West Coast Clash: 17U 1st Team Breakdown
One thing you’ll notice about all of these guys – the game comes easy to them. Things slow down for them once they step onto the court and each one of these guys stood out above the rest, displaying high…
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Continue ReadingOne thing you’ll notice about all of these guys – the game comes easy to them. Things slow down for them once they step onto the court and each one of these guys stood out above the rest, displaying high IQ, cool confidence, and next-level abilities. Three of them have already signed to play division one next year and the other four might not be too far behind. Take a look at these seven standouts who lead the way at the West Coast Clash as we go over the 1st Team All-tournament.
Maleek Arington Maleek Arington 6'3" | PG Auburn | 2022 State WA (#2PHWA 2022) PG 6’4 Auburn/WA | Seattle Stars, 4-0
The Idaho State commit is a physical presence at guard with a calmness around the perimeter that’s accentuated by strength and explosiveness at the rim. He’s a true leader who will give you hustle and playmaking on both sides of the floor. He had a few nice inside-out plays throughout the weekend, entering the ball to the post, resetting for the pass out, and drilling the open three. With his elite passing and finishing ability, he was a nightmare in transition. There is no aspect of the game Arington fails to impact.
Parker Gerrits Parker Gerrits 6'1" | PG Olympia | 2023 State WA (#2PHWA 2023) PG 6’2 Olympia/WA | Roots Academy 2-2
The Olympia star is known for putting together combo moves with exceptional footwork and creating space to knock down jumpers. He’s a threat from any spot on the floor but this weekend he put an emphasis on scoring at the rim. He shouldered a lot of the scoring responsibility and showed an improved ability to score contested layups. When I say “improved,” I mean nearly unstoppable. Time and again, he drove right into the defenders’ chest, created contact, and still had the power to finish. He was in attack mode all weekend, putting up big scoring numbers for Roots Academy.
Parker Baumann Parker Baumann 6'5" | CG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA (#26PHWA 2023) CG 6’5 Shorecrest/WA | BDH Elite 2-2
He put on one of the most versatile performances of the weekend. From playmaking to rebounding, scoring, and defensive effort – Baumann was everywhere. He had versatility in scoring, hitting pull-ups, turnarounds, floaters, through contact at the rim, and from long range. But the most impressive part was his motor. He is an impact player on skill alone, but his motor and drive to win takes his game to another level.
Emmett Marquardt Emmett Marquardt 6'6" | SF Garfield | 2023 State WA (#44PHWA 2023) PF 6’8 Garfield/WA | ECBA 3-1
Out of all the players on this list, Marquardt could have the highest ceiling. His ability to play inside and out at his size is irreplaceable. A knockdown shooter, athletic finisher, and defensive presence, Marquardt continually found reasons to get fired up. His skills are accentuated by great hands, from the dribble to the shot, to nabbing second-chance points around the rim. He was a huge reason ECBA went 3-1 over the weekend and there might not be anyone I’m looking forward to seeing more in the high school season.
Brody Rowbury C 6’11 Meridian/ID | Seattle Stars 4-0
One look at Rowbury, and most teams were probably thinking about how to keep him as far away from the hoop as possible. He’s a lumbering big man that brings size you don’t find every day. The problem with that approach is that Rowbury has beautiful touch on his jumper. He hit multiple threes, a few mid-ranges, and is a high percentage free throw shooter. When teams went to double the big guy, he found the open player on the outside or cutting to the rim. He’s an anchor offensively and adds a complex set of problems from the post.
Jordan Clark Jordan Clark 6'1" | PG Seattle Christian | 2023 State WA (#75PHWA 2023) PG 6’2 Seattle Christian/WA | ECBA 3-1
Nominee for smoothest player of the weekend, Clark was operating at a high level but always under control. He’s got a knack for finding lanes to the hoop and between all of his moves, he keeps his feet in athletic positions allowing quick change of direction and stop-and-go. He drilled the outside shot consistently and showed good strength chesting up ball handlers defensively.
Braeden Smith Braeden Smith 5'11" | PG Seattle Prep | 2022 State WA (#6PHWA 2022) PG 6’0 Seattle Prep/WA | Seattle Stars 4-0
The Colgate commit was one of the more fun players to watch, not just because he’s highly skilled, but because of the energy he brought. Smith was easily one of the fastest with the ball, quickest side-to-side, and matched that skill with a high motor. He doesn’t need anyone’s help getting motivated. He will expose slow defenses and bad communication with aggressive takes and has the strength to finish through fouls. You cannot take a play off against him.