Top AAU Backcourts to Watch: 17U

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The spring season has already arrived but before we get too deep into tournament play, let's take a quick look at some of the marquee backcourts across the 17U division. With most of the players coming from the 2024 class this is a good barometer of the top talents heading into their senior seasons. However, pay attention to the couple 2025s making the jump up a division, and the handful of unsigned 2023s still looking for homes next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>WA Supreme</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450488' first='Cade' last='Orness'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450502' first='Harry' last='Davies'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450566' first='Devin' last='Whitten'], [player_tooltip player_id='1112472' first='Ryan' last='Mpouli']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orness is the big name in this group but look for Davies and Whitten to have some big games this season as they are counted on to space the floor and play tight on-ball defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Spokane Flight</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450501' first='Henry' last='Sandberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450485' first='Evan' last='Stinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450997' first='Nalu' last='Vargas'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450956' first='Asher' last='West']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sandberg had a big state tournament scoring the ball, but guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1450997' first='Nalu' last='Vargas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1450956' first='Asher' last='West'] have a chance to break out from under the radar and show up in a big way this AAU season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Seattle Select UA Rise</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1612208' first='Jalen' last='Dollar'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450934' first='Bo' last='Gionet'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450500' first='Jamari' last='Harris']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gionet was one of the biggest risers in his class across the high school season, and with Harris and Dollar alongside him, this backcourt brings a ton of different looks and skillsets to the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Rotary Select</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1463067' first='Noel' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1612215' first='Darius' last='Wilcher'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450499' first='Kofi' last='Peyton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1612213' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1086779' first='Semaj' last='Brown']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth is never an issue when talking about Rotary backcourts. Led by 3A state runner-up [player_tooltip player_id='1463067' first='Noel' last='Davis'], this rotary team has EYBL talent across the board. I'm excited to [player_tooltip player_id='1612213' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'] take the floor with this talented group and how he plugs in in his first year with Rotary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Rotary Rebels EYBL</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='923120' first='Cayden' last='McDaniel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450491' first='Ryan' last='Lafferty'], [player_tooltip player_id='1086705' first='Jamil' last='Miller']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Possibly the most talented group of guards here, you have size, athleticism, shooting, IQ, and sky-high potential with these three. Lafferty has been more of a facilitator/playmaker in past years but showed impressive scoring ability at the state tournament. He should be one to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>NW Greyhounds</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450603' first='Tre' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1837761' first='Demaree' last='Collins']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This backcourt will get up and down. With Walker spraying shots from all over and proving to be one of the most tireless players in the state, and the underrated Collins boasting incredible athleticism, this will be an exciting duo to watch over the AAU season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Friends of Hoop (Unsigned)</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='923111' first='Miles' last='Gurske'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270843' first='Grant' last='Kepley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1436196' first='Myles' last='Daymon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270689' first='Tyler' last='Sipma'], [player_tooltip player_id='1416700' first='KeVaughn' last='Harvey']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tons of talent in this unsigned group filled with guys who can shift back and forth between guard spots. This feels like a hungry group that has the skills and the smarts to be a top team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Friends of Hoop</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450954' first='Isaiah' last='White'], [player_tooltip player_id='1440884' first='Jaiden' last='Blackmon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1434525' first='Blake' last='Stempniak']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White and Blackmon are big guards with the ability to run an offense and score in bunches. It is an interesting pairing with their ability to pose problems on both ends of the floor for opposing guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>EBC Elite</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1416693' first='Quincy' last='Linton'], <strong>Trey Bullock</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1086788' first='Solomon' last='Barnes']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A trio of gritty players, this EBC backcourt is full of tough-minded players who grind it out on the defensive end. Barnes just signed on to play with Edmonds College next year, but both Linton and Bullock are unsigned 2023s who can fit into just about any team with their tough play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>D1 Elite</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450563' first='Jaxon' last='Dubiel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1444804' first='Arion' last='Palacol'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450959' first='Quinn' last='Swanson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450931' first='John' last='Floyd']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a group that quietly gets it done time after time, and still tend to get overlooked. Swanson and Floyd can shoot the lights out, while Dubiel is a blur and defensive wizard. Then you have the sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='1444804' first='Arion' last='Palacol'], who had a huge high school season and can pour in the buckets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Central Washington Select</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450579' first='Levi' last='Dorsett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450987' first='Eli' last='Esquivel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450945' first='Brandon' last='Lee']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is another group of grinders. Dorsett exudes toughness at the rim, and each has a certain level of craftiness to their game. Esquivel is a rising 2025 at the point, and Lee is a sharpshooter that can get hot at any time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>BDH Elite </em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1837762' first='Caleb' last='Berry'], [player_tooltip player_id='1612207' first='Amari' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='1837765' first='AJ' last='Manning-Blanks'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450963' first='Dylan' last='Jay']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jay is the headliner here and a deadeye shotmaker. Then you have two tough guards in Manning-Blanks and Harris who have the strength to wear down defenders. But the sleeper here is Berry. Berry has incredible range and plays a smart game from the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Beauchamp Elite 3SSB</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450483' first='Zoom' last='Diallo'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450494' first='Blake' last='Forrest'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450486' first='Trevor' last='Hennig'], [player_tooltip player_id='1821230' first='Ne'Quan' last='Brown']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The consensus top prospect in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1450483' first='Zoom' last='Diallo'] leads this talented group, but the other guys here are also among the top players in their classes. Forrest and Hennig are high school teammates that have state championship aspirations. And [player_tooltip player_id='1821230' first='Ne'Quan' last='Brown'] emerged as one of the top scorers in the area with his smooth offensive profile and next-level length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->