AAU Preseason Preview: Waukee Jam 17U
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It’s that time of the year again. It’s AAU Season! This time of the year is always an interesting and excited one. It’s the time where we see new faces in new places, new groups joining together, and a whole…
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Continue ReadingIt’s that time of the year again. It’s AAU Season! This time of the year is always an interesting and excited one. It’s the time where we see new faces in new places, new groups joining together, and a whole lot of action as it pertains to high-level basketball throughout the country.
In this article we highlight the 17U group from the Waukee Jam. The Jam are bring back some of their prospects from a year ago, while adding a handful of others from across the State of Iowa. This program runs a tight ship. They are a group that came together to make a difference and show out on the hardwood any chance they could get. It doesn’t matter if they are competing in practice or playing for a national title, they always take it seriously with the intention of wanting to come out victorious in the end. This specific team for this program is configured of nine individuals, who could put together a rememberable next few months. They will have every position covered with multiple athletes that could be moved around on the court depending on their situation. This would be a group that I would watch out for. They may not be sponsored by a big name company but they could care less. They are here to show that all of that stuff doesn’t matter and no matter what, they can beat any other team on any given night.
Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!
Schedule –
April 5-7: Spring Tune Up – Ames, Iowa
April 12-14: Heartland Hoopfest – Des Moines, Iowa
April 19-21: Spring Showcase – Des Moines, Iowa
April 26-28: MW Festival Of Teams – Des Moines, Iowa
May 10-12: Kings Of The Court – Des Moines, Iowa
May 17-19: MW Live Showcase (Live) – Omaha, Nebraska
June 28-30: June Jame – Des Moines, Iowa
July 12-14: PH – Hardwood Classic (Live) – Kansas City
July 19-21: PH – National Open (Live) – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Caleb Dyvig Caleb Dyvig 6’3″ | CG Waukee | 2025 State IA is an interesting prospect and a solid 2-Guard in space. He has the ability to step up and knock down shots from all three levels, while understanding his own body and situations pretty well. He is the type of guard that can make things happen from the 2 or 3 spot because of his size but he doesn’t always rely on that. He has demonstrated that once he knows that his matchup can’t stick with him, he is going to go to work and produce off of the ball. Something that could be key to this groups success down the stretch of this Spring/Summer season.
Highlights
Hank Wilmes Hank Wilmes 5'9" | PG Winterset | 2025 State IA
Hank Wilmes Hank Wilmes 5'9" | PG Winterset | 2025 State IA
I have a feeling that Hanks Wilmes is going to have an AAU season to remember. Wilmes is a PG, that is athletic, smart, and dedicated to his craft. Coming down the floor he is just as good as the next guy in line, while being a great decision maker with the ball in his hands. He does have the ability to move off of the ball but he is clearly at his best when he can control pace of play and what his teammates are trying to set up in. I’ve had the chance to see Wilmes on both the travel floor and high school floor over the years and he is someone out of this state to know at this point. I’m sure he is going to get some offers to compete at the next level in some sport before his high school career comes to an end but we will just have to wait and see. If he plays with a chip on his shoulder this Spring, he is going to put up some eye opening numbers across the board.
Blake Reynolds Blake Reynolds 6’0″ | PG Earlham | 2025 State IA is going to come into this season as one of this groups knock down shooters. There are a handful of positive things that Reynolds brings to the floor but his best ability to shooting the ball off of the catch in my opinion and I think he is well aware of that. He come off of screens extremely hard and is always ready to let the ball fly when a defender puts his hand down. Not to mention, he can let that thing go from DEEP. Doesn’t matter what floor he is on, he embodies the phrase “hand down, man down.” He also displays quick hands and active feet on the defensive side of the ball, usually leading to some tips/deflections leading into a steal or three every contest. I think that Reynolds is going to thrive with this group. They have a bunch of fast guards who can create. If the defense decides to help off of Reynolds. he is going to FEAST this next few months for the Jam.
Caleb Moore Caleb Moore 5'11" | PG Van Meter | 2025 State IA
Caleb Moore Caleb Moore 5'11" | PG Van Meter | 2025 State IA
Van Meter has a handful of impressive players from this past high school season, one of them being PG Caleb Moore Caleb Moore 5’11” | PG Van Meter | 2025 State IA who will be joining up with this Waukee Jam team for the AAU Spring/Summer season. Moore is a quick thinking, smooth handling Guard, who makes his presence known by what his willing to do for his fellow teammates. He is aways trying to get the best look for everyone in any situation and he usually does a great job of that. His next most impressive ability is his hustle. This is a high energy, high motor type prospect. On both sides of the floor he is busting his butt, looking to make a play. He never seems to settle and always has a calm demeanor when bring the ball down the floor. This group is going to have several skilled PG’s. I’m not sure who will be the starter but if this group wanted to, they could run a system with duel Point Guards and be pretty successful. Obviously matchup’s will come into play but it’s something that I would think about if I was this coaching staff.
Charlie Matt
Charlie Matt
Another prospect off of the Van Meter High School team that will be suiting up for the Jam will be Shooting Guard, Charlie Matt. Matt stands at about 6’1 and he has demonstrated that if he see’s his first shot go in, he can shoot the cover off of the basketball throughout a contest. This past season he displayed that he is someone with fantastic body control while attacking the paint if his defender happens to overplay his jump shot in both the half court or in transition. Overall, he has a smart head on his shoulders and he uses that to his advantage on a consistent basis. He understands when he should go for a steal defensively compared to waiting back and letting his opponent bring the ball to him. He doesn’t ever seem to overplay his hand and he just has a calm demeanor in whatever he is doing. Sometimes a team needs is that even-keel type of guy to lock everyone in and I think that could be Matt within this specific group.
Jathan South
Jathan South
Jathan South is going to be one of the longer Guards for this team and I think he is going to do well because of that in the grand scheme of things. South this past season displayed that he can fill up a stat sheet really quick if you don’t pay close attention to him. He was the top of his teams zone and he ATE because of that. It seems like each game he scored double-digits in points, while also grabbing multiple Rebounds, dishing out a handful of Assists, and creating several Steals on the defensive side of the ball. Not to mention, he can get hot in a hurry from deep. Some games he was making upwards of 6-7 three’s per contest. This team is going to be Guard heavy but I have a feeling that South is going to have no problem seeing the floor when the game is on the line or during crunch time this AAU season.
The beast in the middle for this 17U team will come to us in the form of Logan Porter Logan Porter 6’3″ | SF Winterset | 2026 IA from Winterset High School. Porter was a double-double machine this past season in Points-Rebounds and I expect nothing less over these next few months. Porter has a wide frame, strong physical prowess, and relentless heart. He is a high energy prospect that is going to get the ball if you give him any sort of day light in the Rebounding department, while being really good at finishing through contact at the rim. He may only stand at 6’3 but he plays like he is 6’6 with how physical his actual game is. If this group can get some action going where he has 1v1 situations near the rim, he is going to do really well. He has displayed that he can pass out of a double team as well so when teams try to dig down into the post, you can expect a solid pass out for an open jumper from one of their knock-down shooters. All in all, I’m excited to see this kid work these next few months. If it’s anything like the high school season, he is going to kill it.
Highlights
Ryley Johnston
Ryley Johnston
Tied for being the tallest player that this group will have on roster will be Ryley Johnson of Winterset High School. Johnson is listed at 6’4 and 180 lbs, meaning that he is tall and lengthy inside the lane. This is going to be another player that this groups looks to, to eat inside the middle or within 15Ft of the basket. He has shown over the past few seasons that he is reliable in his pursuit of the basketball, while being versatile in his playmaking ability. Ideally this group is going to want to get him the ball inside the paint but that doesn’t always happen. In which case, Johnson will have to show off that he can use his dribble to get to the spots he wants to while attacking the rim. If he can demonstrate early on that he has that ability, this team is going to do really well against most programs they matchup with this season. If not, it becomes a lot more interesting in the long run but they should still be pretty successful by my evaluation.
Quinn Bailey
Quinn Bailey
Last but not least we have another prospect that will be looked on to be a difference maker for this squad but in a different way and that is Quinn Bailey of Des Moines Christian High School. Bailey is also listed at 6’4 and he is a defensive monster from everything I have seen. Each game, he is good for at least 2 steals and a handful of blocks against his competition. It doesn’t really matter who he is playing against, it just seems like Bailey is enevitable with these types of things and opponents seem to keep challenging him for some reason. I’m interested how he is going to fit into this group but I’m sure he will be their starting or back Center. Like I said, he is listed at 6’4 but he moves well for that size and is very disciplined against shot fakes so as long as he stays true to that, I’m sure he is going to start and end this AAU season as their defensive leader in the paint.