Passion Region Kickoff: 17U Prospects to Know

<h5>The Passion Region Kickoff brought out a ton of talent this past weekend to Daytona Beach, Florida. Here’s a glimpse of some prospects to keep an eye on in the region in the 17U division. </h5> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="962438" first="Ronald" last="Bullard"] - 6’4 Wing/Forward - OTOD 2023</h5> <p>Bullard was the third featured name in the OTOD 2023 that impressed with his ability. He’s a versatile 6-foot-4 presence that plays with a ton of energy on both ends. He can get the ball out the net himself and find the paint on the opposite end as a ballhandler and slasher. He’s also not afraid to spot up on the perimeter and find openings off the bounce, either. He’s a budding name to know on the wing in the Passion Region.</p> <h5>Jake Drummond - 6’3 Wing/Guard - Nassau Elite</h5> <p>He closed things out with a 27-point performance for his squad, knocking down 19 of his points in the second half to show off what he could do. He’s a versatile presence with the ability to operate with and without the ball. He knocked down two 3-pointers in his second-half surge while also showing he can get to the paint and make plays in traffic. He’s another prospect to watch with this Nassau Elite group.</p> <h5>Axel Holmquist - 6’7 Forward/Center - North Florida United</h5> <p>Holmquist was an indispensable piece in the North Florida United frontcourt as they went 3-1 in the Passion Region Kickoff this past weekend. He showed off his ability to rebound the ball and cleaned up on the offensive glass for his squad with his size at 6-foot-7. He opened the weekend producing 14 points and was a consistent presence in the paint to keep an eye on going forward.</p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="1060236" first="Montrell" last="Bell"] - 5’9 Guard - Florida Suns </h5> <p>Bell was an electric lead guard prospect to watch with the Florida Suns second group that was on display. He was one of a few names to keep an eye on with his ability to get downhill and make things happen in the paint on numerous occasions. He posted 15 points in his final outing as he utilized his speed in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor to make a splash. He’s a point guard name to keep an eye on in the region. He’s a 1-2 combination to watch alongside <strong>Jo’el King</strong> in this rotation.</p> <h5>Jayce Ortiz - 6’3 Guard/Wing - Team AngerMGMT</h5> <p>Ortiz was an impressive shooter on the winger for Team AngerMGMT as they bounced back on Day 2 with two victories after a rough opening Saturday. He was another prospect in their rotation that showed a prowess for knocking down shots on the perimeter. He was dialed in in their final contest of the event with four made 3-pointers and 22 points to close things out for his squad and show what he can do as a threat to score. His development will be fun to watch over the next few months on the Passion Region Circuit.</p> <h5>Michael Debien - 5’10 Guard - Team Strive Elite 2023</h5> <p>Debien is a strong, lead guard prospect with Team Strive Elite that should keep opponents on their toes in the Passion Region. He showed no signs of slowing down in their final contest of the event as he exploded for 22 points (18 in the second half) in a back-and-forth battle with Team AngerMGMT. He’s constantly looking to push the pace and get to his spots in the paint to put pressure on the defense. He’ll be another lead guard to watch in the Passion Region.</p> <h5>Ninyo Grace - 5’9 Shooting Guard - Team AngerMGMT</h5> <p>Grace was another sharpshooter that showed off what he could do in Team AngerMGMT’s 2-0 outing on Sunday. He went off for 19 points, along with a made 3-pointer, in their victory over Nassau Elite in the early AM games to make his presence felt. He posted 13 of his 19 points in the second half as he got hot in a hurry while turning defense into offense. He’s an emerging guard to watch in the Passion Region.</p> <p>Much of the Passion Region will be back in action in the Proving Grounds in Tampa, Florida from April 15-17.</p>