West Coast Spring Showcase: Top “Do-It-All” Players – 17U Division
The West Coast Spring Showcase has officially come to a close in the Portland, Oregon metro area. Below, I review the 5 guys who did some of everything for their team from the 17U Division of the tournament.
Bo Quinlan – 6’3 – OBC (Gold) – Southridge H.S. (OR) – Class of 2018
Bo Quinlan is the engine that makes OBC (Gold) run. He plays the point for them, while leading the team in scoring, distributing the ball well, and rebounding at a high rate. Quinlan uses his length and size advantage over other point guards to score efficiently in the paint, forcing opponents to send help early, which allows Quinlan to kick it out to his teammates for three-point looks.
Stevie Schlabach amongst a crowd of defenders.Stevie Schlabach – 6’3 – Fly Select (White) – Tigard H.S. (OR) – Class of 2019
Stevie Schlabach is as smooth as they come. While he plays the forward position for Fly Select (White), Schlabach uses his high IQ to attack opponents in a multitude of ways. He is able to take bigger forwards off the bounce and finish with either hand at the rim, or he can shoot over guards from both three-point and mid-range territory. His versatility on the offensive end, in addition to his solid rebounding and poised leadership, places him in the “do-it-all” category.
Robert Ford – 6’0 – Deep 3 – Jefferson H.S. (OR) – Class of 2018
Robert Ford, the starting point guard from Jefferson High School’s second-in-state squad, continues to demonstrate his floor general talent while playing for Deep 3. Ford is a gifted (and flashy) passer, seeing teammates opening up for shot opportunities before they know that they’re open. He is also a surprisingly good rebounder for his size, especially on the offensive end, often following up his own misses with put-back buckets. Add in his ability to put points on the board from the interior and the three-point line, and Ford shapes up to be a well-rounded point guard.
Emmanuel “Seyi” Reiley – 6’3 – Deep 3 – De La Salle North Catholic H.S. (OR) – Class of 2018
If you need an athletic wing who plays with immense amounts of energy, look no further than Seyi Reiley. While leading the tournament in dunks, likely by a wide margin, Reiley also demonstrated his athleticism on the defensive end. Reiley defended 1 through 5 throughout the tournament, using his long arms and speed to bother opposing point guards, and his strength and leaping ability to limit bigs in the paint. Reiley was also one of the top scorers for Deep 3, finishing plenty of looks inside, while earning multiple trips to the free throw line each game. He and Ford make for an exciting tandem for Deep 3.
Kaito Williams – 6’2 – EBA Pharaohs (Black) – Sheldon H.S. (CA) – Class of 2019
Kaito Williams, the only non-Oregonian on this list, is a strong, quick, 6’2 point guard that leads the charge for EBA Pharaohs (Black). Williams’ ability to score, distribute to teammates, control the tempo of the game, and defend at a high level helped his team to reach the tournament championship on Sunday afternoon. In their first game of the tournament, he opened the game with a made three-pointer, followed by a dunk on the team’s next possession. He scored 7 of the team’s first 9 points before the opponent even knew what hit them, largely influenced by the fast pace that he set from the opening tip.