2024 Bama Jam: 17U Top Performers, Part III
Yet another Bama Jam is in the books, and like the previous renditions of the event, there were plenty of standout players and performances. We’re beginning our post-event coverage with our top performers from the 17U division, where plenty of players lived up to expectations.
Here’s our third installation of our top performers from the 17U division…
RELATED: 17U Top Performers, Part I || Part II
Victor Odiari, 2025 F, Magic City Jayhawks: Odiari was one of my biggest revelations from the weekend. I’ll be honest — I probably didn’t see enough of Clay-Chalkville during the high school season and that’s on me. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to like about the physical specimen that is Odiari. The athletic, 6-foot-5 forward is extremely versatile, allowing him to do many different things on the floor. He has good enough ball skills to make plays with the ball in his hands and he’s tough and physical enough to guard bigger post prospects. Odiari is relentless on the floor and looks like someone that could play his way into some scholarship opportunities this travel season. - Garrett Tucker
Payton Waites, 2025 CG, Atlanta All-Stars: Waites popped onto my radar last year with some big-time shooting performances. While he can still do that – the Woodward Academy (GA) guard made plenty of three-pointers this weekend – it looks like the All-Stars are going to give him the keys to the car and be a primary ball-handler. That bodes well for Waites’ development, in my opinion. The junior made quality decisions with the ball in his hands and was able to showcase his passing and feel for the game to go along with his sharp-shooting ability. Remember the name this spring.
Tucker Malin, 2025 G, NC Premier: I thought Malin put together a solid weekend, and each time I watched NC Premier play, he raised my eyebrow a little bit. The Good Hope (AL) guard made some savvy finishes at the rim, showing he can avoid defenders and also finish through contact. He also made some shots from the perimeter to keep defenses honest. Malin plays with some flair and brings a ton of intensity on the floor. He averaged over 18 points per contest at the Bama Jam. - Garrett Tucker
Emmanuel Clarton, 2025 CG, We Play Basketball Club: Clarton has already built a ton of momentum going into the travel season thanks to another big run in the state tournament, where his Sumter Central squad fell in a highly contested 3A state championship game. The junior was back in the Birmingham area this weekend and had a quality weekend, as he played the role of scoring combo guard for We Play. Whether it was putting the ball on the floor or filling it up from behind the arch, Clarton put the ball in the hole with ease. At 6-foot-4, he’s a tough assignment for many opposing guards. His versatility and defensive intangibles are impressive, too. A variety of Division I programs will be tracking Clarton this spring and he made a nice statement to get things started.
Jayden Morrison, 2025 G/F, Britt Basketball Academy: Morrison is a 6-6 wing that has a really nice looking shot that coincided with a productive weekend. The Newnan (GA) product He had a nice looking three ball and hit some clutch shots game after game. That's not the only thing I liked about him, though. He has a basketball body with length and potential to keep growing. I think Morrison is a guy to buy stock in going forward. - Jeff Roberts
