US Amateur State Championship – 17U Standouts, Guards
As we move from the height of June AAU ball to the calm of high school team camps, players are using their last few June tournaments to show out and catch the attention of scouts across the country. And with…
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Continue ReadingAs we move from the height of June AAU ball to the calm of high school team camps, players are using their last few June tournaments to show out and catch the attention of scouts across the country. And with one of the best tournaments in South Florida happening in Port Charlotte, Florida’s best were getting in on the action!
The 10-venue US Amateur State Championship featured some of the best AAU teams and players in South Florida, all fighting for a chance to be crowned the state champions (and get some sick bling too). Being a North Florida guy, I was super excited to see if SoFlo basketball lived up to all the hype.
Here are the standout 17U guards from this event:
John Gamble John Gamble 6'4" | SG Charlotte | 2023 FL , 6’6″, 2023, Grassroots: Charlotte “Swish”, High School: Charlotte
Gamble was the guy to watch all weekend. The incoming junior played up during the weekend and managed to rack up the accolades, leading his team to the tournament championship and capturing an MVP award on the way. Gamble’s skillset is well-developed, his handle is tight, and his jumper is passable, albeit a bit inconsistent. However, Gamble makes his money with his ridiculous athleticism. Gamble’s game is all about making defenders gamble (full pun intended) and make a split decision. When he goes downhill defenders have no choice but to foul him or run the risk of being put on a highlight reel. But even if you foul him, Gamble can get his at the free throw line. If you choose to force him into the mid-range, he has no problem with knocking it down, and if you want him to extend to the three point line, you’re just giving him more space to plan how he’ll go by you. There’s no fool-proof way to shut him down and he will continue to puzzle defenses all AAU season.
DJ Woods DJ Woods 6'0" | PG Charlotte | 2022 State FL , 6’, 2022, Grassroots: Charlotte “Swish”, High School: Charlotte
Reminder, you don’t have to be the star of the show to be seen! Woods served as a fantastic point guard to Gamble’s shooting guard excellence. He’s got an effective handle and the ability to shake defenders across half court. He can play heads up if he needs to, and moves the ball effectively. His main strength is his jumper, however. Woods was automatic from downtown all weekend and added a great kick option for Gamble when going downhill. An already important part of this Charlotte team, Woods will see an increased role and the “Swish” will find themselves dependent on his perimeter shooting expertise.
Nazir Gilchrist, 5’11″, 2022, Grassroots: Striving4Greatness, High School: Desoto
Getting to watch Gilchrist in his own gym was a really great way to open up Saturday play at the tournament. While Striving4Greatness definitely struggled throughout the weekend, Gilchrist showed that he was a reliable guard and someone who could keep them in games when things looked bad. He has a killer three point stroke that he can dial up from nearly anywhere within the half court. He hits big shots with defenders in his face and is unafraid to take any shot he feels like he can make. He is a pure scorer that can lead and jolt an offense whenever necessary.
Solomon McFarlane, 6’, 2022, Grassroots: Florida Cobras, High School: American Heritage
McFarlane was the most intriguing prospect I watched in 17U this weekend. The smooth guard missed the first half of Saturday action while taking his SAT and immediately came back and made an impact. For starters, McFarlane’s vision is incredible. For almost the full weekend, he was finding teammates in the low post and looking up to make the right pass. McFarlane could generate steals on the defensive end and finish them off with his great instincts around the rim. He had a solid three point jump shot and the ability to get shots off in the midrange even if they were tough. There wasn’t a part of his game that looked “weak” and he proved to be a well developed, full package point guard.