Ohio / Kentucky 17 U 3SSB Standouts

3SSB action got underway a day before the live period begins for Division I coaches and there were a handful of standout performers in action from Ohio and Kentucky, in this article I'll break down my 17 U standouts I caught from a day filled with action.    In a tight victory where Midwest Basketball Club came back from an early deficit, Elwer came up clutch with some impressive shot-making and also handling pressure with strong decisions. Elwer has been a consistent performer at the 3SSB level each of the past two seasons so him standing out shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. A few moments in the half court where Elwer was able to create space before pulling up definitely caught my eye as a skill Elwer must do at the next level to reach his offensive ceiling. In addition to his 13 points on 6/9 from the field, Elwer had 4 assists and did a nice job of taking care of the basketball when Upward Stars would blitz his pick and roll action.     Smith just announced a move to powerhouse Prolific Prep for his senior season so he will be exiting the Ohio rankings. The Upper Arlington product continued to impress at the 3SSB level with a dominant second half to push his team to victory. After some early turnovers, Smith locked in and converted on a few time and space 3-pointers and attacked closeouts with success. Smith also had a sweet lefty dime on a baseline drive for an assist and was active as a defender communicating with his guards on switches and being in the right place for help-side defense. If Smith can continue to make a defensive impact, he should see heavy minutes at Prolific Prep as a senior. Smith finished with a team-high 20 points on 7/10 shooting on Wednesday.     A new name to Ohio, Webb is doing a post grad year with Western Reserve Academy, a program that has become known for producing Division I talent. Webb looks next in line as few players move as smoothly as he does up and down the court at his size. His signature play of the day came when he grabbed a rebound, split the defense at half court and had a tough finish at the rim. I also thought Webb showed good feel for the game, being comfortable making the extra pass for his teammate. While Webb scored 8 points, his team high 4 assists caught my eye even more on Wednesday. I want to see Webb make a real impact on the defensive end of the court during my next scouts of him, he has the physical tools to be an impact player on that end of the court with the right mindset.     A tough loss for Wildcat select in overtime, I actually think this will focus the squad for a push in bracket play that starts tomorrow. Edelen had a big second half that was capitalized by back-to-back 3-pointers that turned a 4 point deficit into a 2 point lead late in the game. Edelen also made a couple plays in the pick and roll to swing the ball from side to side and get others involved. Despite the tough loss in the end, Edelen still stood out with 18 points on 5/8 from 3-point range on Wednesday.     The Island qualified for the play in round after a strong Adidas Gold campaign and the Akron/Canton based team played tough against 3SSB competition. I thought Prince was really active on the court with his athleticism and just being around the play a bunch. Prince had a couple transition layups and looked the part physically out there. Finishing with 14 points and 8 rebounds, Prince certainly made his presence felt on Wednesday.     A 2025 still playing at the grassroots level before moving on to college, Holley is a big-time athlete who can dunk and swat shots that few players can. His combination of a quick first step and perimeter shooting ability make him a tough player to guard on the perimeter. Holley finished with a team high 17 points and helped bring his team back into the game in the second half. A ton of upside with Holley, he was younger than a handful of 2026 prospects who saw the court today and should benefit from some extra development at the JUCO level.

3SSB action got underway a day before the live period begins for Division I coaches and there were a handful of standout performers in action from Ohio and Kentucky, in this article I'll break down my 17 U standouts I caught from a day filled with action.