Big Shots Richmond Standouts (Part 1)
Team Loaded, one of the Grassroot powerhouses in Virginia, hosted the Big Shots Team Loaded Tournament in Richmond this past weekend. The tournament featured several Loaded squads, ranging from the 9U-17U age brackets, at 3 different gym locations within the city. Here, we take a look at some of this weekend’s standout performers in the 17U age bracket.
Ashley “AJ” James | 6’3 Guard | Team Loaded 757 17U – Claiborne (pictured above)
A new addition to Coach Lamar Claiborne’s roster, James has wasted no time getting adjusted to his new team. Beginning the first round with a solid 11 point performance, he went on to score 14 against a solid, Team Loaded 804 17U squad, and 15 in a bounceback win for his squad, early Sunday morning against Team Loaded 434 17U. Already with offers from Norfolk State & Hampton, James recruitment should continue to expand this summer.
Ahmad Jeffries | 6’4 Guard | Team Cobras
The unsigned senior, Ahmad Jefferies, maybe one of the top unsigned prospects on the east coast. Tailing a game high, 31 points in a Round 1 victory over Vizion on Saturday, Jefferies didn’t let up in the second game of the day, railing his team back to compete against the Team Loaded 757 17U squad, who did come out with the win. Coming off of a record breaking senior season campaign at New Garden Friends (Greensboro, North Carolina), Jefferies is showing no signs of letting up any time soon, and would be a major steal for any college program.
Cameron Timmons | 6’9 Center | Higher Level Sports Premier
Big man, Cameron Timmons, from Highland High School, also had an impressive first round performance. Coming up short against the Team FLY 2019 squad, he led his Higher Level squad, with a 15 point performance in a nail biting game. His squad did manage to bounce back from this lost tho, with an impressive double digit win later that evening against HoopWave Elite. Already hearing from several Division 1 programs, and the success of his high school squad, the big man’s stock should begin to rise soon.
Jaren Ellerbe | 6’3 Guard/Forward | WCBA Elite White
Jaren Ellerbe is leading all players with 63 points over 3 games, and his team to a 3-0 record, heading into Championship Sunday. The high flying, unsigned senior is beginning to receive notice from several high major JUCOs after posting double digits in every game he has been featured in this weekend. Skilled enough to play both the guard and forward positions, and with his explosiveness, after a JUCO stint, do not be surprised to see him go mid to high major.
Dajour Rucker | 6’7 Forward | Team Loaded 757 17U – Claiborne
The recent Marshall commit, Dajour Rucker shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to be an essential component to the success of Team Loaded 757. The stretch forward who does it all for this squad had a big first round performance against Union Hawks, where he posted a double digit game, and followed it up with another double digit outing in the second game that evening for his team. On the defensive end, Rucker doesn’t mind getting chippy, and on the floor for the extra possession. Marshall and CUSA has gained a gem in Rucker.
Jamon Battle | 6’5 Guard | Team Loaded 804 17U
Probably the most slept on player heading into this Grassroots season, Jamon Battle’s stock as risen exponentially in the last couple of weeks. With the ability to play both guard positions, move in traffic, and score at will, Battle had an impressive weekend, leading his 804 squad to a 3-0 record heading into Sunday’s championship day. As the summer continues to heat up, so shall Jamon Battle, and his recruitment.