2017 Las Vegas Classic 17u – Recap Team Notes
The Las Vegas Classic is a nationally known showcase for ball players looking to gain more exposure. With over 100+ college coaches out and about to see the brightest and best talent there is to offer. The 17u teams were loaded this year and featured some of the top teams across the country.
As the aau basketball recruiting world moves on to the second live viewing period, the majority of the best teams in the northwest will descend on Salem for the Premier Hoops Oregon Showcase. Scheduled to be on hand watching the 100+ teams will be college coaches from the Pac 12, WCC, Big Sky, Mountain West, ACC, Big 12, WAC, Big West, as well as numerous D2, NAIA, D3, and junior college programs. This level of exposure will give players and teams maximum opportunity to impress college coaches and recruiting services. So what draws these college programs from all over the country? Teams and players, and this tourney has plenty of both! We took a quick look at some of the teams to watch in each division.
This bracket features high caliber teams even at this age group such as, BRAD BEAL ELITE, FLORIDA ELITE, HOUSTON HOOPS, PBC, TEXAS IMPACT, OAKLAND SOILDERS, SEATTLE ROTARY EYBL, CA SUPREME, TEAM TAKE FLIGHT, SHOWTIME BALLERS, GEORGIA STARS, CALIFORNIA UNITED, TEAM CHOO HOWARD PULLEY and TEAM BLAZE SELECT.
Players to watch include PJ Fuller, Jamon Kemp, Jaden McDaniels, Marcus Tshonis, and Jaden Skinner. Fuller is the #21 rated prospect in the country by Prep Hoops. The most interesting Thursday match up pits Team Arsenal vs Team Fly White.
Lets take a look at the 17u PLATINUM ELITE bracket…
Brad Beal Elite – a team sponsored by Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards features some of the top players around the country like Fred Thatch Jr., EJ Liddell and Francis Okoro. All who are receiving Division 1 Interest.
Houston Hoops – is a program out of Houston, Texas and is coached by Tim Schumacher. They feature players like Jamal Bieniemy, Javonte Smart and Antonie Davis. All who have committed to D1 programs.
Portland Basketball Club – is a program out of Portland, Oregon and they are coached by Mike Plank. PBC features players like Kamak Hepa (#45 ranked), Immanuel Allen and Elijah Gonzales.
Georgia Stars – is a program coached by William Steele and features players like Dalvin White, James Lewis and Nate Dunlop. All who are receiving elite level inters.
The bulk of the featured teams and players can be found in the first two pools including Portland Basketball Club EYBL, Hoop Salem, Seattle Rotary, Team Arsenal, and Team Prodigy. Other Oregon teams to watch include Team Fly, Clutch Players, and Team Flight from Eugene. Players to watch in this age group include Kevin Porter, Seattle Rotary (#29 ranked player in nation); Kamaka Hepa (#45 ranked), Portland Basketball Club; Elijah Hardy (#102 ranked), Team Arsenal; Naseem Haskins, Team Arsenal; CJ Elleby Seattle Rotary; Kessler Edwards, Team Prodigy; Cameron Tyson, NW Panthers; Kyle Greeley, Hoop Salem; Kelton Samore, Portland Basketball Club; and Teagan Quitoriano, Hoop Salem. The first seven names listed have offers from at least one Pac 12 program, while Samore has five total offers including Boise State.
CALIFORNIA SUPREME took home the trophy after it was all said and done. A game that featured live stream on some of the most notable website along with a chance to see Shaquille O’Neal’s son Shareef O’neal play. Anytime you have the chance to be apart of a program founded by Gary Franklin success will follow right after. Gary Franklin is one of the pillars of AAU Grassroots basketball. California Supreme feature kids like Arizona Wildcats Verbal Commit Brandon Williams, Jordan Brinson and Tevian Jones.
In this tournament California Supreme was afforded a spot in the Elite 8, which are the teams that will get more time on the main stage and most college coaches will come to watch. All of those games were played at Spring Valley High School. California Supreme defeated the likes of, Playground EYBL, Dallas Showtyme Elite, Oakland Soilders and then winning the trophy against Las Vegas Prospects.