Eye-Catchers from 2023 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions 17U division
SUWANEE, GA—One final salvo of 17U notes before we start to dig into the film to review more from Bob Gibbons TOC. These were some more of the attention-grabbers from the event.
Johnson is a guy that can score from all spots on the floor. His athletic ability is also very interesting, he has some length and can throw down some monster dunks. He is one of those explosive athletes that can attack the rim with aggression. He can knock down shots from the perimeter and from beyond the three-point line. He fits the mold of the Team Wall program as another guy that can play at the collegiate level. - Justin Byerly
Tough little lead guard who only knows one speed and that is full on. A lefty, he is aggressive, hard nosed and a winners mentality. He loves to make the tough finish and has enough vision to get folks involved. He gets low on defense and makes the bringing up of the ball a chore for his opponent. He will need to work on his outside shot as he moves up the evaluation ladder but his intangibles are numerous and his effort is coveted. - Andre Whitehead
The improvement this kid has made in the past year has been staggering. He has improved his body, his overall skill level and his basketball maturity which were all on full display this weekend. He was relentless on the boards using that size to carve out space and get tough rebounds, he held his own in the paint against some worthy adversaries, using his footwork to keep those long athletes off the glass against him. He showed the ability to knock down the long jumper if left open and he was able to put the ball on the floor, within reason, for some quick hitting moves to the bucket, be it a spin or some up and under motions his basketball IQ has risen exponentially. He has very strong hands and makes difficult catches, this also helps in securing the rebounds out of his area. At the proper level he can be a very good player in College. - Andre Whitehead
Just click on Jax Abernathy’s profile, and you’ll find a nice backlog of his story. He never disappoints, and I value his consistency. He brings it every weekend, every time I see him. When I caught the AllStars at Gibbons, it was more of the same with Abernathy. It’s his composure and control that always standout, and he can score consistently from all levels. He’s not one of the empty-calorie, flashy guys that’ll fill highlight reels. He’s functional. There’s substance to his game. He plays with a valuable level of efficiency and has a great feel for the game. - Josh Tec
Brice Jackson put up solid numbers for Soo Fresh Supreme over the weekend. The guard out of Harrison (GA) can rattle off a solid run of points with his shooting ability. He can be knockdown from 3-point range.
Very aggressive player who draws attention with his hustle and style of play. He defends like a champ, he is in your grill, he uses his hands very well and he moves his feet. He can put the ball on the floor and has a penchant for drawing fouls and making tough finishes through contact. His outside shot is solid but he doesn’t always extend his follow through which causes inconsistencies in his makes. He is unflappable with his effort and has a winning mentality that coaches covet. - Andre Whitehead
Yamomoto is a fun guard to watch. When he starts seeing shots fall, look out. He’s quick with a good handle and gets where he wants to go with the ball in his hands. Yamomoto is ready and willing to stop on a dime and rise up for a pull up jumper. He’s especially deadly in the midrange, but he can catch fire from three too. Yamomoto is a guard that I trust with the ball. He knows how to run a team well. - Josh Tec.
