Under The Radar 17U Standouts: CBG Championships (Richmond, VA)

The CBG Championships always seem to bring out a few familiar names, but every event also creates opportunities for players to separate themselves and make a stronger case for college coaches and evaluators moving forward. While some players entered the weekend already carrying momentum, several others quietly put together strong performances that deserve more recognition. Whether it was consistent production, versatility, effort plays, or impacting games beyond the box score, these players stood out in a major way throughout the weekend.    Jack Bateman continues to be one of those players who keeps getting better every time he steps on the floor. His growth over the last several months has been noticeable, and he once again showed why his stock continues to trend upward. At 6-foot-8, Bateman possesses a physically imposing frame and understands how to use his body effectively around the basket on both ends.   Offensively, he continues to improve as an inside-out player. He can score through contact around the rim, finish through traffic, and has become increasingly comfortable stepping away from the paint and knocking down shots with confidence. Defensively, he serves as a true anchor. He protects the paint, rebounds his area, and consistently handles the dirty work that often goes unnoticed.   In his first game of the weekend, Bateman nearly posted a double-double with 8 points and 8 rebounds, but his impact went well beyond statistics. He plays with a team-first mentality and does a lot of the little things that help teams win games. Those traits continue to make him an extremely valuable piece for [program_tooltip program_id='3424568' first='Team' last='Loaded Gold'].     Chris Tabb looked every bit of a college-ready guard throughout the weekend. Every time Virginia Havoc took the floor, Tabb found ways to impact the game and looked like one of the best players on the court.   His ability to score the basketball immediately jumps out, but what separates him is how he creates those opportunities. Tabb does a great job changing speeds and controlling tempo, keeping defenders uncomfortable and consistently getting to his spots. He can attack downhill, pull up, and stretch defenses with his shooting.   He also showed strong playmaking instincts throughout the weekend. Whether in transition or operating in the half-court, Tabb consistently made smart reads and created opportunities for teammates. Guards who can score while also making others better tend to attract attention, and Tabb definitely fit that description throughout the CBG Championships.     [player_tooltip player_id='2472280' first='Kiontai' last='Barbour'] put together another highly productive weekend and continued to prove why he's one of the more intriguing under-the-radar players in the area. The athletic combo guard/wing possesses excellent length and explosiveness, and he consistently uses those physical tools to affect games on both ends.   Barbour was extremely effective in transition, where his athleticism allows him to play above defenders and create easy scoring opportunities. What has also stood out recently is his continued improvement as a shooter. He's becoming increasingly confident taking open perimeter shots and has looked much more efficient offensively.   His rebounding ability may be one of the most impressive parts of his game. For a guard, he consistently attacks the glass at a high level and competes with bigger players around the basket. In his opening game of the weekend, Barbour posted 13 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his trend of producing near double-doubles. He simply finds ways to impact winning and competes with a nonstop motor.     Rasean Miller quietly put together one of the better weekends among the under-the-radar group. At 6-foot-5, Miller has tremendous size for a guard and combines that with athleticism and versatility that create matchup problems.   The lefty can score from multiple levels and does a good job getting defenders off balance while getting to his spots. Whether attacking the rim, operating in the mid-range, or stepping out to knock down shots, he showed confidence offensively throughout the weekend.   Miller also impacted the game defensively. His length allows him to disrupt passing lanes and bother opposing guards, while his size gives him the ability to defend multiple positions. He rebounds at a high level for his position and consistently uses his physical tools to his advantage. He also has the athleticism to play above the rim and finish in transition.   Heading into his senior season at Huguenot, Miller feels like a player who could be primed for a significant jump. The tools are there, and if he continues developing, expect more people to start talking about him.    Closing Thoughts   The CBG Championships featured plenty of high-level talent, but these were some of the players who quietly helped themselves with strong performances across the weekend. As the summer continues, expect these names to keep showing up in conversations as they continue building momentum.

The CBG Championships always seem to bring out a few familiar names, but every event also creates opportunities for players to separate themselves and make a stronger case for college coaches and evaluators moving forward. While some players entered the weekend already carrying momentum, several others quietly put together strong performances that deserve more recognition. Whether it was consistent production, versatility, effort plays, or impacting games beyond the box score, these players stood out in a major way throughout the weekend.