7 Guys Who Improved Their Stock at the CBG Memorial Day Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual CBG Memorial Day Showcase took place on Saturday in Richmond, featuring some of the top teams from across the state in a one day event full of high level bump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the event featuring a lot of the top independent teams in the state, there were plenty of prospects who made a name for themselves, just in time for the updated rankings coming out next month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at 7 players who improved their stock and should be on college coaches radars with the live periods coming up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2459361' first='Caleb' last='Straughter'] | 6'6” WF | VA Havoc 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2872165,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Straughter-Caleb.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Straughter-Caleb.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2872165" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Straughter is a player that I have been high on since his breakout sophomore season at Varina, and over the past few years he has improved quite a bit and showed he's turning the corner with his play at the Memorial Day Showcase. In two tough games against [program_tooltip program_id='2078813' first='VA' last='Premier'] and Higher Level, he put up big numbers showing his evolving skillset and athleticism as well. At 6'6” with long arms he showed his ability to play above the rim in transition and in traffic, he shot the ball very well from deep showing the ability to come off screens and make tough shots with little space, and he showed improvement in his ability to get to spots off the bounce and score it in the midrange as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2242380' first='Ruey' last='Ruey'] | 6'5” WG | CBG Elite 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2872185,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Ruey-Ruey-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Ruey-Ruey-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2872185" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruey is one of the more underrated prospects in the entire state in my opinion, as he's been a starter and big impact guy for Massanutten's post grad team in the Elite Prep League since he was just a sophomore. The 6'5” wing played for CBG Elite in the event, and showed his two way impact and scoring ability with 28 points while rebounding and making plays defensively against a very good Higher Level team. He showed his ability to change speeds and get downhill where he finished well in traffic, he shot the ball well off the catch and off the bounce from deep, he rebounded very well in traffic and he showed he's a very good on ball defender too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2459355' first='Dezmon' last='Ainsworth'] | 6'4” CG | Higher Level 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2872186,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Ainsworth-Dezmond.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Ainsworth-Dezmond.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2872186" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ainsworth has been on this Higher Level 17U team since last year, and after leading Saint Michael to the VISAA D-III State semifinal he's the leader of this talented group, and showed he should be on the radar of a lot more college coaches right now. At 6'4” he has great size positional size, and he sets the tone on both ends of the floor with his versatility on the offensive end as a dual threat scorer and playmaker, as well as his ability to guard multiple positions and great instincts defensively. He showed the ability to get to spots off the bounce and score it from all three levels, he made great decisions and set up teammates for easy buckets, and he was a good rebounder as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2347783' first='Carson' last='Cook'] | 6'3” WG | Higher Level 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2872189,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Cook-Carson.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Cook-Carson.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2872189" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cook was a favorite for the many division two and three coaches that were in attendance, as he put himself on the map with his consistent shooting and good size that will translate well to the next level. He's a strong wing with a great frame that will continue to fill out moving forward, and he showed sneaky athleticism on the defensive end with his ability to stay in front and jump passing lanes. He really shined with his ability to shoot it from deep coming off of screens and on kick-outs, he showed deep range and a quick release, and he attacked closeouts and finished well at the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2148730' first='Cooper' last='Konetschni'] | 6'4” WF | FABO Runnin Rebels 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2872190,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Konetschni-Cooper.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Konetschni-Cooper.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2872190" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Konetschni has had a big spring so far with this underrated Runnin Rebels group, and he put on a great showing when I watched them in their close loss to a talented [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] group. The 6'4” Swiss-army knife of a wing did a little bit of everything, going for an impressive 22 points while playing and guarding multiple positions and getting it done on both ends of the floor. He showed three level scoring ability and was particularly good hitting tough shots in the midrange, he rebounded well on both ends even against taller players, and whenever his team needed a big play down the stretch he stepped up and made one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630997' first='Elijah' last='Brandon'] | 5'10” PG | Team [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548452,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagenHXNjs.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagenHXNjs.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548452" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brandon had almost every division two and three coach in attendance watching him, and he didn't disappoint as he led [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] to a 2-0 record and put up big numbers and showing his leadership as well. The 5'10” guard is a mix of strong physicality and skillful finesse, showing all of that in a big 25 point performance in their close win over FABO, taking the game over down the stretch and sealing it for them. He's a dead eye shooter with a silky smooth jumper he can get off from NBA range both off the catch and off the bounce, he has a great instincts on both ends of the floor to make plays, and his high motor and willingness to do the dirty work at the point guard position is something that empowers his teammates as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2624494' first='Ben' last='Kalonji'] | 6'8" C | [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'] 16U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2872191,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Kalonji-Ben.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Kalonji-Ben.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2872191" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kalonji came over to Massanutten from the Republic of Congo in the fall, and ever since then we've watched him continually improve his game, going from a rim runner and rim protector to a rapidly developing big that division one coaches should be all over right now. At the event, we saw his usual high motor as a rebounder and defender, but also saw him demand the basketball in the post and aggressively look to score it or make plays when he got it. He showed improved passing ability hitting cutters and shooters, he finished well in the paint through contact, and he even showed that he's starting to extend his game to the perimeter with a few made three's as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->