Kansas City Clash 17U Game Changers
This content series of sponsored by GameChanger – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management and Technology Partner of Prep Hoops.
There was plenty of talent on hand in the 17U division at the Prep Hoops Kansas City Clash, which was held at the HyVee Arena. Here are a group of prospects from the event who were Game Changers because of how they can impact the game. These players do it in different ways, but they help their teams achieve a positive result, which makes them game changers.
Randy McClendon (Minnesota Falcons): A 6’2″ 2024 shooting guard who has a gift for getting buckets. What makes him a game changer is how fast he can turn a game around with a flurry of scoring that can make one’s head spin. In one game that I watched, he turned a near double-digit deficit into a lead with a 12-point run that was breathtaking. He knocked down a trio of deep 3-pointers and mixed in a bucket and the conventional three-point play on the run. He is a deluxe three-level bucket getter with a scorer’s mentality. He has shooting range out to 30 feet and he can do it off the catch or off the dribble, where he can set defenders up with a variety of escape moves. He can also get into the lane and elevate over defenders to hit the short jumper.
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Hanif Muhammad (Real Phenom 2024- Nick): A 6’0″ 2024 point who made his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. There were many good defensive guards that we saw over the weekend, but none better than this tenacious ball-hawk from Minnesota. He was flat out intimidating with his on-ball defensive pressure as he moved his feet and constantly turned the opposing ball handler multiple times before reaching the half-court line. If that wasn’t enough, he would just go ahead and steal the ball and head the other way for a transition layup. When he was off the ball, he kept himself in excellent position to help from the weakside or even shoot the passing lanes to create a turnover. His defense was infectious and tone-setting for the rest of the team, which makes him a game-changer.
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Ken’Vion Stone (Marcus Denmon Elite 2024): A 6’1″ 2024 guard from Missouri Class 6 state champion Staley who played much bigger than his actual size with his rock-solid 215-pound frame. His physical strength and versatility enabled him to impact play anywhere on the court. He was a matchup nightmare as he could overpower smaller guards with power drives in the lane for buckets and three-point plays. He could also hold his own against bigger players inside by using his strength and footwork to get rebounds. He could also guard multiple positions on the court and be a playmaker as a secondary ball handler.
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Matt Williams Matt Williams 6'6" | SF Lee's Summit North | 2023 State MO (810 Varsity Elite- Crimson): The unsigned 6’7″ 2023 forward from Lee’s Summit West was one of the most versatile bigs that we saw during the weekend. He was very effective in the low post as he was able to use his size to his advantage. He was also very comfortable from the perimeter as he could stretch the defense with his 3-point shooting. He was also an excellent passer from the high post as he hitting open cutters for easy baskets. He was a good ball handler and facilitator and the team ran offense through him.
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James Allen (LTD Select 2024): A 6’3″ wing guard from Spring Hill High (KS) who was the ultimate Swiss-Army Knife for his teams. If there was anything that was needed for his team to succeed, he was there to provide it. Although he wasn’t the actual point guard, he was an excellent secondary ball handler who can facilitate offense with his passing and decision making. He was always pushing the ball on the break to keep the tempo at a fast level. He moves without the ball well to get layups and the ball didn’t stick when he caught it. He was a tremendous team defender who can guard multiple positions and keep things organized. He was always talking and directing traffic to make sure his teammates were in the right spots.
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Matthew Corrales (KC Spurs 2024) – A 6’1 2024 guard from Olathe South who has an impressive all-around offensive game. If he’s left open, he’s going to knock down 3-pointers at a high rate. He also attacks the basket well to finish in the lane at a variety of angles. What makes him a game changer is that he’s an unselfish player who shares the ball and will find open teammates.