Grassroots Update: Seattle Select High Academic 17U
For years, Chase Young has run Seattle Select Basketball as a way to support elite high academic basketball players in achieving their college basketball goals. This year’s group is extremely talented having already captured the title of The Hoop Memorial Day Classic and is primed to do more damage in July.
Here’s a breakdown of the roster and how they have performed this far:
Clayton Whitman (2019 Lynden HS) – Whitman, who plays more in the post for his high school team, has been playing on the wing in AAU ball, showing off his athleticism in finishing plays at the rim, while also hitting shots from the outside. The 6-foot-5 wing holds a scholarship offer from Seattle Pacific and is also getting interest from other Division II schools such as Central Washington and Point Loma Nazarene, as well as low-major D-I schools such as Idaho.
Charles Elzie III (2019 Bellarmine Prep HS) – Elzie, a 6-foot-1 power guard, has been one of the team’s most improved players according to Young. He has the strength to take the ball to the basket but also posseses a solid pull-up jumper. He’s shown a ton of heart on the floor and recently dominated a camp on the East Coast. Out of all the players on the team, he’s received the most Division I interest from schools such as UC Irvine, UC Davis, Idaho, Seattle University, Eastern Washington, and San Diego.
Eddy Hochsprung (2019 Sehome HS) – Hochsprung, a wiry 6-foot-4 do-it-all guard, has been racking up stats offensively and defensively. A super aggressive player, his all-around play has been a real key to the team’s success. Division III schools from the NWC and SCIAC have shown strong interest in adding him to their roster.
Cristian Colwell (2019 Lynden Christian HS) – Colwell, at a rock-solid 6-foot-8, is big and strong and has been the team’s top rebounder. A dual citizen of Canada, he’s received very strong interest from Simon Fraser but continues to get interest from Division III schools from the East and West coasts, ranging from MIT, Swarthmore, and Connecticut College to LaVerne.
Isaac Morrow (2019 Curtis HS) – Morrow, at 6-foot-4, has been a dynamic defender and shot-blocker from the wing. He’s already got a college body and his outside shooting has been improving all spring. He’s camped at Seattle University, gotten some interest from Cal Poly, and is also hearing from Lewis & Clark, Dominican (Calif.), and George Fox.
Geno White II (2019 Thomas Jefferson HS) – White, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, has impressed with his smarts as well as his athleticism. He’s still a bit raw but is a good defender and has been one of the team’s most improved players according to Young. He’s received interest from MIT, Occidental, and Puget Sound.
Roman Barnet (2019 West Seattle HS) – Barnet, at 5-foot-9, is a little small for a shooting guard but can really light it up from the perimeter. “The Roman Candle” as Young calls him has had games of six and seven made threes and has provided instant offense off the bench. Schools such as Whitman and LaVerne have shown early interest.
Lester Sauvage (2019 Bishop Blanchet HS) – Sauvage, a 6-foot point guard, has shot it pretty well this spring and has been very active on both ends of the floor. He’s received Division III interest from NWC and SCIAC schools as well as some D-II interest as well.
Isaiah Jeannot (2019 Northwest School) – Jeannot, at 6-foot-4, has what Young believes is a huge upside. He recently attended camps at Princeton and Columbia and is receiving interest from Division I schools such as Drexel down to D-III programs in the NWC and SCIAC.
Young notes that members from his Class of 2018 team have made some college choices – Orlando Ashford (2018 Eastside Catholic HS) is headed to Oberlin, Anthony Giomi (2018 West Seattle HS) is going to Chapman, Stephen Hei (2018 Liberty HS) is headed to Cal Tech, and Jordan Veening (2018 Nooksack Valley HS) will be walking on at Eastern Washington. Two players who had multiple D-III options but have chosen to attend school as regular students are Chris Lee (2018 Shorecrest HS) at Cal Berkeley and Wesley Erickson (2018 Everett HS) at Villanova.