Jack’s Tape Standouts: VA 17U (Part 2)

<p>With a hectic outside of basketball life going on, I haven’t been able to get in the gym and it’s been killing me. However, I have been watching quite a few live streams and scrimmages from different programs, and have been impressed with quite a few of them. Here’s a look at part two of my standouts from the 17U VA programs, with six standouts from different events.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="697137" first="Caleb" last="Kenney"] | 6’6” F | Team Richmond 17U</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Kenney-Caleb.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034578" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Kenney-Caleb-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>The Douglas Freeman forward has seen his recruitment pick up from division one and division two schools and he showed flashes of his potential at Session 1 of the I-95 Coalition last weekend. Against two good teams in Team Durant EYBL and District Basketball Club he didn’t shoot it particularly well but he showed his versatility on both ends of the floor. At 6’6” he’s long and athletic, plays with a good motor and has a base skill set that includes the ability to handle it in transition, play above the rim and rebound well on both ends.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="687659" first="Zy’Ever" last="Wingfield"] | 6’3” WG | Team Richmond 17U</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Wingfield-ZyEver-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034580" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Wingfield-ZyEver-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>The former Highland Springs and Henrico standout will head to FUMA for a postgrad year and the way he’s improved and his production level should lead to some scholarship offers for him moving forward. At 6’3” he’s a very long and dynamic athlete that can play above the rim, but what’s most impressive is the way he approaches the game defensively as he takes on the challenge of guarding the other team’s best player and his length causes a lot of problems. Offensively, he’s improved in his ability to score it from multiple levels and his ability to create shots on the ball for himself and others.</p> <p><strong>Cole Grubbs | 6’9” C | Team Richmond 17U</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Grubbs-Robert.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034581" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Grubbs-Robert-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Grubbs is one of the most under the radar bigs in the Richmond area and he had a great showing at the I-95 Coalition last weekend as he held his own against some very good teams that they played. A rugged blue-collar type of big, Grubbs is a guy who mans the paint on both ends and makes it tough for others to score in the paint and is great at holding teams to one shot with his ability to rebound in and out of his area. </p> <p><strong>Mac MacDonald | 6’3” WG | Team Richmond 17U</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/McDonald-Mac.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034582" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/McDonald-Mac-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>MacDonald was the focal point of the defenses against Team Richmond at the I-95 Coalition and for good reason, as the rising senior led a very talented Prep League in scoring last year. A 6’3” guard who moves well without the basketball and has a picture perfect jump shot, he’s a guy who never seems to get tired and is a shooter that has no problem getting shots up. He has continued to improve his game in a number of ways including his ability to create off the bounce and make plays on the defensive end, and he made huge plays down the stretch for them in a close win over District Basketball Club.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="697107" first="Marcus" last="Banks"] | 6’3” WG | VA Venom 17U</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Banks-Marcus-Top-250.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034583" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Banks-Marcus-Top-250-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Banks will head to FUMA after being one of the top scorers in the 757 over the past four years, and he was on an absolute tear all summer playing in different events with a talented VA Venom squad. He had multiple big outings including a 50 point game, he’s shown that he may be a high volume shooter but when he gets it going he can score it in many different ways against good competition. He’s a knock down shooter from deep who can hit with little to no space and he’s a savvy scorer who finds his way to the line a lot.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="798690" first="Matt" last="Nunez"] | 6’10” C | VA Venom 17U</strong></p> <p>Nunez is somewhat of a project but with his reclassification to the 2022 class he’s going to see his stock continue to rise with the way he’s been playing recently. He isn’t a guy who needs the ball a lot but when they threw it in to him, he showed much more confidence and better strength as he was able to catch and finish in traffic and showed a good jump hook and the ability to shoot a high percentage from the free throw line as well. His size in itself makes him a game changer as he has to be doubled and makes it tough for opponents around the rim, and with continued development he’ll surprise quite a few people moving forward.</p>