SUWANEE—Another Georgia Cup weekend is in the books, and we bid adieu to Cup until 2023. After a fun 2022 series, we wrapped things up at Suwanee Sports Academy with a bang over the weekend. The 17U division saw some emphatic championship wins and showcased plenty of talented players along the way. Let’s take a look at a few of the names that stood out from 17U at the 2022 Georgia Cup Finals. 

Keishawn Hampton, Norcross Heat: If we gave out such an award, Hampton would have to be one of the frontrunners for tournament MVP. On the weekend’s best team, Hampton drove the ship to an undefeated weekend which culminated in a convincing championship win. The 6-foot-1 guard showed off plenty of the explosive scoring that we’ve come to expect out of him. In the blink of an eye, Hampton can go on a solo run that takes a close game to one that comfortably favors Norcross Heat. Another area in which he shined over the weekend was in the assist column. Hampton is much more than a great scorer. While he can create for himself whenever he wants, he also looks to get everyone else involved too. We’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to see a lot out of Norcross Heat and Keishawn Hampton this spring, and it wrapped up with a strong weekend out of him. Coaches, with eyes shifting towards the summer months, Hampton is a name to follow on the recruiting trail. 

Mike Kinnard, Norcross Heat: This Norcross Heat team has a number of really talented forwards. They’re all capable of stepping up and leading the frontcourt on a game-by-game or weekend-by-weekend basis. One of the guys from the group that had a tremendous weekend at the Georgia Cup Finals was Mike Kinnard. The 6-foot-7 forward plays with a ton of fire, and he’s not afraid to play like a big man, which I love. A lot of 6-foot-7 guys try too hard to be guards when they could dominate around the basket. Kinnard blends both worlds well. He’ll be that presence down low, and he’s shown that he can be a reliable 3-point threat that can space the floor if needed. If you’re a college coach at any level, I’d recommend taking a look at this Norcross Heat team during the July live period and seeking out their guys during June. They have guys for all levels and Kinnard is certainly one that deserves some looks. 

Jack Smith, Fastbreak Basketball: On a team that went 5-1 and dominated their championship game, Jack Smith was one of the most productive, consistent players on the floor. At the heart of the team’s success was Smith and his reliability. When watching Fastbreak Smith could be counted on for something in the neighborhood of 15 points and 5 rebounds on a game-by-game basis. The 6-foot-5 wing is automatic within 15 feet. He does a tremendous job of reading defenses and moving off the ball to get himself open in the areas that he thrives in the most, and that leads to easy assists for his guards. Smith can also make plays happen with the ball in his hands from the wing. He’ll put the ball on the floor, and he’s able to get to his spots and create offense. On the glass, he’s as consistent as they come. He should be credited with at least 5 boards to start every game because that’s around the baseline of his production. You know you’ll get at least that many from him whenever he’s in the game. 

Jaylen Roberts, Fastbreak Basketball: Roberts is a disruptive wing that makes plays on both ends of the floor. He utilizes his length and instincts well on defense to create steals, block shots, and generate deflections. A lot of the time his defense leads to offense, and in transition, Roberts can create some highlights. He’s an above-the-rim guy that can throw down a dunk with some gusto. Like his teammate, Jack Smith, Roberts produced with the utmost consistency over the weekend. When you have guys like Roberts to provide a source of production that you can count on every game, you’ll be able to win a lot of games, and that’s what Fastbreak did over the weekend at the Georgia Cup Finals. 

K’Shawn Scott, NetBurners Elite: Every so often, there’ll be an under-the-radar guy that has multiple people stopping me to ask whether I had seen them or asking for information about them. K’Shawn Scott was that guy this weekend at Cup Finals. I totally understood why too. Scott is a wing that’s capable of erupting for a 30-point game at any given time. The athletic, unsigned senior out of Collins Hill can score it well and consistently from multiple levels. His highlight performance of the weekend came against Norcross Heat when he dropped 31 points in the semifinals of the tournament. While thee NetBurners didn’t walk away from that one victorious, it stamped Scott as one of the weekend’s best for certain.