CBG Memorial Day Standouts (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third annual CBG Memorial Day Showcase took place this past weekend at Ben Wallace Gym and Guardian Christian in Richmond, featuring some of the top programs from across VA and the DMV area. The event featured top talent from 15U-17U, and had a lot of guys we expect to blow up over the June and July live periods.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part one of the standouts from the VA teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lewis Walker | 6'6” WF | Team Loaded VA 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1969795,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Walker-Lewis.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Walker-Lewis.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1969795" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker continues to be one of the most consistent players for this talented Team Loaded VA group, as he is productive every time we see him and his unique and versatile game makes him one of the toughest matchups you'll come across. He's a true big guard as he handles the rock and is able to use his shift to get by defenders where he gets downhill and uses his size to finish through contact, he can knock down shots from deep and in the midrange and he's a good rebounder and defender as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489063' first='Brandon' last='Jennings'] | 6'3” PG | Team Loaded VA 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1978328,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Jennings-Brandon-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Jennings-Brandon-Loaded.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978328" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jennings joined this already stacked Loaded team, and he made his impact felt immediately on both ends of the floor as he made plays across the board to help them win. He's an excellent defender on the ball with great instincts and quick hands to pick-pocket ball handlers and get easy opportunities in transition, he made shots from all over the floor working both on and off the ball and he showed his ability to play with pace and make plays for others with the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259544' first='Damon' last='Thompson'] | 6'1” PG | Team Loaded VA 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1180284,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Thompson-Damon-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Thompson-Damon-Loaded.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1180284" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson is another talented guard for this Loaded team, and he showed his shot making and playmaking ability in their two wins at the event. He plays with good pace as he doesn't get sped up and is able to shake defenders off the bounce, he knows how to create space on the ball and can move off the ball where he can make shots from multiple levels and he has the ability to heat up quickly and take over games too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Delaurier | 6'8” PF | Team Loaded VA 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1978329,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Delaurier-Eli-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Delaurier-Eli-Loaded.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978329" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delaurier is one of the unsung heroes and more underrated players on this Loaded team, as he doesn't need to score the ball a lot to make an impact although he's capable of filling it up and did so throughout the event. He's a versatile forward on both ends of the floor as he can play inside-out and has good touch in the paint on the perimeter, he runs the floor hard and can finish in transition, he's a good rebounder and outlet passer and he can defend multiple positions too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489114' first='Ronier' last='Peters'] | 6'2” CG | NOVA Cavs 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1978330,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Peters-Ronnie.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Peters-Ronnie.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978330" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a lot to be said when you get a write up like this based on being an elite level glue guy, but that's what Peters did and he helped the Cavs go 2-0 on the weekend. The 6'2” combo guard is an intense competitor who gets after it on both ends of the floor and does the dirty work, he has a good IQ and makes the right play consistently, he picks his spots and can score it in different ways and he is a good defender as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489103' first='Grant' last='Polk'] | 6'6” WF | NOVA Cavs 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1978331,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Polk-Grant.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Polk-Grant.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978331" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Polk is one of the more underrated players in the NOVA area, and he's having a huge summer so far with the Cavs and put up big numbers at the Memorial Day Showcase. The 6'6” forward is a dead eye shooter with great size and he works well to get open and has a quick release from deep, he's a consistent shooter with confidence and the ability to get hot quickly and he can attack closeouts or got to the paint where he has good touch around the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580801' first='Malik' last='Johnson'] | 6'3” PG | Team Loaded 757 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1978332,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Johnson-Malik-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Johnson-Malik-Loaded.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978332" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson joined this already talented Loaded 757 group a few weekends ago, and he's wasted no time getting to it and is showing improvements in the right direction too. The 6'3” guard is shifty off the bounce and gets downhill where he's an excellent finisher in traffic with good body control and strength to finish through contact, he's showing improvement in his ability to knock down shots from deep and his length defensively allows him to challenge shots and get deflections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489035' first='Markus' last='Robinson'] | 6'3” WG | Team Loaded 757 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1978333,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Robinson-Markus-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Robinson-Markus-Loaded.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978333" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson is a sleeper on this Loaded 757 team that should get more love throughout the summer, as he's a very good shot maker who is efficient and scores it a lot of different ways. He works well off the ball to get open and has good footwork to get into his shot off the move, he can put it on the deck and has a good pull-up in the midrange, he has good range off the catch from deep and he doesn't need much space to get his shot off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->