Grassroots Showcase: 17U Top Performers, Part II
Louisville, KY - The Grassroots Showcase held at The Kentucky Expo Center was filled with independent teams and shoe-sponsored programs throughout the weekend. The annual event we partner with Ohio Basketball was another success. The teams came to play and we took it all in. Here is a look at part two of Top Performers from the 17-and-under division.
Jayden Scott, Stars Basketball UA Rise - True point guard prospect that can open up the floor for his teammates. The Atlanta native is good at getting the ball to the right spots, taking his man off the dribble, and is a natural scorer when he needs to. The athletic, 6-foot-one lead guard was one of the best that his position we saw over the weekend at The Grassroots Showcase.
He is a true pass first point guard and understands when he needs to take over and score. He looks the part of a college prospect. Scott is now at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. - Justin Byerly
DJ Roberson, Tennessee Tigers - We have seen DJ transform into a college prospect over the last couple of years. He is a guy that can really stretch the floor. He can make shots from the outside and he can take it right at the rim. He has great size, length and a natural ability to score the ball.
Roberson is one of those guys that can hurt the opposition in a lot of different ways. Whether it’s getting rebounds, blocking shots, easy put backs, or knocking down a long three point shot, Robertson will do it and he will do it consistently. - Justin Byerly
Brayden Hazelbaker, Tennessee Impact - The 6 foot-two guard is a natural playmaker and he can light it up from beyond the three point line. Hazelbaker can get his teammates involved by penetrating the lane and he has a smooth overall game.
Playing out of Maryville high school in Tennessee, Hazelbaker is a guy that I would want a running my team. He was named to the All-Region tournament team this past season and named to the All-District 4 4-A tournament team. - Justin Byerly
Aden Jeffries, Durham Hurricanes - A new face to North Carolina hoops, Jeffries is coming from St. Louis, Missouri where he was at Cardinal Ritter Prep High School. Standing at 6-foot-7 with some length, Jeffries was a guy that looked like he belonged here at The Grassroots Showcase playing against some of the best competition we had to offer. Whether it was stretching the floor with his shooting ability, blocking shots, rebounding or getting baskets in transition, Jeffries was doing it and doing it well. To me, his best game of the weekend came against the best team we had at the event, the Tennessee Impact.
He is transferring to Durham (NC) Southern High School for his senior season and will be able to come in and be one of the top seniors in North Carolina when next season rolls around. - Justin Byerly
Makhi Hammond, UWIN-Serventz - We have to show some love for our Alabama editor, Garrett Tucker and give his hometown state some love. Hammond, a 6-foot-4 small forward from Hazel Green High School had a really strong showing at The Grassroots Showcase. In one of the games we took in, Hammond knocked down six, three-pointers en route to 20 points. He also had a 22-point game during pool play.
He is a guy that do a lot of good things on the floor. He has good timing as a rebounder, he can block shots, he is an unselfish player and what he does best is shoot it. He shoots it very well. - Justin Byerly
