Jack's 17U Southern Standouts (Part 2)

The Hoop Group Southern JamFest came back to Hampton this past weekend, with a lot of the top teams from the DMV and VA in attendance. Here's a look at part two of the many standouts I saw at the event.   [player_tooltip player_id='2148730' first='Cooper' last='Konetschni'] | 6'5” WF | FABO Runnin Rebels   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/589-Cooper-Konetschni.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/589-Cooper-Konetschni.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2167225" /></a></figure>   Konetschni is one of the more underrated players in the state, and showed that on one of the more underrated teams in the state with FABO Runnin Rebels. The All Region selection as a junior is extremely versatile with great positional size and showed his ability to impact the game in a number of different ways. He took advantage of mismatches with his ability to post smaller defenders and take slower ones off the bounce, he made shots from deep and in the midrange area and he showed he can play and guard multiple positions too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1963528' first='Medwyn' last='Opoku-Arthur'] | 6'6” PF | [program_tooltip program_id='2078812' first='VA' last='Playmakers']   Opoku-Arthur was part of a Playmakers group that was very impressive throughout the event, and is a late bloomer that coaches should get familiar with. The blue collar style big man showed his ability to impact the game in many ways, and the best part about him is that he doesn't need to score the ball very much to be effective for his team. He played with a great motor sprinting the floor and getting opportunities in transition, he rebounded well on both ends of the floor, he showed good touch around the rim and he was great protecting the rim as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='2347778' first='Adam' last='Perdue'] | 6'4” WG | [program_tooltip program_id='2078812' first='VA' last='Playmakers']   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagemveFW8.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagemveFW8.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548664" /></a></figure>   Perdue opened eyes this weekend as he should throughout the summer, as the All State selection is one of the best shooters you'll come across in VA regardless of class. At 6'4” he has good positional size and showed his ability to use that size to make contested shots with little to no space. He moved well off the ball and showed his ability to set his feet and make shots on the move, he showed he can create his own shots off the bounce and he showed great instincts on both ends of the floor too.   Dominic Mason | 6'6” PF | [program_tooltip program_id='2078812' first='VA' last='Playmakers']   Mason was the talk of the event for a bit on Sunday, when the 6'6” forward showed his elite athleticism with six dunks in just one game! Coming off of a state championship with Fairfax Christian, he's primed to get on college radars this summer with his explosive athleticism and high upside moving forward. He was elite in transition as a lob threat and getting downhill to attack the rim, he showed his ability to move his feet on switches and protect the rim defensively and he showed good touch out to the three-point line too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2461548' first='Rylee' last='Baker'] | 6'1” CG | [program_tooltip program_id='2426280' first='Fairfax' last='Stars']   Baker is coming off a breakout junior season at Millbrook where he was an All Region selection, and he followed it up with a big start to his summer as well. The 6'1” combo put up big numbers for the [program_tooltip program_id='2426280' first='Fairfax' last='Stars'], showing his ability to play both on and off the ball and score it in so many different ways. He showed range well beyond the three-point line both off the catch and off the bounce, he was fantastic in the midrange with pull-ups and floaters and he showed his ability to touch the paint and make plays for others as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='2301294' first='Akim' last='Iscandari'] | 6'1” PG | [program_tooltip program_id='2390411' first='Team' last='AKT']   Iscandari is the leader of an AKT team that looks very impressive so far, and could compete for an HGSL title this year with their depth, particularly in the backcourt. The 6'1” guard from Potomac School is one of the most athletic lead guards in the state, and he showed that with his blow by speed and ability to guard 94 feet as well. He was so tough for defenders to stay in front of and lived in the paint where he made plays for himself and others, he showed improvement in his ability to knock down shots from deep and he was an absolute nightmare in transition and on the defensive end.   [player_tooltip player_id='1963530' first='Marcus' last='Hancock'] | 6'3” WG | [program_tooltip program_id='2390411' first='Team' last='AKT']   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Hancock-Marcus.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Hancock-Marcus.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2024153" /></a></figure>   Hancock is one of the more underrated shot makers in the DMV, and coming off a big junior season with St. Stephen's St.. Agnes he's been showing more that he's added to his game as well. He did what he does best which is stretch the defense and make shots on the move, and he's one of those players that if he gets space you think it's going in. He showed good instincts and made the right play consistently on both ends, he showed his ability to handle it and make plays for others and he scored it in a number of different ways too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2459372' first='Cole' last='Perez'] | 6'3” WG | [program_tooltip program_id='2390411' first='Team' last='AKT']   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/tempImagetaLDgy.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/tempImagetaLDgy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2418679" /></a></figure>   Perez is a guy who sometimes gets forgotten about during the high school season as he plays for PVI with a host of nationally ranked players, but every summer he shows why he's good enough to play on one of the best teams in the country. He's in a great situation with a guard like Iscandari and another guy in Hancock who can knock down shots, because it gives him a chance to spot up and get looks on kick-outs which he knocks down at a very high clip. He understands his role and plays to it as he had multiple games with four or more three-pointers, and he showed a lot of grit on the defensive end too.

The Hoop Group Southern JamFest came back to Hampton this past weekend, with a lot of the top teams from the DMV and VA in attendance. Here's a look at part two of the many standouts I saw at the event.