U17 FIBA day 2: Florida Prospects

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The second game of pool play pitted Canada and the US against their toughest competition. The US extended their FIBA U17 win streak to 38 games but not without challenge from Slovenia. Canada, on the other hand, went down to a very talented French team. Here’s how Florida’s prospects stood up to the early challenge.</p> <p>Mikkell Tyne</p> <p>France’s size and athleticism really bother Tyne. He continued his struggle from the floor but notched his first basket of the tournament with a deep three off the dribble. The rising senior showed that same passing that dazzled in the first game of pool play but was less fruitful.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1306081" first="Olivier" last="Rioux"]</p> <p>Like Tyne, the size and athleticism bothered Rioux in his 18 minutes of play. However, his size always makes him productive. He grabbed defensive boards against a talented frontline bringing his average rebounds per game down to 8. The 2024 prospect still hasn’t found his offensive rhythm but showed those flashes post awareness that made me feel like he’s taken a step since IMG Blue’s season ended.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="709255" first="Sean" last="Stewart"]</p> <p>Stewart used his elite athleticism on both ends of the floor. He kept possessions alive with offensive rebounds and ended one of Slovenia’s possessions with a gravity defying block. The Duke commit missed a trio of field goal attempts but knocked down a pair of free throws to get on the board. Through foul trouble and an off night, Stewart still makes winning plays for the US.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1454289" first="Cooper" last="Flagg"]</p> <p>Flagg was more aggressive on the offensive end against one of the better teams in the tournament. He used his size, athleticism, and handle to hit shots off the move and overpower defenders on the block. The newest Montverde member was heavy on the boards, grabbing 5 in the first quarter and finishing with a game-high 13 rebounds. Flagg was extremely efficient 15 feet and in against a team of similar size.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1055791" first="Karter" last="Knox"]</p> <p>The 6’5 guard hit a deep three pointer at the top of the nail to get his day started. He finished the day tied for third in scoring with 11 points, only missing one of his 6 attempts. Knox looks like he’s put some size on his 6’5 frame and is converting on the floor. His combination of power and athleticism is paying dividends for him inside the arc.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1055578" first="Asa" last="Newell"]</p> <p>Newell had a quiet 8 minute outing against Slovenia. He showed diverse shot selection but missed the mark on all four attempts, but knocked down both free throws attempts. His size and length earned him a block, keeping his average at 1 per game.</p>