Iverson Classic 2026: Top Players 17U

These players showed up and showed out Saturday afternoon! Different variations of basketball skills were on full display for all to see.    Landyn is an elite point guard who showed the capability of being a scorer and facilitator. In the game against Moss Elite, he started the game by getting his teammates involved offensively. Landyn showed a knack for setting up other players with accurate passes. The majority of his assists led to easy scores around the basket. Landyn is a shifty guard who easily beat defenders off the dribble. When he attacked the paint, Landyn excelled at scoring or drawing in defenders. This opened up easy scores for other Alabama Celtics players. In the second half, Landyn played with aggression. He took over the scoring load by attacking the basket and knocking down short perimeter shots and three-pointers. Defensively, he applied great pressure to the Moss Elite guards. The pressure allowed him to generate numerous turnovers. Handling the basketball would not be an easy task for the opposition. Landyn is a great floor leader! Going into his Junior season, he'll be expected to lead Austin High at the most vital position on the court.     In my opinion, Amontae was one of the best point guards at the Iverson Classic. He's an excellent floor leader who scores and facilitates. Amontae was the primary initiator of the Moss Elite offense. I am confident he led the team in assists before he left the game with an injury. Most of his passes were on the money. Whenever he beat defenders off the dribble, Amontae attacked the paint and made plays. He excelled at drawing in opposing players and dishing out assists to teammates. If he needed to score, he did so with no hesitation. Whether it was driving to the basket, knocking down threes or nailing mid-range pull-ups, Amontae was hard to guard. I appreciated his basketball mentality and IQ. Defensively, he was great at jumping pass lanes and forcing turnovers. He played with a smoothness that allows him to be poised and under control. Amontae is an excellent player who is destined for greatness.     Caiden was the most dominant player on the floor Saturday afternoon. Whenever he had mis-matches on the perimeter or in the post, Caiden took full advantage of the situation. He wasn't only a threat in the paint. He beat defenders off the dribble, scored in transition and knocked down mid-range jump-shots. Occasionally, Caiden extended his range beyond the three-point line. He was able to convert multiple shots despite being closely guarded by the opposition. He excelled at rebounding the basketball. Caiden dominated the boards on both ends of the court. Especially on the offensive side. He's an excellent wing player who can score the ball in a variety of ways. During halftime, I stated to him that "he needed to take the game over in the second half" Well, he did not disappoint!. The majority of his point were scored by locking in and being aggressive. Defensively, Caiden showed his athleticism by defending smaller players on the wing and blocking shots. His post interior defense was excellent. He turned away Moss Elite players numerous times in the paint. Caiden is a great all around player who should easily transition to college basketball next season.     Terrion is an athletic/aggressive player who has a scorer's mentality. Whether it was attacking defenders, getting to the basket or knocking down threes, Terrion was un-guard-able in most situations. I truly enjoyed watching this young man play basketball. He gave maximum effort on both ends of the court. In the game against the Alabama Celtics, there was a sequence where he scored on three straight possessions. Terrion nailed two threes and attacked the basket. He's the kind of player who scores in bunches when he catches fire. I saw his Instagram post when he dunked on an opponent during a fast break. He flushed it down through contact and flexed. Like I said, this young guy's an athlete. Defensively, he applied pressure by physically attaching himself to opposing guards. This allowed him to forced multiple turnovers throughout the game. There were also moments when he had chase down blocks from behind. In my opinion, the sky's the limit for this young man. I have total belief that Terrion will thrive with continued growth and maturity.     A strong guard who plays with a physical mentality. Jaydon showed the ability to beat defenders to the basket for tough lay-ups. On some occasions, he was able to score through contact. He's an excellent rebounding guard who doesn't mind battling for boards in the paint. He showed his effectiveness on both ends of the court in regard to grabbing rebounds and making hustle plays. I remember when he grabbed a defensive rebound and started the fast break. Jaydon brought the ball down court and initiated a lob pass to a teammate for a dunk. Unfortunately, he missed. If the play happens, it would've been the highlight of the game. This was just an example of the all around skills Jaydon possesses. He has a nice shooting touch from mid-range. Jaydon was great at creating just the amount of space he needed to effectively get a shot off. Jaydon has no problems defending either guard spot. He has quick hands and great lateral movement. Jaydon has the skills to be a great two-way player in the coming years.     Arthur was an instant offensive threat as soon as he stepped in the game. He's an excellent shooter from behind the three-point line. I watched him knock down four long distance shots throughout the game. He always found ways to free himself for good looks at the basket. The Moss Elite players and coaches made it a point to get Arthur open looks with drawn up plays or screens. Arthur is not only a three-point shooter. He also showed the ability to score in the paint off dribble drives and offensive rebounds. He's a tough player who often used his size to battle the opposition for rebounds. I definitely view Arthur as a legit scoring threat for any team he plays with. His shooting and ball rotation looks good every time he releases a shot. The threes I saw him miss were always on line within the cylinder. With his shooting ability, Arthur has a bright future in the game of basketball. All coaches desire players who can shoot. Arthur is the kind of player who can full-fill those wishes.

These players showed up and showed out Saturday afternoon! Different variations of basketball skills were on full display for all to see.