Bash in the Desert: All 17U 1st Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I attended the annual Prep Hoops AZ&nbsp;<strong>Bash in the Desert</strong>&nbsp;at the Phhacility in Phx May 1-3. I viewed nearly every team in the 17U division and came up with nine all-17U Teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Here is the 1st team </strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2758274' first='Mateen' last='Cleaves Jr'] Dream City Christian (Oakland Soldiers 16 EYBL)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong framed lead guard plays on or off the ball with his elite size and plays the game with a next level pace and feel. He made some of the better passes up the court on a rope and will drive and kick it. He will score with hesitations to the basket, deep threes off the catch and pull-ups from mid-range. He rebounds well and plays the right way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1546987' first='Adan' last='Diggs'] Millennium (Vegas Elite 17 EYBL)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top true combo guards in the state. He makes everything look easy with left or right hand passes and scoring it in style from anywhere on the court. He fills it up with deep catch threes, euro steps, Jalen Green like dunks way above the rim and he manages to get to any spot he wants. He smartly plays off of two feet and will rise up&nbsp;above the defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140875' first='Demarcus' last='Henry'] AZ Compass Prep (Vegas Elite 17 EYBL)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile wing forward is morphing into your classic point forward. He affects the game in so many ways. He will rebound better then most and has the ability to take it off the glass and take it coast to coast. He will find teammates in stride with advanced court vision and score it. He will hit three, score with rip thrus, downhill takes with long strides and top end dunks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249943' first='Lleyton' last='Leonard'] Basha (Oakland Soldiers 16 EYBL)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top two-way guard/wings in the state has that similar DNA and motor like Cameron Holmes did at Millennium. The southpaw will take on the challenge of defending the best player nightly and will collect many steals in the process. He will defend multiple positions and still score it with mid-range jumpers, threes off the catch or dribble and transition dunks. His speed in the open court is impressive.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2370259' first='Terry' last='McKinney III'] Millennium (Vegas Elite 16 EYBL)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wing forward who seems like he can play almost every position on the court. The jack of all trades is a way above the rim dunker who was rattling the rim all weekend long. He plays and defends multiple positions. He scores it with rip thrus, highlight windmill dunks, mid-range J's and runs the floor better then most. His ability to affect the game with his defense will have college coaches looking at him.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2276223' first='Kingston' last='Montague'] Basha (Oakland Soldiers 16 EYBL)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most prolific scorers and shooters in the entire AIA is definitely Montage. He backed it up with 20+ points with five triples made in both games I viewed of him. He gets it off his hands quickly with plus elevation and the ball spins perfectly like it should. He is also an underrated passer and on-ball defender.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2746603' first='Shalen' last='Sheppard'] Crossroads/CA (Vegas Elite 16 EYBL)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top pure prospects in the entire event showcased his two-way play. He will control the paint with rebounds and block shots at a high rate and moves extremely well in space. His offensive repertoire was on full display with catch threes, spin moves into dunks, rip thrus into hook shots, drop steps, runs the floor, offensive rebound put backs and works well from baseline to go to work.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2276224' first='Tre' last='Wilkins'] AZ Compass Prep (UH Elite 17 Gold)</strong> <strong>(Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A steady combo guard will make some plays but he showed that he was one of the top shooters of the entire event. He can shoot it from deep with the best of them. He gets the ball out of his hands so quickly and comes with serious range. He can hit step backs from mid-range, post up with his frame and skill and has a deceptively quick first step and will finish with floaters.&nbsp;Look for him to make a big jump in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->