Southern Jamfest 17U Standouts (Part 3)
It’s that time of year that we all wait for in the state of VA, as the top independent AAU tournament on the east coast came back to Hampton. The Hoop Group Southern Jamfest features some of the top shoe…
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Continue ReadingIt’s that time of year that we all wait for in the state of VA, as the top independent AAU tournament on the east coast came back to Hampton. The Hoop Group Southern Jamfest features some of the top shoe company and independent teams in the country, and is loaded with talent throughout the field.
Here’s a look at part 3 of some of the VA standouts in the 17U division.
Leland Coleman Leland Coleman 6'6" | SF Trinity Episcopal | 2023 State VA | 6’6” F | Team Richmond 2023
Coleman is the type of prospect who needed a big summer to see his recruitment pick up, and if he plays the way he did in Hampton throughout the summer he could just see that happen. The 6’6” forward is versatile on the defensive end with the ability to guard multiple positions, he’s good athlete who gets after and attacks the rim hard and he showed an improvement in his shot making ability as he made tough shots against good teams. He was productive and efficient and stuffed the stat sheet throughout the weekend.
Tucker Shifflett | 6’0” PG | Team Richmond 2023
Shifflett is a relatively unknown prospect from the Charlottesville area that showed he should get some attention from smaller schools moving forward. He handles the ball well and get his team into sets, he makes good decisions and takes and makes good shots and he has a good IQ and feel for the game and rarely makes mistakes. He also showed a good amount of toughness with his hustle and gritty style of play on both ends of the floor.
Dylan Saunders Dylan Saunders 6'8" | C Cave Spring | 2023 State VA | 6’7” PF | VA Premier 2023
Saunders is an intriguing big man prospect fresh off a state championship with Cave Spring and he’s the type of player that just always seems to be productive no matter who he’s playing against. He isn’t overtly athletic but he uses his size well and can protect the rim and rebound, he can score it in the paint with good touch and can step out and knock down the midrange and he plays with a good motor and bangs in the paint. He’ll see more and more colleges come along with his versatility and winning pedigree as well.
Alex Bates | 6’5” WF | VA Premier 2023
Bates is another VA Premier player who is already seeing his stock rise and if he continues to play as well as he has there will be plenty of more suitors for the high academic wing out of NC. He’s a good athlete who can rebound and play above the rim, he knocks down shots with consistency and range and he is an unselfish scorer who doesn’t take a lot of bad shots. His size and game translates to the next level and the fact he’s hard working on and off the court should add even more value to him.
Timayahs Bracey Timayahs Bracey 6'0" | SG Hargrave | 2023 VA | 5’9” CG | VA Havoc 2023
Bracey really showed out on day one, as VA Havoc took down Boo Williams EYBL team behind the play of Bracey who scored 19 points and hit 5 three-pointers in the win. While he isn’t the biggest guy Bracey exudes confidence in his style of play as he will pull from anywhere and can hit from way beyond the arc, he plays with pace and handled pressure well and he showed he isn’t afraid to compete with the best of the best. He’s quickly catching on with coaches at all levels, especially after his showing this past weekend.
Curtis Blair | 6’5” WF | VA Havoc 2023
Blair also was very impressive in their win over Boo Williams, as the 6’5” Liberty commit really picked it up in the second half and helped put them away. He’s a shot making specialist and put that on display as he made tough contested fall-aways and pull-ups in the midrange, catch-and-shoot three’s and got to the line a good amount on the way to 14 points. He continues to get stronger and has put the injury bugs behind him that plagued him early in his career and has played very well over the past year.