Run N Slam: Kentucky 17 U Standouts

The Bill Hensley Run N Slam saw hundreds of teams head to Fort Wayne, Indiana for one of the biggest events in the midwest. In this article I'll break down the standout 17 U performers from the event.    I was impressed with the defensive unity that Midwest Cincy MHC plays with. With a couple tough guards who pressure the ball and a few bigs with length and switch ability like Blakey, they are a tough group to score on in the half court. I was impressed with Blakey's versatility on the defensive end of the court, walling up players at the rim and switching onto guards and holding his own on the perimeter. As a scorer, Blakey had a lefty finish, a push shot off one dribble and a time and space 3-pointer in the game I caught. I even liked that Blakey grabbed a defensive rebound and immediately looked to push the pace to help advance the basketball before finding a guard. With the wide range of skills Blakey shows for his size and his incredible production during the high school season, I expect scholarship programs to be interested in Blakey this season.     Playing up an age group, Gay still stands out with his burst and athleticism for his size. A talented slasher, Gay was getting where he wanted to off the dribble and living in the paint. Improving as a ball handler, Gay had some quick moves that got defenders leaning before exploding to the rim to finish. Gay is also a prospect you can't leave open from long range off the catch. One of the highest upside prospects in Kentucky's 2027 class.     McGillis continues to perform at an extremely high level and was the best player on the floor in a win over Indy Heat EYBL. McGillis had some nasty takes to the basket with some acrobatic layups through traffic with both his right and left hand. A pick and roll maestro, McGillis uses screens to either hit a rolling teammate or attack a big off the dribble on a switch or in drop coverage with a pull-up jumper. Maybe the best passer in all of Kentucky as well, McGillis was finding teammates left and right with passes that had the defense guessing. With his steady production this spring, McGillis should be a no-brainer for Division II programs and will likely get some low major interest during live period weekends.     While I mentioned how McGillis was setting up teammates left and right and using the pick and roll to find easy shots for himself and teammates, Bradshaw was his partner in a lot of these sets as a physical forward who sets hard screens and rolls to the rim with a purpose to catch and finish in the paint. A standout on the gridiron as well, Bradshaw's size, frame, length and hands all translate to the hardwood. While the skill, passing and shooting ability grab the attention for Ohio Champion, they also have guys like Bradshaw who can play above the rim on both ends for electrifying finishes at the rim and monster blocked shots as well. It's obvious the chemistry between Bradshaw and McGillis as the pair are playing together during both the high school and grassroots season.     [program_tooltip program_id='2229551' first='Moss' last='Elite'] was missing multiple players this weekend which allowed for some new names to step up in bigger roles. One of those guys was Gabbard who took advantage of offensive opportunities with a handful of jumpers from the perimeter. A stretch forward who can play above the rim, Gabbard had a pickpocket steal that led to a transition slam dunk that got his team fired up. Combine his size and shooting ability with some flashes off the dribble and Gabbard is a player who has a high upside and is very intriguing. If Gabbard can add some muscle and consistently impact the game on both ends of the court, I could definitely see some scholarship programs calling about him before the summer is over.

The Bill Hensley Run N Slam saw hundreds of teams head to Fort Wayne, Indiana for one of the biggest events in the midwest. In this article I'll break down the standout 17 U performers from the event.