Prep Hoops Exclusive: 17U Versatile Forwards
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The Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Prep Hoops Exclusive. It was a fantastic turnout, with 98 teams from all around the country competing in the 17U division. I was able to see a bunch of…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Prep Hoops Exclusive. It was a fantastic turnout, with 98 teams from all around the country competing in the 17U division. I was able to see a bunch of them in action at Drive Nation in Irving, TX and will be highlighting standout prospects from the event throughout the week.
With that in mind, here are seven versatile forwards from the 17U division:
Treylin Whaley Treylin Whaley 6'4" | PF Livonia | 2022 State LA | 2022 | 6’5’’ Power Forward | Showtime Elite LA 2022 | Livonia HS – Whaley possesses a strong body. He was responsible for countless drives to the hoop off the dribble where he muscled through defenders and finished in congested areas. The Livonia forward ran the floor and finished above the rim in transition, showcasing his outstanding athleticism. His athletic ability showed up on defense too, where he disrupted opposing offenses by getting into passing lanes for steals and deflections, as well as elevating in the paint to turn back shots.
Bryan Etumnu | 2022 | 6’7’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | TJ Ford Basketball 2022 | Fort Bend Kempner HS – Etumnu is deceptively mobile for his size. The soon-to-be senior forward was terrific as a rim protector, elevating with ease to alter or block shots and doing a good job of staying vertical. He also held up on the perimeter when switched onto a quicker guard or wing. On offense, Etumnu had some powerful dunks when standing under the basket and when attacking off the bounce with straight line drives. He was productive on the defensive boards as well.
Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN | 2022 | 6’9’’ Power Forward | D1MN Prospects – Culp | Byron HS – Lee looked smooth in his Saturday matchup. He possesses tremendous length at 6-feet-9-inches and understands how to use it, wreaking havoc on his opponents in variety of ways defensively. He inserts himself into the game and makes an impact with his rebounding and shot-blocking. Beyond that, the Byron forward knocked down a long two while spotting up, showing that he has the potential to stretch out to the mid-range area and space the floor, but he is going to make his money down low with his size and finishing.
Jaxon Lloyd | 2021 | 6’7’’ Power Forward | Team ESBY 2022 | iSchool of Lewisville – Lloyd is a stretch four with solid fundamentals. He has a sweet shooting stroke from behind the arc and thrives in catch-and-shoot situations. The 2021 forward showed good footwork down low and soft touch when operating with his back to the basket. He cleaned up the glass on offense too with put backs in the interior. Furthermore, he played within the flow of the offense and was decisive whenever he received the ball.
Troy Cole Troy Cole 6'5" | SG Donaldsonville | 2022 State LA | 2022 | 6’5’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Showtime Elite LA 2022 | Donaldsonville HS – Cole handles the ball well enough to play at the two spot but is more than capable of playing small forward with his size and natural athleticism. The Donaldsonville prospect can do a little bit of everything on offense. He is an explosive leaper who plays above the rim in transition, capable of going coast-to-coast following a rebound or steal. His slashing was excellent and he was a serviceable three-point shooter. Additionally, he was one of the better on-ball defenders I saw this weekend.
Jordan Jenkins | 2023 | 6’7’’ Power Forward | Forth Worth Crush 2022 – Playing up in the 17U division, Jenkins didn’t look out-of-place one bit. He had no problem getting buckets down low with bodies hanging all over him, exhibiting strong hands and soft touch in the paint on Friday. The 2023 power forward was quick to get off the floor, looking bouncy when rebounding at both ends of the court. He is still somewhat raw, but has tremendous upside.
Jace Eagler | 2022 | 6’2’’ Small Forward | FOE Elite 2022 | Rockwall HS – Eagler is a physical forward with a high motor and a ton of versatility to his game. He was a willing rebounder and defender who played with physicality. Though he may give up some height in the interior, he is strong and determined enough to bang down low. The Rockwall prospect also showcased that he is a sneaky good passer with excellent vision. In addition, he was a vocal leader on the court, consistently making great decisions and team-first plays.