Andrew Force:
Future150 National Analyst. Covering High and Middle School basketball.
Birmingham, AL (Future150) -- Additional contributions by Jason Pratt.
The Future150 Main Event Birmingham highlighted some of the Southeast's top unknown prospects looking to make their name. Teams from 11 different states showed up to compete. Current NBA player Eric Bledsoe's Ice took home the championship after routing the Mississippi Bobcats 83-47.
Let's take a look at the 17U division top performers from this past weekend.
Michah Fuller, 2016 PG, Bledsoe Ice: Fuller might not be the prototypical size for the PG position at 5-foot-10 inches but he is almost impossible to stop. He has the ball on a string and love breaking down his defender and creating easy opportunities for his teammates. He loves scoring in transition and can knock down the 3-point shot if you leave him open which he did all weekend long. He's the engine that makes the Ice almost impossible to beat. Fuller takes home MVP honors on the weekend. D1 Prospect.
Triston Chambers, 2016 CG, Bledsoe Ice: Chambers is a player that every coach wants on his team. He's smart, fundamental, athletic, and highly skilled. He handles the ball well enough to be a secondary ball handler and play both guard positions if need be. The one thing that makes him stand out is his shot making ability. His shot is text book from three and he shoots it with ease. He was definitely the best 3-point shooter in the tournament. He holds offers from Samford, UAB, Mercer, Lipscomb, Furman, Troy, App State, & Tenn Tech.
Brandon Rutledge, 2016 PF, Alabama Magic: The last time we saw Rutledge you could tell he had talent but he was coming off a injury. This past weekend we saw a totally different player. He was aggressive, blocking shots, and attacking the basket. If he can play like he did this past weekend in July, college coaches will be ringing his phone with D1 scholarship offers. Great Weekend.
Joe Williams, 2016 CF, Bledsoe Ice: Williams was a big surprise and a unknown talent this past weekend. He is super athletic, has good food speed, runs the floor well and is extremely active around the rim. He can shoot it from 15 feet and loves finishing above the rim on the fast break. He was the best interior dribbler and finisher we saw all weekend long. In the Ice's first bracket play game vs Alabama Magic, Williams controlled the game from start to finish by blocking shot after shot. Reminds me of a former Ice player Ed Daniels that played at Murray State.
Jonah Simpson, 2016 CG, Mississippi Bobcats: Simpson is stocky, quick and a great on ball defender. He was one of the better transition three point shooters we saw all weekend long. He was the heart and sole of the team. He has good ball handling skills and has good court vision in the half court. If your looking for a hard nosed guard, Simpson is your guy.
Parker D'Angelo, 2016 PF, Alabama Lightning: This PF was feasting on smaller players all weekend long. He has a nice body and knows how to use when attacking. He makes his living by being aggressive and getting to the free throw line. Against the Alabama Hornets he went for 30 points and 11 rebounds in a win.
Raymon Hall, 2016 PF, Auburn Raptors: Hall is an undersized power forward. At the high school level he has a field day in the blocks. With the shoulders of a horse, Hall frightens defenders. He can rebound for the cause as well as finish around the rim. His strength makes him difficult for anyone who weighs less than 250 pounds, even taller players than he.
Jalen Alexander, 2016 PG, Auburn Raptors: Though he struggles to fly by players, Alexander sees the floor well. He can keep defenders guessing with his dribble. Alexander manuevers into the lane with guile, not quickness. Scoring off the dribble is already a part of his game.
Walter Crawford, 2016 SG, NYBA Playmakers: Crawford was the most consistent player for NYBA this past weekend. He led them in scoring averaging 14 points per game and 4 assist. He is super quick of the dribble and loves getting to the rim. He is most effective knocking down the 3-ball which he did with regularity. Gotta love how hard he plays and his team feeds off his energy.
William Jones, 2017 PG, Gadsden Hoyas: With his speed, Jones pushes his Gadsden Hoyas along. Jones can get off the floor to help with offensive rebounding. When the Hoyas play him off the ball he is able to commit more fully to this venture. Jones can can make a sloppy possession into something.
Jatorre Cook, 2016 SF, Birmingham Blue Devils: Bouncy by nature, Cook keeps possessions alive with his legs. He succeeds in the paint at the 17U level. To advance his career he will need to stretch the defense a touch. Right now he is a high energy player with most points coming ffrom outworking the opponent.
Brett Defore, 2017 SF, Hoover Krush: His first half of the tournament was great. Defore quickly pumped in seven points. He gets to the line because defenders are unable to block his shots. Defore projects as a stretch four. Right now he stands 6'4" and needs more straightline speed to be a wing.
Terrell Lewis, 2015 CG, Louisiana Rockets: Lewis had a big weekend scoring from all over the floor. He is a tenacious defeneder who plays hard all the time and never gives up on a play. His best attribute might be his ability to knock down the 3-point shot which he did well in several games. He scored 13 points against some of the better guards in the tournament.
David Watkins, 2016 C, Hoover Krush: Watkins lead his Krush into battle Friday night. Midway through the second half he ecclipsed the 10 point mark. Watkins can knock down jumpers or move in the post. His size makes him dangerous on the low blocks. When he gets his defender on his back fouling is imminent.
Kaleb Green, 2016 SF, Louisiana Rockets: Green is one of the more gifted players on the Rockets team due to he does everything well. He is a glue guy that teammates love to play with. His ability to score on all three levels gives him the ability to play both wing positions. As his skill increases so will his game.
David Kraski, 2016 PF, NSA Celtics: The lanky Kraski is still able to back down bigger guys. Kraski was fun to watch because he was 6'7" and hunted the front of the rim. His ability to guard multiple positions makes him a very versatile player. Love his heart.
Christian Johnson-Carson, 2016 PG, Magic City Mystics: The slippery dribble of Johnson-Carson made more than a handful of defenders look foolish. He has an ungainly tempo to his handle. The Mystics advanced all the way to the 17u Silver Championship and Johnson-Carson motored them.
Greg Robinson, 2016 G, Memphis Disciples: Robinson was extremely consistent all weekend long attacking the basket. He is crafty with the ball and knows how to finish through contact. He tough, rebounds well and plays hard on both ends. He scored 20 points in a tough loss in pool play.
Devon Wright-Byrd, 2016 SF, Magic City Mystics: It took awhile for Wright-Byrd to find his stride Sunday, but that stride is worth waiting for. A physical forward he elevates well and likes to pass too. Wright-Byrd scored 21 in the Silver Championship. The Mystics did lose. Strength helps him finish after contact. Outside shooting will need to come along for him to play beyond high school.
Brian Miller, 2016 SG, Magic City Mystics: Getting to the basket is Miller's forte. He draws fouls and makes his free throws. Coach Marlon Meeks can entrust Miller with the ball late because he does not turn the ball over. Miller's best game was the 18 points against the Mobile Warriors in the Silver Championship loss.
Stephen Burgess, 2016 SG, Magic City Mystics: Like Miller, Burgess posted a bundle in the Mystics' final game of the Birmingham Main Event. Burgess is also a strong free throw shooter. Despite his seven points late, Burgess was not able to lead the Mystics to the title. He and Wright-Byrd were tough to deter.
Charles Richards, 2016 SG, NSA Celtics: Richards is a worker. He shows off his high motor with pleasure. Defensively, Richards reads the opposing guard's eyes and jumps the passing lane. He has decent straightline speed and buries all of his free throw attempts.
Hunter Hartley, 2017 SG, Birmingham Nets: Hartley can definitely become a D3 shooting guard. How much he improves in the next year will determine if he ascends to tuition-paid athlete. Good 6'3" frame. Hartley knocks down the open jumper and can handle the ball enough. He is a good teammate and extremely coachable. Look for Hartley to add shooting off the dribble to his arsenal.
Cade Hornak, 2016 SG, Birmingham Nets: Pure shooter. Hornak can shoot from deep or off the dribble. He can take a couple dribbles into a smooth shot. Increasing movement off the ball will help Hornak find more quality shot attempts.
Terrill Glover, 2016 PG, Mobile Warriors: How much of a difference did Glover make? From 56-52 to 67-54. He gave an assist and three triples to the run. And that run distanced the Magic City Mystics from their 17u Silver Championship aspirations. Steals and outside shooting come commonly from this enigmatic, undersized guard. He reads outlet passes very well. Pushing the ball against his team is dangerous because Glover covers the "field" excellently. He finished with 29 points in the final (9-15 from 3-point land). Friday night Glover scored 22 points against the Hoover Krush.
Phillip Davis, 2016 G, Mobile Warriors: The way the Warriors shot the ball Sunday afternoon they might have been the second best 17u team in the field. Over 85 points were scored, many from beyond the arc. Davis has a smooth left-handed release. He doesn't always need a teammate to set him up. Davis can dribble and shuffle his feet a bit. Davis recorded 12 points to win the Silver Championship.
Dameion Jones, 2015 SG, Alabama Hornets: Jones has good touch. One of the nicest plays he executed was a turn around J. Jones is very quick with or without the ball. From Huntsville, Jones is a senior at S.R. Butler High.
Darryl Page, 2016 WG, Alabama Hornets: Page played well for the Hornets. Few competitors drew more fouls than the aggressive Page. In a tight loss to the Birmingham Nets, Page strutted to the line four times. When he is going well he scores from every point on the floor.
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