Hustle Region Kickoff: 17U Prospects to Know
There was a building full of prospects to know at Seal Beach this weekend. Who should college coaches have their eyes on out west from the 17s? Here are some that I saw.
This list is the list I saw in addition to the names I covered in the Top Performers article linked below:
https://prephoops.com/2022/04/hustle-region-kickoff-17u-top-performers/
Elijah Edwards of Team Eleate (6’6 2022 wing from West Valley). Explosive. If coaches need explosive they should have a look at Elijah, a strong, explosive attacking wing that scored 26 points a game this past winter with 11 boards a contest. The three point attempts weren’t many but they went and they looked solid. The biggest thing for Edwards though was the baseline attack and the rip-through into an attack. Edwards was off the ground long before the help could arrive to contest and rarely was that help big enough to even make a play on this athlete. Ran the floor for a number of dunks. As the perimeter jumper continues to takes strides Edwards is a talent that could really develop. Shot 52 percent from the field this year.
Aliaun Iscandari of BTI (6’3 2024 guard from Campbell Hall),. Aliayn was surely one of the more interesting players I saw this weekend. He’s a lefty that used that length to score 21 points in eye popping fashion. He attacked the closeouts and help with a hard attack and then used his one handed length to score floaters that were simply unguardable. Iscandari hit a big three on the wing that made me think, oops. But then he did it again from 17 feet, and then Aliaun made another three with the same kiss. He’s either super lucky or loves the bank shot from that spot on the floor. He is just blooming now and has a legit chance to explode into a scholarship prospect.
Camron Jackson of BTI. Camron Jackson was one of the more interesting players I saw at the event this weekend. I would guess he stands 6’6 with wing skills and agility. He blocked two shots out of the opposition’s hands plus grabbed nearly double figure rebounds. Camron comfortably pushed the basketball each opportunity he had either got to the foul line, finished, or created for teammates. Didn’t have the shooting game he wanted but did so many other things on the court. It’s an era where schools are looking for big wings that can do a lot of things and we saw that from Jackson.
Prince Turner of Gamepoint Inland Empire (6’2 2023 guard from Lakeside). I really enjoyed the “next play”mentality from Prince. Other team scored, Turner moved the ball up the floor without an expression change, had patience, and waited for the floor to settle and then picked his spots. Turner scored 14 points on nine attempts getting the athletes to Team Eleate and that says a lot. Turner did this with his first step, dribble separation moving the defender, and getting to a full speed finish. Was tough to always see it but I liked where Turned was on defense too. He did turn away attacking players. Prince was in his spots of the ball and he worked to get to help spots. Turner is coming off of a 26 point per game junior season.
Tai-run Williams Tai-run Williams 6'5" | SF Vanguard College Prep | 2023 State CA-N of No Fear Athletics (6’5 2023 forward from Vanguard College Prep). Williams was one of the more physically impressive athletes at the event. Has the upper body strength of a football prospect and when you see Williams run and jump your “football combine” thoughts go deeper. BUT, Williams doesn’t need to be put in that box. He was one of the best rebounders and floor runners in Seal Beach which is why he had double-double numbers in both games I watched him play. Finished at a high percentage because 17u defenders weren’t strong enough to bother Williams around the basket and often times his hustle, hard work allowed his finishes to be uncontested because he simply worked harder to get to locations. Went to the perimeter jumper a few times and hit a couple. Definitely the type of player that can defend a ball screen with a hard show and recover or a switch as he can move his feet well laterally.