AAU Preview: Manimal Elite 17u
With an AAU season looking more and more likely in the coming months, it’s time to preview some AAU teams. We start with last year’s 16u State Champions, Manimal Elite. They return 4 players who have played together in each…
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Continue ReadingWith an AAU season looking more and more likely in the coming months, it’s time to preview some AAU teams. We start with last year’s 16u State Champions, Manimal Elite. They return 4 players who have played together in each of the last two AAU seasons.
Roster:
Name | Height | Position | Class | High School |
Isaiah Mason Isaiah Mason 6'4" | SF Bowling Green | 2021 State KY | 6’4 | Wing | 2021 | Bowling Green |
DaShawn Jackson DaShawn Jackson 6'3" | SG Frederick Douglass | 2021 State KY | 6’3 | Wing | 2021 | Frederick Douglass |
KJ Crump KJ Crump 5'8" | PG University Heights | 2021 State KY | 5’8 | PG | 2021 | University Heights |
Anthony Woodard Anthony Woodard 6'2" | CG Logan County | 2021 State KY | 6’2 | CG | 2021 | Logan County |
Mason Moore Mason Moore 6'3" | SF Rowan County | 2021 State KY | 6’3 | Wing | 2021 | Rowan County |
Javaughn Smith | 6’0 | SG | 2021 | Bardstown |
Meek Ater | 6’8 | Post | 2022 | Caverna |
Kooper Jacobi | 6’6 | PF | 2021 | Silver Creek (IN) |
Player to Watch:
Isaiah Mason Isaiah Mason 6'4" | SF Bowling Green | 2021 State KY . Our third ranked player in the 2021 class, Mason has shown flashes of being a mid major or better D1 prospect at times. The 6’4 wing can play on the ball some as well but is at his best as a driver coming off the wing. Isaiah has 4 D1 offers so far and should attract more coaches this summer.
X-Factor:
“Rooster” Woodard. He doesn’t get the promotion that other kids on the team get (mostly because he’s likely to play football in college) but Woodard is the engine that makes this team go. His energy level makes the difference for the squad and he causes the opposition problems on the top of their press defense. Rooster was the MVP of the 16u state tournament last May and his impact on this team goes beyond the box score.
Potential Surprise:
Javaughn Smith. Smith is a solid combo guard who finished as one of the top shooters in the state last season. Likely to be the main man at Bardstown this season, Javaughn hasn’t played high level AAU before and he could sink or swim on a team full of guards and wings. If he can handle the uptick in competition, he could be a surprise to coaches who are out to see this Manimal group this summer.