2025 Conrad P. Foss Memorial: 17U Top Performers
WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – The third annual Conrad P. Foss Memorial is officially in the books after an exciting weekend at Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus. Programs from all across Florida came together to honor the memory of the late Conrad Foss, a coaching legend in the Sunshine state and a dear friend to HoopSeen.
We’ll kick off our coverage from the 17U division, looking at eight of the top performers from the age group:
Tyler Byrd, Richmond Hill Hurricanes: Byrd made his biggest impact of the weekend on defense. The 6-foot-6 forward consistently contested plays at the rim with his length and size, often recording a couple of blocks per game. He did a nice job sprinting in transition and also showcasing his skill-set in half-court play. Byrd brings a lot of intrigue with his physical intangibles. I think he’ll be a guy non-Division programs keep an eye on this spring.
Tatum Spikes, Sarasota Lions: Spikes was one of the toughest defensive assignments of any age group during the event. Why’s that? Because defenders struggled keeping the slippery floor general in front from multiple places on the floor. Spikes got paint touches at will and created opportunities for himself and his teammates each time out. From start to finish I thought he was one of the better lead guards in the 17U division.
Jason Johnson, SCE UA: Looking back at the weekend of action, I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find a guy that helped himself more than Johnson. The long, lanky unsigned senior displayed his inside-out game for Skill Center Elite. Johnson, a 6-foot-6 forward capable of playing both the 3 & 4, scored above the rim, inside the lane, and even mixed in some pick-and-pop 3s. He already holds some JUCO offers, but there should be plenty of other schools involved with the Blake High School standout.
Joe Philon III, SCE UA: Skill Center Elite had the mixtape mafia following them around consistently at the Conrad Foss Memorial and a lot of that was because of Philon’s exciting above-the-rim play. The 6-foot-8 forward kept the cameras rolling at Wiregrass Ranch as he converted several highlight plays in transition over the course of two days. Philon oozes with potential, especially when he acts as a primary ball-handler after pulling down a defensive rebound. He’s more than capable of initiating transition and should bring some versatility on defense, too.
Vernon Lee, SCE Daniels: I’ve been a fan of Lee since seeing him at last year’s Conrad Foss Memorial event. After catching him a couple of games this week, it’s evident that he has improved. The junior is an effective slasher that has no issues scoring at the rim. However, this weekend, he showed he could consistently make shots from the perimeter as a three-level scorer. In one viewing, Lee knocked down four three-pointers. His offensive performance and versatility on defense will warrant plenty of attention from college coaches as the travel season gets going.
Brandon Collum, Jupiter Jaguars: In Sunday’s matchup with Skill Center Elite UA, Collum may have been the most impressive guard on the floor. Despite being one of the smallest players in the division, the 5-foot-9 floor general exudes confidence and plays with a swagger. He and his teammates did a phenomenal job playing off each other, showcasing their high basketball IQ as a team. Collum carved up defenses all weekend, touching the paint and creating opportunities for his teammates. He also showed he’s an above-average shooter from behind the three-point line. I’ll go out on a limb and say this guy wins some games at the college level.
Tyshaun James, Elevate 2026: Looking for a guard that constantly puts pressure on the rim? That was James this weekend. The long, athletic guard showed a knack for attacking the basket and making plays at the rim. He excelled in transition, taking advantage of under-manned defenses in scramble situations. There’s a lot of upside to like, too.
Hunter Thomason, TNT HoopSquad: By no means was Thomason the flashiest player from the weekend, but the junior guard may have been one of the most effective. He showed his high IQ throughout the course of the event, making correct reads with the ball in his hands on a consistent basis. He also shot the ball at a high level all weekend, highlighted by five 3’s in a game on Saturday. I thought it was a quality weekend all-around for him in Wesley Chapel.
