The STARS Basketball Club 17u Lifts Off Runway for 2023 AAU Run

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first April evening The STARS Basketball Club 17u (UA Rise) Director of High School Boys Programming <strong>Aaron Morrison</strong> shared time discussing their 17u squad and their first event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We are going to play the first two LIVE periods with UAA," said Director Morrison. "[As 16u] they went 5-2 with UAA last year." This bunch, almost the exact roster even, finished their July playing "up" in the UAA events. Ideally, they would be invited to do the same in July again. The call-up for April is an honor they deserve considering their consistency throughout the 2022 summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They lost to Game Elite by eight points. Game Elite is apparently loaded: Peyton Marshall (Auburn commit), C.J. Brown (10+ offers). Without big guy<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1461916' first='Jack' last='Shutters']</strong> (recovering from foot fracture) the 17u team beat AOT by 20. "They were EYBL, but they are not anymore," said Director Morrison. "Then we played Atlanta Timberwolves. We played Wood Elite (GA). They went 4-0 last weekend. They are legit. We lost by two in that one. Could have gone either way." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the LIVE period, the 17u squad will play UAA in Rock Hill. The 17u is coached this AAU season by Jeff Laidig. He coached the same unit as a successful 16u team last summer and moved up with them. Coach Morrison leads the 16u squad, a core he worked with as 15u players last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following notes are quotes from Director Morrison. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Stars 17u</span></strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1195250' first='Jett' last='Montgomery'] was named RYZE 5 last weekend. He was on that list with Top 5 players at that event, which was an honor for him. He played really well. He and Cooper combined for 50 in the last game. They both averaged 17-18 per game that last weekend. <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1214942' first='Nyziah' last='Whaley'] - He play similar with us as he plays with Baylor, but he is asked to score more with them. He is probably the quickest guy end-to-end. Tremendous player. I think he is underappreciated. I don't think people know how good he is. Can he play college point? <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1140778' first='Cooper' last='Haynes'] - I don't know if there is a backcourt in the country that can score the ball like those guys can. <br>Jack Reddick (KY) <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1476075' first='Nic' last='Hyche'] - Ensworth. He is a good player. Nic is right-handed. He had a couple of double-double games this weekend. The last game the regular season for Lipscomb Academy Nic had 28 against them. Nic is like 6'2". <br>Jakub Ucieszynski - He is a boarding student at Baylor School. He was out in July last year. He had a decent weekend. I think he is rusty. They (Baylor School) got eliminated early so he is a little rusty. He is 6'6". Lefty. You can tell he is from Europe with the way he plays. He is smooth. Can shoot it. The pace he plays is different. <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1214939' first='Daniel' last='Cochran'] - Tremendous. Still getting his legs under him. Getting back into things. 'Can he play wing in college?' I think so. I think he is a 3 or stretch-4, depending on who recruits him. At RYZE] he shot it decent. Our real big was out all weekend. Defensively, he had guard the other team's big. Game Elite has a 7' 350-pound guy. In terms of offensive versatility, he is able to use his strength around the rim. Strategic with his body. Rebounds well. He is a very strong kid. He is the starting tight end for Brentwood and he plays like it. <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1461916' first='Jack' last='Shutters'] - Casey Alexander was at [some] of his games this year. 6'9" Athletic. Can run a little bit. Touch around the rim. 'He should be able to play this weekend.'<br>Brady Shoulders (KY)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">RESULTS</span></strong><br>vs. Game Elite (L, 80-71)<br>vs. AOT (W, 87-56)<br>vs. Atlanta Timberwolves White (W, 83-64)<br>vs. Wood Elite (L, 73-71)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Stars 1</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>7u Roster</strong></span><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1195250' first='Jett' last='Montgomery']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1214942' first='Nyziah' last='Whaley']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1140778' first='Cooper' last='Haynes']<br>Jack Reddick (KY)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1476075' first='Nic' last='Hyche']<br>Jakub Ucieszynski (TN)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1214939' first='Daniel' last='Cochran']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1461916' first='Jack' last='Shutters']<br>Brady Shoulders (KY)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->