Big Shots Atlantic Coast May Madness: 17U Platinum Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I sat down this weekend to catch some grassroots basketball, with one tournament I tuned into being the Big Shots May Madness event in Greensboro. I also caught some of the Platinum bracket at the 17U level, with some high level independent teams and prospects being showcased. Keep reading below for some of the top standouts from this group for me over the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1786681"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The guy they call u0022Snooku0022 is probably going to end up playing football anywhere he chooses, but he's a pretty impressive basketball player as well. He's incredibly quick and bouncy, and his size really is legitimate. I wouldn't want to be in his way as he gets downhill, but he's got a lot more than just driving and finishing, as he can knock down open jumpers too. Defensively he provides a lot more than most at his position, being switchable 1-4 and using his frame to wall up on defenders. He's super versatile and as long as he continues to play basketball, he'll be a name for coaches to keep on their radar.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1385670"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Crudup is another name I've found to like from No Guts No Glory, a smooth, savvy scoring guard that really does it at all three levels. He picks his spots to get inside and finish, and can put on a burst of speed to get to his spots when needed. I was impressed really with how he shot the ball from deep though on the weekend. He has a smooth release and gets it up quickly when firing threes off the catch. He's someone you cannot leave alone in the corner to help off of. Defensively he's solid, but still a work in progress. His size doesn't allow him to guard many positions but he fights hard. He should be a name for D3 or NAIA programs to monitor over the coming year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1169577"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1131340' first='Myron' last='Mckoy'] is a name sometimes lost in the shuffle of eastern NC kids, but he popped out to me quickly despite his small stature. He's going to be a lead guard for any team, but he's got all the qualities a team needs. He's a good outside shooter, quick and crafty off the bounce, and finds teammates consistently when he can't find an open lane to the rim. Defensively he's going to be a guy you hide, but he plays hard and will work to use his size to outfox opponents and get pickpockets. He's also incredibly high academic, so should be a great target for local D3s looking for a point guard.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1076371"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Latham is one of those guys who is really position-less, but in my book I would call him a good-sized wing prospect. He runs the floor very hard in transition, both pushing the ball himself and with others leading the break. Mainly looking to finish at the rim in both aspects of gameplay, but he's shown the ability to take guys off the dribble a little bit over the course of the weekend. I still like him as an active, undersized forward/wing that gets you early baskets in transition and is dangerous getting to the rim when he has a free lane. Defensively his motor translates, blocking shots as a help-side rim protector and cleaning the glass. He should continue to have an impressive summer following up his live periods performance.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1976853' first='Jahon' last='Foster']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Forsyth Country Day","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Big Shots Elite","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Foster is one of Whit-Holcomb Faye's guys from FCDS, and he was key for a depleted Big Shots Elite team on Sunday, making lots of big time shots including the championship game winner. He's primarily playing inside the arc, whether slashing or shooting pull-up jumpers, but he's got a lot of nice lateral shiftiness to his game. That quick burst helps him get around defenders and free scoring lanes. Defensively solid and does what's asked of him on his assignments, but not a gamebreaker on that end. I'm really a fan of his in-between kind of game and think he should continue to have a good summer.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1307578"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Otyaluk's blend of size and skillset has made him one of my favorite players in the 2024 class. First, his athletic profile as a 6'7 wing. He's quick and shifty enough to push the ball like a guard, but a super long frame that helps him be a disruptor defensively and guard multiple positions. He's continuing to develop a somewhat funky jumper and step out and shoot the three ball, but really he thrives in transition where he can push the ball. He's a one man show; cleaning up the defensive glass, busting the ball out, and finishing at the other end. If he can continue to knock down jumpers at a higher clip and put a little weight on his frame, he's got D1 potential. I love his playstyle as a transition threat that can wreak havoc on both ends of the floor.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6461ac9413b1a"} /-->