Grassroots Update: Rose City Rebels 17U
Playing on the EYBL 17U circuit is a real test because of the level of elite talent that you have to face every night. The Rose City Rebels found that out the hard way this spring, but according to head coach Kumbeno Memory, while wins were scarce, the players on the team played hard, were continually improving, and college recruitment is coming about as a result.
“I was happy with our last couple of games in the EYBL as our guys really competed and it really showed when they came back home and played (in the Rose City Showcase),” Memory said. “I’m just looking for improvement and for our guys to keep getting better, and the rest of the summer will take care of itself.”
Here’s a breakdown of the current roster and how they have performed so far:
Aaron Deloney (2019 Grant HS) – Deloney has been the team’s leader and most highly recruited player. While his shooting percentages overall aren’t high (35% FG, 31% 3PT), he has shown stretches of the big-time scoring that Oregon high school fans are well accustomed to. Memory notes that Deloney held his own in head-to-head matchups against highly ranked national point guards such as Cole Anthony and Jalen Lecque, and his competitiveness and will to win has registered with college coaches. Deloney has already received scholarship offers from Portland State, EAstern Washington, Cal Baptist, and Northern Colorado and Memory notes that Montana and Vermont may be on the verge of offering. Others such as UMass, Marquette, and TCU will continue to monitor his progress this summer.
Alex Schumacher (2019 Skyview HS) – Schumacher has also been very productive for the Rebels as the team’s second-leading scorer (12.8 ppg). Memory notes that ‘Schu’ has all of the physical tools and atheticism but it’s just a matter of putting it all together with a basketball IQ, working on his decision making in particular. Schumacher has been impressive with his tough defense and a number of Big Sky and Big West schools will continue to watch him into the July evaluation periods.
Jorrel Saterfield (2019 Garfield HS) – Saterfield joined the team mid-way through the EYBL and according to Memory may be the team’s most productive player on the team outside of Deloney. He’s been the type of player who has been able to knock down shots and score despite the fact there haven’t really been any plays called for him. Saterfield recently moved down to New Mexico and has picked up recruiting interest from schools in the area such as New Mexico, New Mexico State, and UTEP.
Josh Angle (2019 Lake Oswego HS) – Angle also joined the squad in May and played in two sessions of the EYBL. While his percentages don’t show it as he was getting adjusted to the level of competition, he remains the best knockdown three-point shooter in the state and it definitely showed at the Rose City Showcase. With his very high academic resume, Angle’s interest has largely come from the Ivy League and offers may very come to fruition in July.
Ty Rankin (2019 Grant HS) – Rankin has spent most of his time on the EYBL adjusting to a different role than the one he plays at Grant, but has started to really come into his own as of late. He’s been a lockdown defender and has rebounded well from the backcourt, but the key has been working on becoming a catch-and-shoot player – improving on his shot selection and getting a higher release on his shot. So far he’s shot the three fairly well (over 42%) and his recruiting interest may increase as a result in July.
Sataevior Ayilola (2020 Central Catholic HS) – Ayilola switched over to the Rebels in May and as always, passes the look test with his combination of size and athleticism. The key with him, according to Memory, is improving his conditioning and consistency. He has one of the biggest upsides on the team and has barely scratched the surface of his potential. Should he get things together this summer, the scholarship offers should come.
Ben Gregg (2021 Columbia Christian HS) – Gregg has spent the majority of the spring with the 15U squad but did play up with the 17U team in Atlanta and the Rose City Showcase, and the plan is for him to play up the rest of the summer. Memory has high praise for Gregg comparing him to one of his former pupils, Mike Moser, in terms of his versatility and ability to fit into about any situation on the basketball floor.
Memory also notes that Nate Rawlings-Kibonge (2021 Jefferson HS) will be added to the squad and will be playing up at the 17U level as well. The key for the skilled but powerful and aggressive rising sophomore is getting experience playing against the talent that is on the EYBL but Memory is confident that Rawlings-Kibonge will be up to the task.
Players that competed for the Rebels in the spring that won’t be returning in July include Darius Guinn (2018 Grant HS) who signed with Highline (WA) CC, Aidan Anastas (2018 Lincoln) who remains undecided on college, and Andrew Graves (2019 Jefferson HS) who has moved over to Team Fly.
In July, the Rebels will be playing at the Peach Jam Invitational in South Carolina and the Bigfoot in Las Vegas, and probably the tournaments more local at the Salem Hoop and in Bellevue.