Hidden Gems (LIVE Period)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2042762' first='Tae'Shawn' last='Shelton']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches will traverse this great nation of ours looking at targets and perusing players for the next four days. The LIVE Period is a special time, albeit less imperative than prior to the proliferation of Transfer Portal recruiting. Above all else the 17u programs will enjoy live eyeballs from decision-makers. Historically April and May are months filled with first impressions and initial offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most of the players listed below are known only locally or within their own district but based on years of scouting they are likely to garner recruiting attention in the coming weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id='1574449' first='Jackson' last='Simmons'] | AC Elite 17u</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through two years of high school basketball Jackson scored 1,170 points at the varsity level. After three years he is the owner of 73 wins and amassed 1,845 points. The guy scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <a href="https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/sports/high-school/unicoi-county-basketball-coaches-simmons-broyles-switch-roles/article_5d652d78-7f99-4640-9d9c-747701385533.html">Johnson City Press reported</a> <em>Effective immediately, Jordan Simmons, currently head coach of the boys varsity team, will take on the role of head coach of the Lady Devil basketball team, while Brandon Broyles, currently girls coach, will become the new head coach for the Blue Devil boys basketball team.</em> This news will have an impact on Jackson's senior season. No longer will he play for his uncle Jordan Simmons. Further, Unicoi County will drop down to 2A from 3A, presumably making their district schedule less challenging. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is an elite shooter fully able to get his shot off in tight spaces. One drawback to his game is footspeed. [player_tooltip player_id='1574449' first='Jackson' last='Simmons'] will be a tad slow at top speed in college. Milligan University (NAIA) already offered the volume scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Unicoi County Seasons</span></strong><br>21-14 (2025)<br>24-12 (2024)<br>28-9 (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHO:</strong> AC Elite 17u<br><strong>WHERE:</strong> Phenom G3 LIVE Event Raleigh<br><strong>WHEN:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6:00 PM Court 2 vs. UPNext (FRI)<br>8:00 AM Court 1 vs. Harvest Development Academy (SAT)<br>10:00 AM Court 7 vs. Foothills Basketball (SAT)<br>11:00 AM Court 4 vs. Most Hated (SUN)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>F | [player_tooltip player_id='2042762' first='Tae'Shawn' last='Shelton'] | Team Mookie 17u</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Former @PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Star, [player_tooltip player_id='2042762' first='Tae'Shawn' last='Shelton'] jumps like a pogo-stick. Do kids even know what a pogo stick is nowadays? Probably not. They were barely a thing in the 80's. Regardless, Shelton springs like he has springs instead of legs. Shelton ran with Golden Franchize AAU last summer and picked up with Team Mookie in 2025. Shelton is a little raw offensively and needs to improve his footwork with his back to the basket. Often, AAU is not the place to showcase that skill as guards rarely feed the post. What he can do is collect offensive rebounds and deny around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelton missed some time the last few weeks with injury, but will play this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Shelbyville Central Seasons</span></strong><br>14-15 (2025)<br>6-21 (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHO:</strong> Team Mookie 17u<br><strong>WHERE:</strong> NIKE SESSION 2, Memphis, TN<br><strong>WHEN:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12:30 PM Court 10 vs. Rotary Rebels (FRI)<br>11:00 AM Court 3 vs. Team Determined (SAT)<br>3:30 PM Court 14 vs. TT Reform Sports (SAT)<br>11:00 AM Court 15 vs. USC Unleashed (SUN)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG | [player_tooltip player_id='2479687' first='Baylor' last='Allen'] | BMaze 17u</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>State Champion <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2479687' first='Baylor' last='Allen']</strong> is a sharpshooter that frequently gets overlooked by fans and peers alike. Try playing with [player_tooltip player_id='2292618' first='Preston' last='Wade'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2367403' first='Aiden' last='Bolden'] every night...you will notice few eyeballs on you. And yet Baylor will play college basketball at some level thanks to his elite shooting and decent off-guard height. Baylor reclassified from 2025 to 2026 a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Providence Christian Academy Seasons</span></strong><br>28-2 (2025)<br>27-5 (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHO:</strong> BMaze 17u<br><strong>WHERE:</strong> UA SESSION 2, Hamilton, OH<br><strong>WHEN:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4:45 PM <strong>EST</strong> Court 5 vs. KC Run GMC<br>11:45 AM <strong>EST </strong>Court 5 vs. Skills Center Elite<br>6:00 PM PM <strong>EST</strong> Court 7 vs. Philly Pride<br>10:30 AM <strong>EST </strong>Court 3 vs. Arizona Select</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->