Passion Region KickOff: GameChangers (17U)

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger - The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Hoops.

The PrepHoops Circuit has finally begun as the grassroots season gets underway. Here we take a look at the GameChangers from the 17U division at the Passion Region KickOff. which are those players who did the most to turn the tide for their squads with their ability on the hardwood. 

Kevin Odom Kevin Odom 5'7" | PG Jackson | 2022 State FL - 5’9 Point Guard - OTOD 2023

Odom was one half of the chaos that was the OTOD 2023 backcourt as they went 3-1 on the weekend at the Passion Region KickOff. He’s an unsigned senior guard prospect with strength and athleticism to go along with his 5-foot-9 quickness on both ends of the floor. He turned heads with his ability to force turnovers defensively, finish at the rim and make plays for others alongside, Caleb Williams Caleb Williams 6'5" | PG Sumner | 2025 #191 Nation KS , in an impressive outing on the weekend. He’s a prospect worth keeping eyes on for those in need of a Gamechanger.

Caleb G. Williams Caleb G. Williams 6'0" | PG Ribault | 2024 State FL - 5’11 Point Guard - OTOD 2023 (2024) 

Williams was another name to keep an eye on in the OTOD 2023 backcourt while playing up an age group as a 2024 prospect. He certainly didn’t show many signs of his youth with his ability to find sleek passing lanes for teammates to score in. He showed a solid handle ability with the ball as well which allowed him to create on all three levels as well for his squad. He’s another floor general to keep an eye on with the OTOD 2023 group after earning Gamechanger honors.

Remi Dieujuste Jr - 6’3 Guard - Athletes of Influence Woods 2023

Dieujuste was quite the showman for Athletes of Influence Woods 2023 at the Passion Region Kick Off. He showed off his athleticism in more ways than one as a Gamechanger of the event. He closed things out with a 21 point, 12 rebound, three-assist, and three steal outing while showing off his ability to finish at the rim on multiple occasions and knocked down shots off the bounce. He’s an underrated name to know in the state of Florida and a potential stock riser on the PH Circuit. 

2022 6-8 C Travis King connects with 2023 6-3 G @DieujusteRemi for the @AOIHOOPS alley-oop!#PHPassionRegionKickOff @PHCircuit pic.x.com/wXJANiaHVd

— Kyle Sandy (@KyleSandy355) April 3, 2022

2023 6-3 G @DieujusteRemi (@AOIHOOPS) has monster bounce and knows how to use it!#PHPassionRegionKickOff @PHCircuit pic.x.com/mMykQYEwJ6

— Kyle Sandy (@KyleSandy355) April 3, 2022

Amari Willis - 6’6 Forward - Metro Elite Basketball Club (2022)

Willis was the key face in the Metro Elite Basketball Club rotation despite the result. He’s a 6-foot-6 forward that can operate off the bounce and with his back to the basket in the paint as he showed on numerous occasions this past weekend at the Passion Region Kickoff. He had good ability to finish in traffic at the rim and played with a ton of energy. He finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds in quite the battle in their opening to set the tone as a standout performer and Gamechanger. He’s an unsigned name to know out of Georgia.

6'6 unsigned senior Amari Willis of Metro Elite Basketball Club making his case for Gamechanger in the 17U division! Long, wiry and plays with a ton of energy. @PHCircuit #PassionSZNKickOff pic.x.com/yzvrDwa6Sj

— Jay Anderson (@HereGoJayAgain) April 2, 2022

Trevonte Roey - 6’4 Wing - Supreme Team Basketball 2023 (2022)

Roey was a quick starter for Supreme Team Basketball 2023 squad as an unsigned senior prospect as yet another Gamechanger from the Passion Region KickOff. He was dialed in on Day 1 while knocking down four 3-pointers in a 20-point outing in their second win of their Saturday games. He’s a prospect with a ton of potential as a floor-spacer, defender and rebounder with his size at 6-foot-4. He’s an exciting prospect to watch when he’s on the floor.

Joseph Lezeau II – 6’5 Wing/Forward – Florida Suns 2023

Lezeau was an intriguing name to watch for the Florida Suns 2023 group with his size and length at 6-foot-5. He showed an ability to get to his spots as a downhill threat and was quite the Gamechanger with his finishes at the rim and ability to defend the rim on the defensive end. He plays big for his height which gives him some versatility as a prospect that can play the 2-4 spot, depending on matchups. He showed he could operate on the perimeter as well as a distributor and scorer. He’s a prospect out of Florida to keep an eye on this grassroots season.

Jimar Franklin - 6’4 Forward - NEB Elite 2023

Franklin was an electric Gamechanger for NEB Elite 2023 as a presence in their frontcourt on both ends of the floor. He was quite the effective threat all weekend long for NEB Elite 2023 especially in their final game of the event with 38 points and 19 rebounds in a back-and-forth battle with Nassau Elite. He plays with a ton of energy with a nose for the ball and ability to finish in traffic. He’s a prospect to keep an eye on as the PH Circuit progresses after earning GameChanger honors at the Passion Region Kickoff.

2023 6-4 F Jimar Franklin (NEB Elite) plays with a high motor inside. Super active around the rim as a finisher and rebounder. #PHPassionRegionKickOff @PHCircuit

— Kyle Sandy (@KyleSandy355) April 3, 2022

Hasani Rivera Hasani Rivera 6'9" | PF Orlando Christian Prep | 2023 State FL - 6’8 Forward/Center - Florida Suns 2023

Rivera was a versatile presence in the Florida Suns that stood out as a Gamechanger on the weekend. He showed off an array of skills with his ability to handle the ball off rebounds, find his shot outside the paint and as a finisher at the rim with a big putback dunk in their second game of the day on Sunday. He’s a mobile forward to keep eyes on with this group that showed confidence as a frontcourt presence on both ends of the floor as the event progressed. He’s another potential stock riser to keep an eye on out of Florida in the 2023 class.

6’9 Hasani Rivera 2023 of OCP is a handful! Big man moves good around the basket and is a consistent shot blocker @PHCircuit @prephoopsfl #PHPassionRegionKickOff pic.x.com/RzDIztYh84

— Josh Folds (@AOIHOOPS) April 3, 2022

Brycen Rowland Brycen Rowland 5'10" | CG Yulee | 2023 FL - 5’10 Guard - Nassau Elite

Rowland was an impressive sharpshooter to know with the Nassau Elite group at the Passion Region KickOff. He earned GameChanger honors after producing 13.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.3 rpg for his squad as quite the presence in the backcourt. Numerous games, Nassau Elite was down early in games but Rowland found ways to fuel multiple comebacks with his ability to knock down shots and find others in the paint for scores. He finished with 20 points on five made 3-pointers in their final game of the event to set the tone as quite the Gamechanger in the backcourt.

PrepHoops Passion Region Tourney highlights.
Averages: 13.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.3 rpg
@YuleeHoops @jarrett_cochran @Coachelioth @CoachBrandon2 @coach_edurham @CoachRyanVZ @Mark__Holland @PHCircuit @prephoopsfl @KyleSandy355 @payt7n https://t.co/CtsfqOuWZx

— Brycen Rowland (@brycenrowland) April 5, 2022

Donte Crews - 6’1 Guard - Team AngerMGMT 2023

Crews was quite the GameChanger at the guard spot in the Team AngerMGMT 2023 backcourt at the Passion Region KickOff. He knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points and a number of assists to his shooters down the stretch to close out their outing on a high note as they finished 2-2 on the weekend. He’s a gritty guard that works to get to his spots on all areas of the floor to make an impact. As he learns to use his strength/athleticism to his advantage, look for his stock to grow this summer with this group.