Southern Standouts (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest took place at [program_tooltip program_id='2226248' first='Boo' last='Williams'] Sportsplex and a couple other venues in the 757 last weekend, and this year was a little different as it was a live period for division one college coaches to attend,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it didn't have the many shoe company matchups it has had in the past, it was full of some of the top independent teams from across the state and up and down the east coast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two some of the 17U standouts from VA teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2451923' first='Quentin' last='Morgan'] | 6'10” C | Team [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2446864,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageRhAjnD.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageRhAjnD.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2446864" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan was one of the biggest stock risers in all of Southern Jam Fest, showing his continued improvement and picking up an offer from Radford. The 6'10” big man from Deep Run has always been an intriguing prospect with his upside, but he's starting to turn that potential into production. While he's far from a finished project Morgan showed very good athleticism for his size getting up and down the floor and finishing above the rim with authority, as well as good hands and touch as a finisher in the paint too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956078' first='Xavier' last='Nelson'] | 6'3” WG | Team [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2446865,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagetaF1bd.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagetaF1bd.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2446865" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelson is just one of those players that finds ways to be productive and impact winning every time he's on the floor, and this past weekend was no different. The Steward School wing put up big numbers consistently from both a scoring standpoint and as a rebounder and defender as well. He has a different cadence to his game that makes him a tough matchup, he shot the ball well from deep off the catch and he played with great energy on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Clayton | 6'0” PG | Team Richmond HGSL 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2446866,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageR8FL8X.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageR8FL8X.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2446866" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off an All State senior year at Dinwiddie, Clayton announced he will be taking a post grad year at Fork Union in the Elite Prep League and the way he played this past weekend he should have coaches keeping close tabs on him. While he isn't the biggest guy, Clayton plays with a chip as he competes on both ends and simply has a knack for scoring the basketball. He gets downhill aggressively and finishes well over bigger defenders, he can knock down shots off the catch and he's excellent in the pick-and-roll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956070' first='Jalen' last='Deloatch'] | 6'2” CG | Team Richmond HGSL 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2198946,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Deloatch-Jalen-rotated.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Deloatch-Jalen-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-2198946" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deloatch is another certified bucket getter for this Team Richmond group, and he showed the whole bag with a couple of big time games in front of college coaches. The 6'2” combo out of James River is a powerful guard who doesn't mind using his body when he gets downhill to finish through traffic. He showed the ability to create space and knock down shots, run the offense and get others involved and he showed microwave scoring ability to fill it up in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2452107' first='Knox' last='Axselle'] | 6'4” WG | Team Richmond HGSL 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Axselle is one of the more underrated players in the Richmond area who impressed quite a few college coaches this past weekend. The 6'4” guard has a prototypical frame that will put on weight in college, and he has a great understanding of the game and how to be productive. He thrives as a shooter from deep off the catch, he plays with a great motor on both ends of the floor and he is a very good rebounder for his position too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Deluca | 6'6” PF | [program_tooltip program_id='2078813' first='VA' last='Premier'] HGSL 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2446868,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageX8basL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageX8basL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2446868" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deluca was a mismatch nightmare all weekend for teams, as he was one of the most consistent and productive players in the entire event. At 6'6” he's a bit of a tweener as a hybrid forward, but it plays to his advantage as he has a skill set that allows him to take advantage of different matchups. He posted guys his size and smaller and punished them in the paint, he made shots from deep and in the midrange and he showed a good handle to create shots off the bounce going downhill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956075' first='Mason' last='Patrick'] | 6'4” WF | [program_tooltip program_id='2078813' first='VA' last='Premier'] HGSL 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patrick impressed coaches this weekend with numerous ones asking me about him, as he had a couple of big games and showed he can score it in a variety of ways. The big wing thrived with the ball in his hands, handling it in transition and in the half court to be able to get downhill and use his size to finish at the rim. He attacked the offensive glass for put backs, posted up smaller guards and he made shots from multiple levels throughout the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2242375' first='Shane' last='Crissman'] | 6'5” WF | [program_tooltip program_id='2078813' first='VA' last='Premier'] HGSL 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crissman is another wing who could see his stock soar this summer with this group, as he checks a lot of boxes for what college coaches are looking for. While he's wiry he's stronger than he looks and he has good height to play on the wing, and he should fill out nicely in college. He's a dead eye shooter who moves well off the ball and can hit shots on the move, he attacked closeouts well and he showed a good IQ on both ends making the right play consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->