Big Shots Atlantic Coast May Madness: 17U Gold Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I sat down this weekend to catch some grassroots basketball, with one tournament I tuned into being the Big Shots May Madness event in Greensboro. Young Ballers Elite took home the championship in the 17U Gold bracket, but I saw a number of different players catch my eye. Keep reading below for some of the top standouts for me over the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1210942"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Minard is an unsigned senior looking at both post-grad and JUCO options right now, and he's shown he has the ability to play at the next level as a guard. He's got good size, standing around 6'3, and has great scoring acumen above all else. He's shot the ball well whenever I've watched him and he can extend his range deep beyond the 3 point line. Athletically he moves very well and has good lateral movement and agility, which helps him on drives to the rim and generally busting the ball up the court. While he can get wild at the rim, he's not afraid to drive the ball and score as well as make the right dump off. He's got emerging potential as a scoring threat that can do more things offensively, and should be a name to watch either after he does his PG year or goes the JUCO route.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2085686' first='Logan' last='Ware']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Panther Creek","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078529' first='Strong' last='Center'] Cary 2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The old adage is that bigs develop later than guards, and for Ware, he's starting to really hit his stride. He's got a high motor that has him competing at every opportunity on both ends of the floor, especially on the glass and around the rim. He's aggressive pursuing second chance opportunities and cleaning up misses, and is looking to always finish at the rim, whether alone or through contact. He has shown the ability to step out and knock down 15 footers or threes, which is promising if he can truly space the floor. Defensively he puts his high motor to use by tracking down rebounds and being physical with other bigs. He's a growing big man that should be on local universities radars over the course of the next year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1774433"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Both a champion and a leader of his team this weekend, Harper was a steadying presence all weekend long. He's a real wing with size that can play at the next level, and his game goes with it. He's a sort of post player that does a lot of damage inside, but his athletic profile mirrors less of a big and more of a guard. Harper can score the ball away from the basket, but like many others, he's better at the rim. Defensively he flies around the court with intensity to block shots and get into passing lanes. He's the kind of hard-working, sizeable wing that many lower level programs could use.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1669941"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Gilmore was another important piece to [program_tooltip program_id='2078529' first='Strong' last='Center'] this weekend as he uses a very solid frame and great quickness to be a  high level scorer for his [program_tooltip program_id='2078529' first='Strong' last='Center'] team. He's really impressive on drives to the rim and finishing in the paint, as he's got a big sturdy frame that allows him to finish through contact, as well as a good set of finishes. He can shoot the three ball as well, although to me it looks like he is better shooting it off the dribble compared to off the catch. Defensively he has active hands both on passes and trying to poke the ball out from his man. However, Gilmore is someone schools should look at as a late pickup who can turn into a big-time scorer at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jaden Dade","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Franklin Prep","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"ACE SD Williams","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Dade is a lower level talent that should be impressive as a gritty, hard-nosed player at the college level. The first thing that stands out to me is his long, toolsy frame that should be apt to help him be a defensive stopper and threat. He's got a knack for taking charges and putting his body on the line, which is impressive considering those kinds of players come few and far between. However on offense, he's got good skills too. He's very fluid in the middle of the floor, using his body to gain separation for jumpers, and he can really stretch the floor when left open. Dade will have plenty of choices at the next level, and with the right coaching, he could be a very useful piece as a combo guard with his athleticism and skillset.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646129c0630fb"} /-->