Hoop Group Finale: 17U Standouts (Part 1)

The Hoop Group and Hoop Seen Finale took place at the Virginia Beach Sportscenter this weekend and had teams from all over the east coast come in down to play in front of a ton of college coaches. Here's a look at part one of the 17U standouts from the VA teams that I watched.   [player_tooltip player_id='999636' first='AJ' last='Clark'] | 6'3” WG | Team Loaded 757 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Clark-AJ-757.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Clark-AJ-757-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1459324"/></a></figure>   While Loaded 757 came up short in the semifinals against Team Takeover National, Clark continues to show that he's arguably the most under recruited player in the 757. He showed his next level athleticism and two way impact by making plays on both ends of the floor, he plays with a great motor and brings energy to his team and he continues to improve in his ability to create and make shots from multiple levels. He was productive on both ends of the floor and his improvement rate bolds well for him moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1107884' first='Stylz' last='Gardner'] | 5'11” CG | Team Loaded 757 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Gardner-Stylz-757.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Gardner-Stylz-757-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1459326"/></a></figure>   Gardner is one of the top bucket getters you'll find in the 757, and he showed that smooth game as he knocked down shots consistently and effortlessly throughout the weekend. The 5'11” combo is extremely smooth and knows how to create space off the bounce, he has a quick release and deep range from deep off the catch and off the bounce and he can get hot and fill it up in bunches. He's been one of the most consistent scorers on the HGSL all summer and he went out with a bang dropping 20 or more in almost every game.    [player_tooltip player_id='999619' first='Yuri' last='Manns'] | 6'3” WG | Team Richmond 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1302372"/></a></figure>   Manns is one of the most under recruited scorers in the entire state, and he showed that by flat out taking over the game against PSB DMV that I watched scoring 11 of his 15 points in the second half and showing the ability to fill it up in a number of different ways. He's strong when he attacks downhill and plays through contact and gets to the line often, he can create space off the bounce and has deep range from behind the arc and he stays in attack mode and puts pressure on the defense. He's wired to score and can fill it up in bunches when he gets it going.   [player_tooltip player_id='999651' first='Logan' last='Rhoades'] | 6'2” WG | Team Richmond 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Rhoades-Logan-Head-Shot.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Rhoades-Logan-Head-Shot-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1200283"/></a></figure>   Rhoades is one of the top shooters in the state and has shown that over the past few years at Godwin and Blue Ridge, and he showed it this past weekend as well. He's a smart kid who knows how to move off the ball to get open and get shots, he sets his feet quickly and has confidence when he lets it go and he can flat out light it up from deep. He's more than just a shooter too as he can attack closeouts and get to spots in the midrange and at the rim, and he's an excellent help side defender who stays in gaps too.   Sam Brannen | 5'11” PG | Boo Williams Gold 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Brannen-Samuel.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Brannen-Samuel-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1054333"/></a></figure>   Brannen is one of the most skilled guards in the 757, and he showed his ability to make plays off the bounce and spray it from deep as well. The 5'11” guard puts on a clinic running the pick-and-roll as he's a threat to score it from deep or get in the lane where he has a good floater and makes good reads on the rotating defense, he shoots it well from deep on or off the basketball and he's a pesky on ball defender too. He's a super efficient scorer and playmaker and he rarely made mistakes on the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1241926' first='Justin' last='Bass'] | 5'11” CG | Team Push 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Bass-Justin-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Bass-Justin-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1421167"/></a></figure>   Bass has been on a tear all summer long and looks like he could be one of the top scorers in the Peninsula next year, and this weekend was no different as he filled it up in almost every game they played. The 5'11” combo has the ability to score it from all three levels, he's quick and slippery off the bounce and can elevate to finish around the rim through contact and he can spray it from deep off the catch or off the bounce. He has become a lot more aggressive and confident over the summer and he has become much more efficient as a scorer too.

The Hoop Group and Hoop Seen Finale took place at the Virginia Beach Sportscenter this weekend and had teams from all over the east coast come in down to play in front of a ton of college coaches. Here's a look at part one of the 17U standouts from the VA teams that I watched.