2024 Grassroots Showcase: 17U Top Performers, Part II
LOUISVILLE, KY – The annual spring stage of the Grassroots Showcase was once again loaded with teams, prospects and storylines. With states from all over the country and Canada represented, there were plenty of notes to go through.
Let’s take a look at our top overall performers from the action, starting with the 17U age group:
RELATED: 17U Top Performers, Part I
M.J. Harper, Judah Nation - Another HoopSeen event and another strong showing from the Judah Nation prospect. Harper is one of the most physically gifted and athletic players we have seen this travel season and he affects the game in so many different ways. He is a great positional rebounder, he is explosive off the bounce and loves to attack the rim. The 6-foot-2 guard already holds offers from Jacksonville and Liberty. He tells HoopSeen that he is starting to hear from more schools a little higher on the totem pole. - Justin Byerly
Kruz McClure, MR22 Elite: I’ll be honest, looking back at this weekend’s action, McClure is the guy that gets me excited the most. There’s so much to like about him as a player right now and for the future. The wiry, 6-foot-5 guard is extremely skilled on the perimeter and fits the bill as a quality dribble, pass, shoot prospect. He showed all of that on offense inside the Kentucky Expo Center, as he performed well as a lead guard with the ball in his hands. McClure made quality decisions and added his ability to make shots, whether it was off the catch or off the bounce. While they are different players, I saw Tyrese Haliburton a little at the same point in his high school career. I couldn’t help but think about Haliburton’s trajectory when I saw McClure this weekend. I think he has a bright future ahead and could be an impact high-major prospect in the coming years. - Garrett Tucker
Connor Hodge, Kentucky Kings - Hodge is an ECU football commit in the 2025 class but I could see him also getting some time on the floor as a shooting guard for Head Coach Mike Schwartz. The 6-foot-1 guard is a typical coach's son that has a high-basketball IQ and understanding of the game. He is a sure-fire shooter from the outside and can get into the paint and finish. He is at his best when he is lining up from beyond the three-point line. Chances are he is going to make it. Hodge led Kentucky in interceptions this season at the high school level with 11 on the season for Christian Academy of Louisville. He is a pure athlete and I could see him playing two sports at East Carolina. - Justin Byerly
Caiden Bauldwin, Chattanooga Elite: It was another quality weekend on the hardwood for Bauldwin, who is off to a good start this spring after strong showings at the Grassroots Showcase and Tennessee Jam. The 6-foot-5 forward just produces no matter the stage. With his toughness and motor, he’s an awkward matchup for opposing players. Bauldwin’s hard-nosed style of play puts him around the rim most of the time, but he has shown the ability to step out and make shots, too. - Garrett Tucker
Gabe Davenport, Tennessee Marathon: Looking for a high-energy guard that can change the game in a few possessions? Look no further than Gabe Davenport. The Columbia Academy (TN) guard isn’t afraid to let it fly from deep and he showcased that several times in Louisville. He has deep range on his shot and is just as comfortable shooting it off the catch as he is pulling up off the dribble. While Davenport can fill it up on the offensive end, the most impressive aspect of his game is his intensity and motor. No one will play harder than him on the floor and that’s a huge reason why he finds himself on our top performer list. - Garrett Tucker
