Bash in the Desert 17U 1st Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>May 3rd-5th I attended the annual&nbsp;<strong>Bash in the Desert</strong>&nbsp;at the Phhacility and Valley Vista HS locations. It had nearly 60 teams total and I watched 80% of all the teams to form a good opinion of the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched 20+ of the 25 17U teams and</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is my&nbsp;<strong>All-Individual 1st Team</strong>&nbsp;for 17U:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are a combination of teams performance combined with how the individual played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996172' first='D'Andre' last='Harrison'] Perry ([program_tooltip program_id='2076648' first='Peak' last='Basketball'] prelude Mali)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong and highly skilled forward showed off this weekend. He seems to have stick em on his hands to rebound anything near him. He will dribble drive and handles contact well with his sturdy frame. He can shoot it from mid-range and his runner is polished. He is sneaky quick to get by his initial defender and will then throw a good pass to a teammate and can find players up the court and in the half court set. He will dunk it on the break and was named <strong>MVP.</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301344' first='Kingston' last='Tosi'] Millennium ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] UAA)&nbsp;(Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another consideration for MVP was Tosi. He scores with a quick second jump and will explode up to finish. He made a few lob dunks in transition with back doors. He will score with perimeter jumpers, ripping thru and offensive rebound put backs. His versatility on offense is very hard to handle and he will defend multiple positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1274847' first='Adam' last='Hubbard'] Canyon View ([program_tooltip program_id='2301191' first='Team' last='Rise N Grind'] Black) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A walking bucket just pours in points every game from all levels (Avg 25.3ppg which was #1 in 17U). He has an ultimate quick three point release and is improving his rebounding. He scored multiple and-1 tough shots in the lane and his FT stroke seems to be almost automatic. He played a lot of the PG role and was diming his teammates all game with drive and kicks as the defense shaded to him all game long. He will collect steals and even block shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996170' first='Christian' last='Holly'] Phhoenix Prep ([program_tooltip program_id='2076648' first='Peak' last='Basketball'] prelude Mali)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides his team going undefeated he made clutch shot after clutch shot when they needed him. He has a quick release with his three point stroke and got downhill and threw it down on the break impressively. He rebounds well with his bounce and is a tough on-ball defender using his athletic gifts.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996176' first='Bryce' last='Quinet'] Notre Dame Prep ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] UAA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quintessential pure PG guides his current undefeated team with the best of them. He is an incredible lob thrower and is very smart when to score or facialite. He has deep three point range or will pull up from mid. He changes speeds unusually well to get downhill even showed off his improving bounce with a dunk on the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1286023' first='Ryan' last='Burbach'] Brophy Prep ([program_tooltip program_id='2075793' first='Arizona' last='Select'] UAA)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He set the tone in game one with three straight threes and it was all uphill from there. He has a picture perfect textbook three point shooting stroke with a quick release and comes with range. He is an improving athlete in the last year with finishes, rebounding and is using his size and longer arms to defend.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217316' first='Gerron' last='Jr Graham'] Premier Prep Tucson (Tucson Spartans Black)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong facilitating PG who can score. He will also sit down on defense and has quick hands to make it difficult on his opponents. He rebounds well and he made a few dimes during the two games. He found teammates with pick and roll passes, blow by and will throw a rope up the court. He shot it from the three well, he gets downhill off of hesitations, he has an impressive floater and smartly cuts off the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nikoloz Abdulade Rancho Christian/CA (Gamepoint Inland Empire 2025) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arguably the top pure passing PG at the entire event. He is a next level passer with his left or right hand. He changes speeds well to get to the basket and score on running layups. He is a sneaky vertical athlete but his IQ and feel for the game are extremely high. He can rattle in threes and he is a tough on-ball defender. He had to sit the year but he looks like he will break out in Cali.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2435456,"width":"259px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/IMG_3475.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/IMG_3475.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2435456" style="width:259px;height:auto" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nikoloz will make some waves for this upcoming HS season.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1876010' first='Dayton' last='Foster'] ALA West Foothills ([program_tooltip program_id='2091922' first='Hunter's' last='Elite'] National)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foster guided the undefeated team to a 4-0 record. He is very easy to play with as he has a dimer badge. He makes everyone on the court better. He is a step faster or maybe two than most. He has quick hands and feet and makes it very hard to score on him. He outraces nearly everyone on the break and the ball is on a string for him. A definite fun watch.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->