LV Big Time: Top CA 17u Performers (Pt. 2)
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Big Time tournament was one of the more widely attended Live Period events on the West Coast, drawing more than 100 teams across four age brackets and from multiple locations throughout the United States.…
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Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Big Time tournament was one of the more widely attended Live Period events on the West Coast, drawing more than 100 teams across four age brackets and from multiple locations throughout the United States. Here is the first set of California-based standouts we saw at this event.
Jalen Brown, Lakeshow Fuca 17u – Brown made a name for himself in the West region outside of Northern California. The 6-foot-2 point guard has great quickness in the open court but stays under control when attacking and can decipher when to kick to a teammate or go all the way to the cup himself. In the half-court setting, Brown doesn’t force many actions and showed that he can run a team in high level situations.
Luke McGrath, BTI Wolfpack 17s – McGrath is not a guy who pounded the air out of the ball with 100 dribbles or played in isolation situations, but instead he was a guy who did what his team needed to get a win, especially from behind the arc. McGrath was a consistent catch-and-shoot threat from three-point range, with the corner being his specialty. He moved well without the ball, set screens to get teammates open, but also set screens to get himself open. McGrath competed well on the defensive end, was first to the floor for loose balls and battled on the defensive boards even when going against a bigger offensive player.
Michael Davis, EBO 17s – Davis is workhorse type of forward who can play both inside and out with his skill-set. At 6-feet-6 Davis is a bruising finisher inside with impressive footwork, hands and touch, but he can also step out on to the perimeter, face-up, and use his speed, balance and strength to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket.
Mikah Ballew, BTI Wolfpack 17s – Ballew is one of the bigger stock risers of the spring and summer club basketball circuit and he continued his strong playing ways at the Las Vegas Big Time. The 6-foot-5 wing has an intriguing combination of size, fluid athleticism and shot-making and shot-creating ability that makes him a guy who can handle the ball on the wing, knock down open shots and create space on the perimeter for mid-range and step-back jumpers.
Parker Strauss, Los Angeles Elite 17s – Strauss is another SoCal stock riser whose all-around game at the point guard position is what makes him such an intriguing prospect at the next level. The 6-foot-4 rising senior is a true point guard in the sense that he’s looking to get teammates involved before he gets himself involved. The unselfish passer is a high IQ decision maker with every pass in the book in his arsenal. Strauss plays with elite pace, uses his length to his advantage on the defensive end and can knock down the open catch-and-shoot three.