Passion Region Kick Off Day 1: 17U Frontcourt Standouts

<p><strong>Passion Region Kick Off Day 1 17U Frontcourt Standouts</strong></p> <p><strong>2022 6-4 W [player_tooltip player_id="1161395" first="Theo" last="Mansell"] – Palm Beach All-Star Flames<br /> </strong>Mansell was one of Day 1’s top head turners, a big athletic swingman with a great motor. Mansell is an impact maker on both sides of the ball. He has the size and length to defend 1-5. Theo initiates fastbreaks after grabbing rebounds and can finish coast-to-coast. Once Mansell gets into the paint, he looks to finish with a bang, trying to dunk on anyone that stands in his way.  The two-way standout was at his best on Saturday getting downhill, scoring through traffic, but he also showed a soft touch with his pull-up jumper. He recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks in a Game 1 win over Nassau Elite 1.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-2 W Jake Drummond – Nassau Elite 1<br /> </strong>Another strong shooter from Nassau Elite, Jake Drummond found his offense from the mid-range. He utilized a one-dribble pull-up to his advantage as defenders flew by. Drummond banged on the glass and did a nice job competing against bigger opponents. He tossed in 13 points and 6 rebounds.</p> <p><strong>2024 6-2 W Jake Reilly – Nassau Elite 2<br /> </strong>It’s hard not to like the toughness of Jake Reilly. He put up 13 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists in a tough 64-61 loss to No Sleep Sports. Reilly did a great job using his strength to muscle his way to the rim. He absorbed contact and never got knocked off balance. At 6-foot-2, Reilly’s grittiness was on display on the backboards, outrebounding taller players. Defensively, Jake had no issue stepping in and drawing charges.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-5 F Amari Willis – Metro Elite<br /> </strong>The stat line of the night belonged to Pike County’s Amari Willis. The All-Region performer piled in 30 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocks in a high scoring loss to OTOD. Willis plays with a reliable motor. He uses a quick second leap to gobble up misses and score putbacks. While he did sink a three, Willis’ points primarily came in the paint. He had a nice up-and-under on the low block and attacked relentlessly from the high post and wing, getting downhill with a smooth glide. Willis has tools that translate to the next level.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-6 F Omari Wallace – Team Wright Tigers 2023<br /> </strong>Big body forward has a diverse offensive skill set. Knows how to score on the low block but is more than just a post presence. Comfortable on the perimeter with deep three-point range.</p>