Hoop Group Spring Showdown: Saturday 17U standouts

As the calendar turned to April, the grassroots season kicked off in the Garden State this weekend with a strong local event at Hoop Group Headquarters in Neptune, NJ, featuring a handful of premier programs across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After taking in several sets of action on the opening afternoon of the event, we'll kick off coverage with a look at Saturday's top performers that we saw in the 17U division.    With [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'] taking on the NJ Shoreshots in a hardfought early preview of the upcoming Under Armour circuit, it was the play of Lorenzano-White that proved to be the difference as Pride emerged with the narrow win. Typically known for his slashing, the southpaw wing showed his expanding perimeter skillset while knocking down at least four 3s, showing a simplified stroke and a clear increase in confidence. After getting going right away off the bench, Lorenzano-White made his customary impact with his explosive leaping and relentless motor, finishing a handful of plays above the rim and coming over in help situations to impact opponents' shots at the rim. One of the hardest-playing and most athletic wings in the regions, the Public League champion will surely see an increased flurry of recruitment if he can carry his shooting consistency over to next month's live periods.     Making his debut for [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'], Dill wasted no time making his presence felt while showcasing his trademark scoring ability and steadily-improving floor game from the lead guard spot. While he made himself known as a prolific long-range shooter en route to amassing over 2,000 points before his senior year, Dill was at his best today displaying his craft and skill level while working to spots off the bounce. Having notably filled out his frame, he's able to use his strength to push smaller guards off his spots and take on contact from forwards or bigs near the rim. His soft-touch and-one to his strong left hand would ice the game against the Shoreshots. Tasked with a monstrous scoring load in his high school setting, Dill will see his stock rise as he continues proving his ability to also run a team at a high level, getting his spring off to a strong start in the season-opening triumph.     Playing up with Pride's 2026 group for the third consecutive year, Feamster looked well-acclimated while displaying his smooth perimeter scoring arsenal to help key the tight win over the Shoreshots. A dynamic marksman from long range, he showed his polished mechanics on a handful of shots of both the catch-and-shoot and pullup varieties from all over the floor. Once defenders started selling out on his jumper, Feamster was crisp and decisive with a number of aggressive attacks off the bounce into sturdy finishes off two feet. One of the more established scorers in his class across the region, it would be no surprise if Feamster were to see a few offers thrown his way as he takes on the 17U UAA circuit this spring.     Making his much-anticipated debut for the Shoreshots, Hodge was his typically versatile and productive self while getting the spring started with a 1-1 record on the day. The Swiss-army knife by way of Belgium got himself going with his trademark slashing game, showcasing his smooth skill level and ability to impose his will physically en route to the rim. Where he intrigued most though was in displaying a smoother and more confident release from beyond the arc, connecting on a number of deep jumpers both off the catch and pulling up when defenders when under ball screens. Already a high-major prospect, Hodge has a chance to establish himself among the cream of the crop nationally if the uptick as a shooter proves itself out over the next several months.     Back on the AAU scene after missing all of last summer recovering from a midseason injury, Lin had no interest in waiting to make himself known on the local grassroots scene. Coming out hot from the jump, he opened up the game against [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'] with a pair of deep jumpers, showcasing his feathery shooting stroke and pristine footwork getting into his shot. He would go on to mix it up with a flurry of smooth drives en route to crafty finishes at the cup. Fresh off picking up his first pair of D1 offers since the end of his high school season, Lin has a chance to establish himself as a real priority among mid major programs across the region as he makes his return to the grassroots circuit.     Joining an established returning core from what was one of the region's premier independent 16U teams last year, Gregory had no problems fitting in and then standing out in his role. An established three-level scorer, Gregory did the bulk of his work on the strength of his dynamic shooting stroke. With a prototypically quick and high release, he shook free for a flurry of looks off both the catch and dribble while displaying pristine footwork to get balanced and elevate cleanly over closing defenders. Gregory also did a nice job of getting into the ball defensively while showing solid versatility across the backcourt. We'll look to see more from his arsenal off the dribble in future viewings, but the maturity Gregory shows in both his shotmaking and mental approach will surely attract D1 attention over the coming months.

As the calendar turned to April, the grassroots season kicked off in the Garden State this weekend with a strong local event at Hoop Group Headquarters in Neptune, NJ, featuring a handful of premier programs across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After taking in several sets of action on the opening afternoon of the event, we'll kick off coverage with a look at Saturday's top performers that we saw in the 17U division.