Second Live Period: Top 17U Performers
The second live period is complete and college coaches are on the way home. Now, we take a step back and look as well at the players that impressed us this last weekend. Here are a few of the 2017…
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Continue ReadingThe second live period is complete and college coaches are on the way home. Now, we take a step back and look as well at the players that impressed us this last weekend. Here are a few of the 2017 prospects that stood out.
Jaren Jackson Jr.
6’9 | PF | 2017 | Park Tudor
There is no denying that Jaren Jackson is good basketball player but a switch to EYBL was the biggest test he could take. He put up some stats in New York and then came down to Indy and did even better. He’s transitioning more towards a wing, an area he wants to get better in, and it shows. He’s shooting more from distance and hitting at a good clip. It is taking him away from the rim, though, and he’ll have to find ways to play inside. He’s such a good rim protector, you want to see that continue.
Conner Rotterman
6’1 | CG | 2017 | Hamilton Southeastern
Conner has done really well to start the AAU season. He’s healthy and much more aggressive than he ever has been in the past and it is leading to some bigger stat lines. Definitely defined his role as more of an off-ball guard but because of his scoring ability but at the right level he is going to be able to help relieve the press and get things going for the offense. He’s still got some room to grow between now and college but this jump in the last few months has been very good.
Anton Berry
6’5 | SF | 2017 | Fort Wayne Bishop Luers
Still not quite sure of how and where Berry is going to fit in college but he’s going to be a guy coaches love. He’s a little undersized still at 6’5 because he plays more like a power forward than a wing. He’s aggressive, tough, and capable on the boards with a body that is filled out and strong. It is really hard to stop him from getting offensive rebounds and finishing which makes him valuable. You don’t have to run plays for him and he can still impact the offensive categories. With Legit 2017, he’s maybe the third option on that team but he’s still producing.
Trevor Lakes
6’7 | PF | 2017 | Lebanon
Lakes has drawn the interest of quite a few coaches the last few weeks and for good reason. The 6’7 shooter can make life difficult on defenders because there isn’t many ways to stop Trevor if he really wants to shoot the ball. Lakes is only a wing at this point which looses him a little bit of value but in turn he’s shooting the ball very well and he’s shown the capability to put it on the floor and create. That is the area he really needs to focus on the last part of the spring and into the summer. If he can round out that second element of his offensive game, he’s going to continue to see his stock rise.
Kris Wilkes
6’7 | SF | 2017 | North Central
Wilkes is proving still that he’s an elite level player nationally. Not sure many questioned it but he’s one of those guys, with the way he is built and his frame, can he hold up against that next level of competition. Well, he’s in the Top 4 scoring in UAA so the answer is yes. I think he’s done more than enough to warrant being the best player in the state and he showed that again this weekend. His shooting, rebounding, and aggressiveness are big but I think he’s improved his athleticism a little bit, or at least just relied on it a bit more. He’s made some big plays recently.
Sterling Brown
5’11 | PG | 2017 | Carmel
Got to give the kid credit, I wasn’t sure how Brown would do in the EYBL but he’s always stricken me as a kid that has the mindset to persevere in any situation, it just might take him time. He’s had a few games now in EYBL and he’s done pretty well. He’s still got to learn to deal with pressure and length but if he gets out of it he’s pretty good and makes the decision you expect your point guard to make. Of all the guys on this list, he’s the one that surprised me the most this weekend.