Passion Region Kick Off Day 2: 17U Frontcourt Standouts

<p><strong>Passion Region Kick Off Day 2: 17U Frontcourt Standouts</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6766-crop-2870x1885-1649011779.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1419361 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6766-crop-2870x1885-1649011779-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>2023 6-5 F Jo’el King – Florida Suns 2024-3<br /> </strong>If you look up workhorse in the dictionary, you very well may find a picture of Jo’el King. He is a pleasure to watch inside. King plays with an incredible tenacity and motor. He fights every possession and rips away rebound after rebound. King has a strong build with good shoulders and is a quality athlete, but he doesn’t just coast based on his God-given abilities. He plays with a desire and hunger. He posted 27 points, 11 rebounds and 1 steal in a two-point loss to the Palm Beach All-Star Flames. King scored on four putbacks but also stepped outside to hit a pair of threes. Jo’el is tough as nails sure to be an All-Tournament performer.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-6 W [player_tooltip player_id="1060149" first="Malachi" last="Hampton"] – Florida Suns<br /> </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1060149" first="Malachi" last="Hampton"] is a toolsy prospect with one of the highest ceilings in the event. A long 6-foot-6, Hampton is a two-way impact player. He’s a graceful athlete that finishes above the rim but can also stretch out the defense to hit threes. Hampton is an effective rebounder and an extremely versatile defender that can guard 1-5. Malachi posted 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block in a win. He projects to be a jack-of-all-trades player at the next level.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-8 PF [player_tooltip player_id="1310856" first="Hasani" last="Rivera"] – Florida Suns <br /> </strong>Colleges will want to circle [player_tooltip player_id="1310856" first="Hasani" last="Rivera"]’s name if they haven’t already. He’s got a great body, big and strong. Rivera has a college-ready frame and an interesting skill set. He scores inside on reverses and putbacks but what really separates him is his soft touch from the three-point line. Rivera is comfortable spacing the floor from the corners and can knockdown the open jumper. If Rivera continues to develop, he’s too big and too skilled not to become a productive player at the next level.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6752-crop-2870x1885-1649011634.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1419358 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6752-crop-2870x1885-1649011634-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>2022 6-8 C [player_tooltip player_id="955765" first="Travis" last="King"] – Athletes of Influence Woods<br /> </strong>You don’t find many unsigned seniors this late in the game like [player_tooltip player_id="955765" first="Travis" last="King"]. He is a big body that plays a punishing brand of basketball. King is powerful. He bangs with heavy backdowns and overpowers smaller defenders. He has great footwork with his back to the basket, able to drop step middle but more impressively, quick spin baseline and even counter with a spin back middle. JUCO, NAIA and D-II programs are all in contact and rightfully so. As far as true low post offense goes, [player_tooltip player_id="955765" first="Travis" last="King"] was the best I saw all weekend during his 14-point showing Sunday morning.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6731-crop-3024x1986-1649011531.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1419355 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6731-crop-3024x1986-1649011531-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>2022 6-4 F Raje Benton – Supreme Team<br /> </strong>Eastside’s All-Region standout brought energy to the Supreme Team. Benton worked the high post and below, using his length and quickness to score around the rim. He hit a pair of pull-up jumpers before attacking off the dribble in Supreme Team’s 56-49 win. Benton poured in 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-4 F Houston Harper – Nassau Elite 2<br /> </strong>Houston Harper is a stretch-four. He has a consistent outside jumper with three-point range. When he goes inside, Harper collects rebounds and keeps them high on putbacks. Houston showed the ability to attack off the dribble and finish with either hand. He scored 11 points to start Day 2.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-4 F Jimar Franklin – NEB Elite<br /> </strong>I loved the activity of Jimar Franklin. He’s got nice length at 6-foot-4. He’s not a freak athlete with tremendous strength or amazing leaping ability but he’s got a nose for the ball and a relentless motor in the paint. He scored on three putbacks and was effective in the pick-and-roll as he double-doubled with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Franklin is a very productive forward.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-3 W Andre Akbar – NEB Elite<br /> </strong>A true 3&amp;D swingman, Andre Akbar is equipped with extreme length. The wiry wing got hot in the second half scoring all 13 of his points using three threes and a floater in the process. He made a home in the corners and burned the defense when they were slow rotating.</p>