17s and 16s Who Boosted Their Stock at Mile High Madness

Mile High Madness was full of talent, but a few 17U and 16U players demanded your eyes every time they touched the floor. Whether it was breakout performances, statement weekends, or just high-level consistency, these guys caught my attention in a big way. Some are rising stars, some are underrated gems, but all of them boosted their stock. If you weren't familiar before, you should be now. Here are the names I walked away impressed by.    Eschmann was everywhere in the games that I watched. He was dropping dimes, picking pockets, and knocking down step-back shots. He's a high-IQ guard with vision and confidence. He pushed the tempo, made plays off the bounce, and competed defensively. We've now seen him on a couple of occasions, and this was the most complete weekend we've seen from him. The motor never stops, and he knows how to control the pace. He's firmly on the radar after this weekend's performance and is a player we hope to see during showcase season, he's a riser.     Pears is a player we were intrigued by, but wanted to see more of. He's a long, athletic big who runs the floor, protects the paint, and can stretch the defense. His timing as a shot blocker and ability to finish plays above the rim stood out. He makes hustle plays, screens, and re-screens, and keeps possessions alive with effort. His outside shooting opened up the floor for [program_tooltip program_id='2100026' first='7070' last='Athletics'], and he was a presence defensively as well. Excited to see his development, but a player that we're high on.     Palmer was a player that I did not know too much about, but he introduced himself with force—literally. He set hard screens, rolled and finished strong inside, and played with an edge. He rebounds in traffic, defends the post, and moves surprisingly well for his size. His two-handed dunks that he kept having shifted momentum, and guards couldn't get through him, which opened things up for his teammates as well. Palmer was under the radar heading in, but by the end of the weekend, he was a must-watch that we want to see more of. He's physical, tough, and earned a bump on the board.     McNeal is a downhill blur with crazy bounce. For a player that's listed at 5'8, the kid flies in transition, finishes with flair, and brings energy every time he touches the ball. Mekhi had countless finger rolls, putback dunks, and fast-break slams. He's a fearless point guard who scores in bunches by getting downhill but also hit the 3-ball as well. He also has the feel to get teammates involved. Easily one of the most athletic guards and entertaining prospects at the event, and I am excited to see how that translates for Overland this upcoming season.     Walter was one of my favorite watches on the weekend. He's a versatile 6'4 forward who plays with patience and control but also goes out and makes it happen. He posted up, knocked down threes, hit midrange jumpers, and made smart reads out of the short roll. What impressed most was his feel. He plays at his open pace and is impacting the game in various ways. He nearly had a triple-double in one of his games against a scrappy Texas teams. He's tough to stop once he's rolling. He was quietly dominant and a player that I want to know more about.

Mile High Madness was full of talent, but a few 17U and 16U players demanded your eyes every time they touched the floor. Whether it was breakout performances, statement weekends, or just high-level consistency, these guys caught my attention in a big way. Some are rising stars, some are underrated gems, but all of them boosted their stock. If you weren't familiar before, you should be now. Here are the names I walked away impressed by.