Grassroots Update: Friends of Hoop Seattle 17U

Friends of Hoop has historically been one of the top AAU programs in Washington if not the nation. This year's top 17U team is led by Bellevue Head Coach Donald Brady and as usual, FOH Seattle has a number of talented players on its roster. Coach Brady recently spoke with PrepHoops to discuss his current roster and how they have performed this spring.

Here's a breakdown of the roster and how they have performed this far:

Cole Bajema (2019 Lynden Christian HS) - Bajema is a 6-foot-7 combo guard who not only shoots it well but is a good athlete who gets to the rim and finishes. He can not only score in different ways but also handles the ball well enough to play at the point and create for others. He needs to get stronger but is very long and may still be growing. Bajema is the team's highest recruited players with offers from WCC and Big Sky schools with interest also coming from high-major programs such as Oregon, Oregon State, and Michigan, where he recently attended camp.

Griffin Effenberger (2019 Lewis & Clark HS) - Effenberger is a 6-foot-3 combo guard who has played a lot at the point this spring for FOH. He has a crafty game in which he shoots it well and is getting more athletic at getting to the basket. He is a good passer with good court court vision and he uses his length to his advantage as a bigger point guard defensively. Effenberger has picked up an offer from Black Hill State and other Division II schools are showing a lot of interest.

Nikola Trifunovic (2019 Seattle Prep HS) - Trifunovic played in the spring with Team Bradley/NW Panthers but will join FOH for July. At 6-foot-2, he's a true point guard who excels with his mid-range game and the ability to finish at the rim. Trifunovic has good ball control and fits into the scheme well of how FOH likes to play according to Brady. He picked up an offer from Montana awhile back and other schools will be watching in July.

Jake Elfstrom (2019 Liberty HS) - Elfstrom is a well-built 6-foot-4 shooting guard who has great range on his jumper. He also possesses a solid mid-range pull-up and is improving at getting to the rim and his ball-handling. He's been helping with rebounding from the guard spot. Division II schools are showing interest as well as some Big Sky schools.

Griffin Barker (2019 Eastside Catholic HS) - Barker is an undersized post at 6-foot-6, but he is well-built and has the ability to step out and hit the open three. While his game is more below the rim, he is a bully around the basket with his physicality and he finishes well. Brady notes that Barker had a great spring and that he is improving defensively. Division II schools from the GNAC have shown the most interest.

Ken West (2019 Bellevue Christian HS) - West is a versatile 6-foot-7 forward who is athletic, can shoot the ball from the outside, and finish at the rim. Defensively he's the best shot blocker on the team. The key with West is for him to continue asserting himself on the floor. Division II schools have shown the most interest thus far.

Hunter Hansen and Jalen Love (both 2019 Bellevue HS) round out the roster. Hansen is a good defender and Love provides some backcourt scoring. Both are football prospects at the college level, Hansen as a wide receiver and Love as a cornerback.