Phenom Challenge: 17U Blue Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 Phenom Challenge took place this Saturday and Sunday at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. While Upward Stars SE 17U and Upward Stars Gold shared the 17U Blue Bracket Championship, these six prospects stood out amongst the competition during the tournament. Check them out below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1157438"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2419134,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1157438' first='Daron' last='Dunbar'] headlines our list of standout prospects from the Phenom Challenge 17U Blue Bracket. Dunbar plays for Upward Stars Gold, who went 4-0 and shared the Championship with their 3SSB counterparts. Daron was one of the most consistent performers of the entire tournament, showcasing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His weekend includes a 21-point game against Team Swish, where he had several clutch baskets to help seal the win. While he is a capable shooter from behind the arc, he used his strength advantage in set plays to score around the basket.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1145334"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":2419136,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Jordan is the Top-Ranked player in South Carolina's 2025 Class and backed it up with his play in Spartanburg. He has such a smooth play style and doesn't seem pressured at any point in the game. Also, the ball never seems to stick when it's in his hands. He does a terrific job of scoring or moving the rock, using his dribble wisely are rarely over-dribbling. While it's not his role to be the primary scoring option, Watford is more than capable of taking over when his team needs him. One such stretch this weekend was against Team KST 17U on Sunday, when he had two important buckets going to his left.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1239535"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":2419137,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Austin has a very impressive blend of size and athleticism, making him a very important piece in the [program_tooltip program_id='2078755' first='Upward' last='Stars Upstate'] system. While he is very solid on the offense end, it was his rim protection that stood out to me watching their matchup with Fountain Inn Kings on Saturday Night in Spartanburg. He had 4 blocks - several with emphasis. When they stay in play, he does a great job of finding the loose ball or running the floor in transition. Even when the shots aren't falling, Austin is always a hard worker and continues to impact the game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2299729"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":2419139,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Von Bruton had a very strong game for Team KST 17U against Upward Stars SE on Sunday. He had 14 points with most of his buckets coming in the paint around much taller defenders. He wasn't scared when taking on such defenders, finishing with creativity, with both hands, and even through contact, converting on both of his And-1 opportunities. Von was also solid on the defensive end, often guarding the 3 and 4 positions and holding them off well with his strength and toughness.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2105073"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":2419140,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Willard is another guard who stood out against tough competition in the Phenom Challenge 17U Blue Bracket. He connected twice from behind the arc, used his hands to force turnovers, rebounded his position, and connected the offense together. He is a very unselfish Point Guard, which is a much-needed piece to a [program_tooltip program_id='2245581' first='Carolina' last='Rebels'] team with several mouths to feed on this offensive end.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2420213"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":2419141,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Austin was very impressive on Sunday Morning in Spartanburg due to his size and ability to hit shots from the outside. He had 6 made threes and finished with 20 total points in a close loss to Mint Hill Lakers. Glasscho is listed at 6'4u0022, giving him the ability to shoot over most matchups on the wing adding lots of spacing to the [program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia'] offense. Austin is also strong in help defense, using his length to help cover ground on that end of the floor.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662705e95449d"} /-->