Hoop Group DC 17U Standouts (Part 1)
Unfortunately the new NCAA rules only allowed for one live evaluation period this July, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good tournaments with good talent to go to. Hoop Group, one of the top organizations for exposure camps and AAU…
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Continue ReadingUnfortunately the new NCAA rules only allowed for one live evaluation period this July, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good tournaments with good talent to go to. Hoop Group, one of the top organizations for exposure camps and AAU tournaments, came back down to the DMV area, this time running their first ever DC JamFest at the brand new and unbelievably beautiful facility The St. James in Springfield, VA. (Side note: It’s almost possible to overstate how gorgeous this facility was, best one I’ve seen in my five years of doing this.)
While we all agreed that it could have possibly been the biggest tournament in the country if it was a live period event, it still brought loads of talented teams from from New England and the Mid-Atlantic Area, and there was a ton of talent on display. Here’s a look at part one of the 17U standouts from VA.
Lance Johnson | 6’6” PF | Nova Cavs
Johnson was phenomenal in the paint for the Cavs who made a big time run to the Final Four against some much bigger named programs. At 6’6”, he held his own against much bigger players, was an impact on both ends of the floor and was a pivotal piece in the offensive set both as a scorer and a passer. He also came up big down the stretch for them, hitting the game winner with less than three seconds left in their elite eight win over Premier Hoops Development (CT).
Josh Abtew | 6’0” G | Nova Cavs
There’s a number of kids who can play college basketball on this Nova Cavs team, and Abtew was the one who stepped up this weekend and made me a believer. The 6’0” guard out of Fairfax showed he can play on and off the basketball, he made shots off the catch from deep and was a solid two-way guy who made very few mistakes. Small schools should keep an eye out for him as a gem moving forward.
Jahme Ested | 6’1” PG | Team Richmond Garner Road
Ested was one of the most productive guards all week, and he had both coaches and media guys buzzing with his all-out style of play. While he has some areas he needs to continue to work on, you have to love his tenacity on both ends of the ball, as he’ll lock you up and fly around defensively and he’ll come at you on every play on the offensive side of the ball. He has a quick first step and a good handle, he gets in the lane where he can finish or get to the line which he does often and he continues to show improvement on his jump shot as well.
Mac McDonald | 6’2” G | Team Richmond Garner Road
I’m almost getting tired of writing about McDonald this summer, but every time I see him play he continues to impress and is looking more and more like a division one player. The 2021 Collegiate guard was moved up to 17U since their whole team wasn’t there, and he showed he’s more than capable as he brought a huge spark off the bench with his ability to make shots from deep. He’s a competitor and much tougher than he looks, he moves well without the ball and he’s able to get into shots quickly and on the move, showing good confidence and always looking for his shot.
Kaleb Torrence | 6’0” PG | VA Premier
Torrence has quietly been a very good player this summer with VA Premier , and looked every bit like a scholarship level guy when I watched them this weekend. At 6’0” he isn’t the tallest guy but he’s jacked and very strong allowing him to keep defenders in front and use his strength to play and finish in traffic in the paint. He has good quickness, he makes good reads out of the pick-and-roll and he made shots from all over the floor off the bounce while also showing a competitive drive and good leadership.
Isaiah Rhodes | 6’4” PF | VA Premier
He’s a little short to play as a big man, but luckily Rhodes’ skill set allows him to step outside and play on the perimeter offensively. He was a terrific pick-and-pop guy as he has a wide base and is a good screener, he knows when to roll, pop or slip and he was money from downtown as he hit a number of three-pointers in the game I watched them play. He’s got his body going in the right direction as he’s turning baby fat into muscle and his ability to stretch the floor can’t be understated.
Anthony Melvin Jr. | 5’6” PG | Hoop Booth
Melvin isn’t the biggest guy by any means, but good luck trying to guard him because he’s as shifty as they come. He has a super tight handle that he changes speeds and directions with well, he has a good middle game that allows him to get shots up over bigger guys and negate his size and he can make plays for others in the open floor and on drive-and-kick situations. He’s a guy that a small school could fall in love with and get a gem with down the road.
Khai Seargant | 5’10” PG | FABO Runnin Rebels
Another Fredericksburg guard who may not pass the eye test but can flat out hoop, Seargant has the total package you want out of a small guard that’s not an elite athlete. He’s a tough minded and tough nosed lead guard who can make contested shots from all three levels, makes good decisions for the most part with the ball in his hands and he competes on both ends of the floor. He also has a good work ethic and gets better every time you see him play.