HG Southern Preview: Non HGSL Teams

With Southern Jam Fest being a live period event for the first time ever, we will take a quick look at some of the teams from VA to keep an eye on in the 17U class. Here's a look at some of the independent 17U teams that will be in attendance.   BWSL TMB 17U   [player_tooltip player_id='1574509' first='Jayden' last='Brown'] | 6'4” CG | STAB '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/644-Jayden-Brown-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/644-Jayden-Brown-scaled.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-1599492" /></a></figure>   Brown is one of the more underrated players in the 2026 class and will have a chance to make a name for himself with college coaches playing up on 17U. Brown has a lot of intriguing qualities as he has great size as a combo guard, he is shifty off the bounce and can get to the rim where he can use his length and athleticism to finish, he's improved a lot as a shooter and he has huge potential on the defensive end.   Emmanuel Villegas | 6'6” PF | Benedictine '26   Villegas is another intriguing 2026 prospect playing up on this TMB team, and he has a lot of impressive traits that will translate long term to the next level. At 6'6” he's a good athlete who can get up and down the floor and finish above the rim, he has good touch around the rim and he's a presence on the defensive end and on the glass too.   Brent Thompson | 5'11” PG | Benedictine '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Thompson-Brent.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Thompson-Brent.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1978343" /></a></figure>   Thompson is having a great spring so far leading this group as their floor general and he continues to get better in a lot of different ways. He's super crafty off the bounce with the ability to change speeds and get in the paint where he can make plays for others, he shoots the ball at a high clip from deep and he has the ability to finish in traffic with both hands too.   Team Loaded VB City 17U   [player_tooltip player_id='1494116' first='Kassidy' last='Jackson'] | 5'11” PG | Green Run   Jackson is one of the best guards in the Beach and will be one for coaches to keep an eye on who are looking for a tone setter on both ends of the floor. He has great speed in the open floor and a quick first step to get by defenders, he makes plays for others in the open floor and in the half court, he can make shots when he's left open and he's an absolute pest defensively.   [player_tooltip player_id='2452276' first='Triston' last='Skipwith'] | 5'8” PG | Lake Taylor   Skipwith is having himself a great spring both in AAU and in spring league, and he has the ability to put up big numbers despite being one of the smaller guys on the court. The 5'8” guard plays with great energy on both ends of the floor, he is quick off the bounce with the ability to create space, he has a great middle game and he is absolutely deadly from deep as well.   Zach Owens | 6'2” WG | Maury   Owens is having himself a very good spring after helping Maury to a deep playoff run, and he's been helping VB City win plenty of games as well. He possesses an important trait as someone who just helps you win as he can make shots and takes good ones, he works hard defensively and fights for 50-50 balls and he can make plays for others as well.   Higher Level Elite 17U   [player_tooltip player_id='2452258' first='Carter' last='Crumity'] | 6'2” CG | Patriot   Crumity is one of those guys who got overshadowed a little on such a deep and balanced Patriot team, but they wouldn't have seen all the success they had without him and he's having a great spring so far. The 6'2” combo guard is a smooth athlete who gets to his spots and scores it in the midrange, he can move off the ball where he can catch and shoot and also is a good cutter and finisher and he makes the right play consistently.   MJ Harris | 6'2” WG | Freedom-Woodbridge   Harris joined this HL Elite team and has been a big addition as he's made an immediate impact with his ability to score it in bunches and make plays defensively as well. The 6'2” wing gets after it as he guards the ball well and he flies around defensively to jump passing lanes, he knocks down shots from deep at a high clip off the bounce and he can get to the rim and is a good finisher too.

With Southern Jam Fest being a live period event for the first time ever, we will take a quick look at some of the teams from VA to keep an eye on in the 17U class. Here's a look at some of the independent 17U teams that will be in attendance.