Grit Region Finals – 17u All-Tournament Teams
The Prep Hoops Circuit culminated around the country with regional based tournaments taking place over the weekend. The Grit Region Finals were played in the Indianapolis area and featured many of the best independent grassroots programs in the Midwest. As…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit culminated around the country with regional based tournaments taking place over the weekend. The Grit Region Finals were played in the Indianapolis area and featured many of the best independent grassroots programs in the Midwest. As we begin to recap the action from the weekend it only makes sense to start off by naming our All-Tournament teams. As the Regional Scout for the Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region I have compiled first, second, and third teams for each age division. On Monday, we released the 15u All-Tournament Teams. We then turned our attention to the 16u age group on Tuesday. Now, here are the 17u All-Tournament Teams from the Grit Region Finals.
First Team
Deshawne Crim Deshawne Crim 6'2" | PG Fairfield | 2023 State OH (Fairfield H.S. 2023/Cincy Fire Elite 17u): This athletic, strong point guard was one of the primary catalysts for leading Cincy Fire Elite to the Grit Region Finals Final Four. Crim is an excellent playmaker off of the dribble who can create for himself as well as set up his teammates. He gets downhill quick, takes contact well, and is a very good finisher. 6’1″ point guard.
Jake Fiegen Jake Fiegen 6'3" | SG New Trier | 2023 State IL (New Trier H.S. 2023/Full Package Black 17u): It wouldn’t be a real Prep Hoops Circuit event if Fiegen wasn’t featured on the All-Tournament First Team. One of the Circuit’s consistently best players led the consistently best team to a perfect 6-0 weekend to become Grit Region Finals champions. Fiegen, who has began to receive a few Division I offers, is a truly elite shooter.
Xavier Sulaiman Xavier Sulaiman 6'3" | SG Oak Lawn | 2023 State IL (Oak Lawn H.S. 2023/Hoops 4 Health 17u): Sulaiman turned heads on Saturday afternoon when he went off for 38 points in one of the best games, and certainly most watched games, of the tournament. His explosive athleticism makes him such a tough cover in the backcourt with his wide array of skills. That performance wasn’t his only big one of the weekend though, Sulaiman also contributed some other high-scoring, high-assist games for Hoops 4 Health while in Fishers. A little surprised that this prospect doesn’t hold more offers at this point.
Cayden Vasko (Bosco Institute 2023/Fundamental U 17u): The tournament started with a near triple double and eventually led to a game-winner for this bigger point guard. Vasko went for 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists in Fundamental U’s first game. Then, he scored 17 points including a buzzer-beating layup to move his team to the Final Four on Sunday. Also had 7 assists in that game. The reclassification from 2022 to 2023 should be a positive one for this two-way guard prospect.
Devon Woods Devon Woods 5'10" | PG Pike | 2023 State IN (Pike H.S. 2023/EG10 17u): There might not have been a prospect that was talked about more during the Grit Region Finals than this 5’10” point guard. Woods went off for 30 points in an 82-77 win over CTM Elite to advance EG10 to the 17u Final Four. He’s as dynamic of a playmaker as you will find in Indiana’s Class of 2023 with excellent intermediate range scoring ability for his size. So quick with the ball, very creative as a finisher, and has a silky smooth pull-up jumper.
Second Team
Aidyn Boone Aidyn Boone 6'5" | C Central | 2023 State IL (Libertyville H.S. 2023/Full Package Black 17u): This 6’5″ forward has a very strong build and showcased the ability throughout the weekend to stretch the floor out beyond the three-point line. He was at his best as a catch-and-shoot threat while helping lead Full Package Black to a perfect 6-0 record and Grit Region Finals championship. Boone was certainly a stock-riser from the weekend.
Kamari Jones Kamari Jones 6'4" | SG Lawrence Centra (IN) / Hilcrest Prep (AZ) | 2023 IN (Lawrence Central H.S. 2023/D1 Indiana 17u): There are few prospects on the circuit who can fill it up in the way that this 6’4″ guard can. Jones is a very good ball handler, has the athleticism you would want, and can flat out stroke it from anywhere on the floor. He was creating his own shot consistently over the weekend and made it rain from three-point range as well.
Brady Kunka Brady Kunka 6'4" | SG Benet Academy | 2023 State IL (Benet H.S. 2023/Illinois Attack Chapman 17u): Kunka impressed with his strength in the backcourt and all-around shooting ability. He got hot from beyond the arc in a couple of stretches against Fundamental U, but ultimately came up short on a buzzer-beater. Excellent three-point shooter.
Ian Stephens Ian Stephens 6'5" | PF New Palestine | 2023 State IN (New Palestine H.S. 2023/JH1 IndyElite 17u): It was yet another great weekend for the 6’5″ Stephens. He plays with a non-stop motor, can score it around the basket in a variety of ways offensively, and is a great rebounder. He is a no-brainer at the small college level and had a bunch of coaches at those levels following him around at the Grit Region Finals.
Hutch Ward Hutch Ward 6'8" | PF Kalamazoo Central | 2023 State MI (Kalamazoo Central H.S. 2023/Michigan Cagers 17u): Ward would have a legitimate argument for the first team, but it would be hard to remove one of those players that made it to the Final Four of the tournament. The 6’8″ pick-and-pop forward went 9-13 from three-point range on his way to 39 points in his last game of the weekend. Overall, Ward averaged 28 points per game showcasing his versatile offensive skill set.
Third Team
Grgur Brcic Grgur Brcic 6'10" | PF Williston Northampton | 2023 State NLG (Williston Northampton 2023/D1 Indiana 17u)
Myles Colvin Myles Colvin 6'5" | SG Heritage Christian | 2023 State #51 Nation IN (Heritage Christian 2023/INB Elite 17u)
Brayden Fagbemi (Benet H.S. 2023/Illinois Attack Champman 17u)
Cooper Farrall Cooper Farrall 6'5" | SF Culver Academy | 2023 State IN (Culver Academy 2023/Team GRIII Elite 17u)
Julian Mitchell Julian Mitchell 6'5" | SF Lakota East | 2023 State OH (Lakota East H.S. 2023/R4L 17u)