NC’s Elite Squads: Best 17U AAU Teams So Far Pt 1
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With all the chaos and storylines that envelop the world of grassroots basketball these days, it’s hard to keep track of the wins and losses for each team and how well they do. While we try to spotlight the players here at PrepHoops, it’s worth giving some credit and props to the best teams so far this grassroots season. Read along for my most impressive teams so far this spring, and their key pieces that helped them achieve this level of success.
Team Curry (UAA)
Team Curry is always a producer of high level talent, and their squad this year is no different. Sir Mohammed Sir Mohammed 6'6" | SG Myers Park | 2024 State #83 Nation NC leads this squad as a supersized point guard that will go and produce immediately as a playmaking defender anywhere in the country when he gets to college. He’s incredibly well rounded and even has the intangibles you need from a kind of guy like him to win games. Julen Iturbe Julen Iturbe 6'8" | PF Riverside | 2024 State #234 Nation SC is a good-sized, three level scoring wing that just gets buckets whenever his squad needs. They’ve got other good local pieces in Ari Fulton Ari Fulton 6'7" | SF Westover | 2024 State NC , a defensive stopper that prides himself on that end of the floor and getting down and gritty to take care of business, and Joshua Bullock Joshua Bullock 6'0" | PG Northside Christian Academy | 2024 State NC , a big-time playmaker that is one of the hardest competing players day in and out on the UAA circuit. Sean Birmingham Sean Birmingham 6'8" | CG Concord Academy | 2024 State #215 Nation NC has joined the group as well, and provides a real shooting threat from the forward positions, able to play out of ball screens as well as just spotting up around the arc. This group plays hard, together, and it doesn’t hurt that they have a lot of impressive pieces involved in their group. Look for them to make real noise at the UAA Finals in July.
BSA Supreme (Independent)
No article highlighting the feats of NC travel teams could not include BSA Supreme, winners of every game they’ve played so far. Their emotional and basketball leaders of Carson Daniel Carson Daniel 6'1" | PG Central Cabarrus | 2024 State NC and Chase Daniel Chase Daniel 6'1" | PG Central Cabarrus | 2024 State NC are what makes the squad go, as their steady, unwavering presence at the guard spots are vital. They are willing to do whatever it takes to win, including guarding guards and wings bigger than their 6’1 frames, scoring the ball, or taking a backseat and creating for their teammates. Wings Tyler Showalter Tyler Showalter 6'6" | SF Butler | 2024 State NC and Desmond Kent Jr Desmond Kent Jr 6'5" | SF Central Cabarrus | 2024 State NC . provide different looks; Kent is a long, thin, bouncy guy developing an inside-out game, while Showalter is a solid multi-level scorer that can really shoot it. Peter Moye Peter Moye 6'3" | SG South Mecklenburg | 2024 State NC and Jaylen Claggett Jaylen Claggett 6'3" | CG Cannon School | 2025 State NC are outstanding complementary guards that take over scoring some games and really do it all. The name of the game for this squad is depth, with at least six guys that can be the leading scorer each game. It’s impossible to stop them all, and their unselfish, team-first nature makes it even harder. These guys deserve national attention, and I’ve been incredibly impressed every time I watch them.
1 Of 1 Elite (Independent/Hoopseen)
1 Of 1 Elite has been running on the Phenom and Hoopseen circuits this spring, and have shown they can hang with anyone thrown their way. One of their only losses so far has been a close defeat to Upward Stars Upstate at Bob Gibbons the past weekend, and they’ve got a lot of talent playing up that people should watch out for. Sebastian Akins Sebastian Akins 6'2" | PG 1 of 1 Academy | 2024 State NC is the groups heart and soul as a lead guard, making sure his teammates are provided for and when they can’t be, taking on the scoring load himself. Jayan Walker Jayan Walker 6'5" | SG Combine Academy | 2024 State NC and Brandon Callahan Brandon Callahan 6'3" | SG Millbrook | 2024 NC , while different builds, profile similarly as real isolation, 3 level scorers that can get to work without much separation or space, but also know how to play within the offense and get easy looks provided by the rest of the talent on the floor. Jajuan Nicholls Jajuan Nicholls 6'8" | PF NC GBBA National | 2023 State NC and Donovan Rakotonanahary are the forwards that are both above the rim, freakish athletes that keep everything in front of them and don’t let a lot be scored around the rim. This group has been super fun to keep tabs on, and there’s talent for multiple levels on the team, making sure they’re a must-watch this summer.