Southern Jam Fest 17U Standouts (Part 3)
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Every year Hoop Group puts on one of the best events in the country at the Boo Williams Sportsplex called the Southern Jam Fest, but this year it was a little bit different. Some of the best shoe company and…
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Continue ReadingEvery year Hoop Group puts on one of the best events in the country at the Boo Williams Sportsplex called the Southern Jam Fest, but this year it was a little bit different. Some of the best shoe company and independent programs from up and down the east coast came to Southern, including the number one team in the country Team Final featuring the top two players in the country.
There were double digit shoe company teams from all three major circuits, and plenty of other talented teams making it one of the most talented events I’ve ever been to. We will have tons of content from it, starting with part three of the many 17 U standouts, focusing on the VA area.
Jayden Epps Jayden Epps 6'1" | CG Combine Academy | 2022 State #41 Nation NC | 6’0” PG | Team Loaded VA
The recent Providence decommit was cooking all weekend as he continues to see his stock rise and programs offer from all over the country. He’s a microwave scoring guard that is capable of going off at any point as he is a high level scorer but also has the ball in his hands as the primary ball handler. He’s slippery off the bounce and can create space to make tough shots from all over the floor, and he has a toughness and go-getter kind of attitude as an elite scorer.
Maliq Brown Maliq Brown 6'8" | PF Blue Ridge | 2022 State #123 Nation VA | 6’8” PF | Team Loaded VA
One of the most underrated bigs on the east coast, Brown isn’t flashy at what he does but he makes a big impact on both ends of the floor with his efficiency and switch ability on the defensive end. He has fantastic hands and good feet in the paint, he finishes very well through contact and in traffic and he’s able to guard multiple positions on the defensive end. He’s a good athlete and very mobile, allowing him to play in uptempo systems and he plays to his strengths and doesn’t get out of his game.
MJ Rice | 6’5” WF | Team Loaded VA
One of the top wings in the country, Rice has a mix of athleticism, power and skill that makes him a very tough guy to guard and match up with. He’s extremely strong with the ball in his hands, allowing him to get downhill and finish through traffic, and he uses his athleticism and strength on the defensive end to guard multiple positions as well. He’s improved as a shooter from deep making him a big threat to score from all over the court, and he has good feel and can make plays for others as well.
Tyler Nickel Tyler Nickel 6'8" | SF East Rockingham | 2022 State #85 Nation VA | 6’7 WF | Team Loaded VA
Nickel continues to show that he’s one of the top shooters and scorers on the east coast, as the 6’7” wing drew the eye of a number of national scouts throughout the event. At his size, Nickel is a knock down shooter who can make shots on the move, in transition and off the bounce, and he can put it on the deck and make tough shots in the midrange as well. He has a great mindset as a scorer and at his size he’s one of the better shot makers in the state.
Amare Hayney | 6’3” PG | Boo Williams
Hayney was back for his first event in over a year after coming off an injury, and the Winston-Salem native looked like he didn’t miss a beat as he was very good against some very good competition. A slippery guard with good wiggle off the bounce, Hayney is able to create space in isolation situations and he showed he can make tough shots from multiple levels as well. He’s a dual threat to score it and make plays for others, and he’s set to show this July that he’s still a very good player that should be recruited at the division one level.
Kanye Clary Kanye Clary 5'11" | PG Massanutten | 2022 State VA | 5’10” PG | Boo Williams
Clary continues to show he’s one of the best playmaking point guards in the state, as he is a super dynamic and shifty guard that can create shots for himself and others with ease. He dances with the ball as he has a tight handle and changes speeds and directions extremely well, he can run the pick-and-roll extremely well and he can make tough shots from all over the floor. He’s a competitor and a natural leader that brings it against the best every time he steps on the floor.
Jack Vander Woude | 6’3” WG | VA Playmakerz
Vander Woude came in as an unknown prospect out of Seton School in Northern VA, and after the first day he was the talk of the camp after he hit 6 three-pointers against Team Final as the Playmakerz took the best team in the country down to the wire in the first game. A lefty with good size that moves well off the ball, he’s a knock down shooter from deep that can make shots on the move and has very deep range. He’s a guy who never seemed to get tired and never stopped working to get open, and he picked a good game to show everyone that he can hoop with the best.
Ant Davis | 6’4” WF | VA Elite
Davis, who starred at Bishop McLoughlin in Florida last year and says he’s coming back to VA for his senior season, showed his athleticism and ability to make plays at the rim against some of the best. He’s a freak athlete that gets above the rim easily and can rebound and block shots as well, and he can put it on the deck and create shots as well. He plays with a good motor and has a lot of room to improve moving forward.