LV Big Time: Non-CA 17u Standouts
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Big Time tournament was one of the more widely attended Live Period events on the West Coast, drawing more than 100 teams across four age brackets and from multiple locations throughout the United States.…
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Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Big Time tournament was one of the more widely attended Live Period events on the West Coast, drawing more than 100 teams across four age brackets and from multiple locations throughout the United States. Here are some of the best 17u standouts we saw at this event from outside of California.
Christian Moore Christian Moore 6'6" | SG Avon Old Farms | 2022 State New E , Rens United 17s (NY) – SoCal readers might remember the name Christian Moore Christian Moore 6'6" | SG Avon Old Farms | 2022 State New E as the once-Brentwood high school standout was based in the Southland prior to heading back east to a prep school. Moore showcased many of the same traits we remembered from his time in SoCal – a big, physical forward with ball skills, passing IQ and a good playmaking acumen in the half-court and transition settings.
Daniel Fernandez Daniel Fernandez 6'0" | PG Westminster Christian | 2023 FL , Team Hardaway 17u (FL) – The 6-foot point guard might not look the part of a new-age signal caller, but his energy, motor, basketball IQ and pass-first mentality made Team Hardaway run like a well-oiled machine. Fernandez flashed a steady handle on the ball when under pressure, pushed the pace and made good decisions on the break and, when left open, canned a number of perimeter jumpers. The most impressive part of his game was how well he communicated on both ends of the floor.
Evan Young Evan Young 5'11" | PG American Fork | 2022 State UT , Salt Lake Rebels 17u (UT) – Young is a super scrappy true point guard whose toughness on both ends of the floor makes a big difference for his Salt Lake Rebels squad. The 6-footer has a strong base which allows him to take bumps and stay on balance when bringing the ball up the floor or driving to the basket. He’s always looking to play-make for a teammate, can knock down the open catch and shoot three and plays a physical brand of on-ball defense.
Gabriel Hernandez Gabriel Hernandez 5'10" | PG Doral Academy | 2023 State FL , Team Hardaway 17u (FL) – Hernandez was one of the biggest talks of the tournament because of his ridiculous vertical explosiveness. The 5-foot-10 rising senior surprised on-lookers multiple times with his effortless bounce on back-door dunks, but that’s not the only part of his game that stood out. The lefty has tremendous speed in the open court and quickness in the half-court, which allowed him to get paint touches with ease and make plays for teammates. Hernandez has a good stroke from behind-the-arc, as well.
Garyn Bess, Team Hardaway 17u (FL) – Bess was yet another talented piece to the championship Team Hardaway squad. The 6-foot-1 shooting guard proved to be a lethal spot-up threat from three-point range as he drained a number of them in catch-and-shoot situations. The rising senior was also effective as a slasher and finisher off the ball.
Jackson Rasmussen, Select Basketball 17u Black (ID) – This is a name you’ll hear about a lot over the next three years. Rasmussen is only a rising sophomore but his skill-set and IQ are advanced enough for him to be a major contributor on a very good club team. The 6-foot-7 guard/forward has a simple yet effective combination of inside-out scoring. He can take bigger, slower defenders out to the perimeter and hit jumpers or use his size to create a mismatch inside and score with either hand around the basket.