" first="Justin" last="Taylor"] | 6’5” WG | Team Takeover</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Taylor-Justin-TTO.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201613" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Taylor-Justin-TTO-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Taylor showed out against a number of highly ranked players at his position throughout the event, showing that he should be a top 50 kid in the country in my opinion. He has all of the physical and athletic tools that translate to the next level at his position, and he has a good all-around skill set as he’s able to make shots on the move, put it on the deck and make plays for others and is able to score it from multiple levels. He’s underrated as a passer and defender, and when he gets it going early he can flat out fill it up against the best of the best.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962786" first="Christian" last="May"] | 6’5” WG | Team Takeover</strong></p> <p>May is a guy coaches need to get their eyes on this summer as he’s been fantastic throughout the spring with Takeover and is coming off a good season for Bishop O’Connell in the leagues that they played in. He’s a great glue guy who is athletic and strong and willing to do the dirty work, and he’s improved in his ability to make shots from deep and space the floor. He’s a good rebounder for his position, he can defend the other team’s best perimeter scorer and he’s a gritty guy who fights for 50-50 balls and will do whatever it takes to help his team win. </p>