3SSB Bryan Session 1: 17U Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Adidas circuit was in Bryan, Tx this weekend, featuring some of the best players from around the country. Here are some of the premier names a a few who are under the radar:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1679970' first='Yale' last='Davis'] | 6'0 G 2026 MBJ Elite 17U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis's stop-and-start ability with the ball in his hands was devastating in the halfcourt. He froze defenders with crossovers before getting into the paint and scoring with touch or drawing contact to get to the charity stripe. In a similar manner, Davis got to his pull-up jump and drained shots from various depths. And in transition, he went more of the playmaking route, turning the turnovers he forced into opportunities for others to score. He had 19 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals versus [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2092763' first='Martin' last='Giant'] | 6'3 G 2026 [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'] 17U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the showdown against the high level guards from Wildcat Select, Giant made the case that he should be considered one among them. He was white hot from three, drilling a trio of them in the first half. Anywhere he spotted up was good enough to pull the trigger. Even when he got fouled on a closeout, Giant went to the line and hit all three free throws. Then he kept at it in the second half, canning another catch-and-shoot and putting the finishing touches on performance with a pull-up three. He totalled 24 points, 3 boards and 2 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1359137' first='Taylen' last='Kinney'] | 6'2 G 2026 Wildcat Select 3SSB 17U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without coming close to being the leading scorer versus [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'], Kinney justified his recruitment as a highly sought-after prospect. In the first half, he operated within the flow of the offense, made plays as a PNR ball-handler, and had a huge chase-down block to give his team a a three-point lead at half. Then in the second, with his thumb on the pulse of the game, Kinney upped the tempo. He urgently got to his spots in the mid-range and at the rim, causing the lead to balloon. He tallied 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2247339' first='Christian' last='Matos'] | 6'2 G 2026 [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite'] 17U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Helping coordinate his team's offensive attack, Matos had the ball on a string as he created shots for himself and teammates. He routinely caught defenders off-balance because he got to his spots going in any direction, including backwards and sideways for pull-up threes. His willingness to shift into a facilitator and to play without the ball defensively were notable as well. He put up 19 points and 2 steals in one game, then 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in another. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2611201' first='Kaleb' last='Popotte'] | 6'1 G 2026 NY [program_tooltip program_id='2849101' first='Wiz' last='Kids'] 17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UMaxing out his movement skills, Popotte was a blur on both ends against [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite']. He seemingly came out of nowhere to deflect passes and get himself easy fastbreak buckets. Just as quick with the rock in his hands, his ability to blow by his man threatened the whole of the defense. So when he wasn't dashing to the cup for layups and floaters, Popotte was dropping the ball off to his big man in the paint. And just when both teams were neck-and-neck, he came up with clutch baskets to secure the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->