2024 Best of the South: 17U Top Performers, Part V
Another Best of the South is officially behind us. Our staff was all over Cobb County Galleria and spent the entire weekend sorting out the best of the best. Meet some of the 17 and under top performers from the NCAA Live Period event.
RELATED: Part I | Part || | Part III | Part IV
RJ Williams, Triangle Offense Elite: The Triangle Offense point guard was a blur in the open court and half court the entire weekend. Williams did a great job of playing North to South all weekend, and when he got to the rim, he had every finish you could think of in his bag, with either hand or foot. It’s important at the next level for undersized guards to be able to get paint touches and finish over bigger defenders, and Williams can do just that. - Mekhi McKinney
Donaven Thomas, Griffin Grasshoppers: The 2026 scoring machine played up this weekend in the 17U division and I believe he took home the crown as The Best of the South’s scoring champ. He scored 20+ points in each game, including a 50-point showing at one point. There is nothing Thomas lacks when it comes to scoring the ball. He has the ability to create his own shot, knock down tough shots and his finishing ability around the basket was elite. I am definitely excited to see what the future holds for Thomas. - Mekhi McKinney
Neal Swindell, Team Swish: The big and bulky guard for Team Swish had a dominant game against who I think might have been the most talented team in the event, Pro One Select Academic. Swindell scored by using his toughness and strength against some high-level dudes. He scored 26 points in the win for Team Swish. He made a lot of tough finishes in transition, off the bounce and showed he can make shots from the perimeter. With an older brother who recently signed with Tusculum, the younger Swindell looks to be tracking at the same level and could even sniff some low-major looks. Size, strength, shooting and all-around scoring ability has to be attractive to college coaches this time of year with the Covid-exempt status falling off. - Justin Byerly
Ian Bush, Curry: Team Curry always seems to have a long wing prospect that can handle the ball and has the potential to play at the next level. Coach Quentin Austin has been a fixture on our platform for a few years now with his No Guts No Glory program. Bush, a 6-foot-5 guard prospect matches up with exactly the type of player that we are talking about. He can score from the mid-range and he can get baskets around the rim. He was a double-digit scorer and rebounder consistently this weekend for Team Curry - East. - Justin Byerly
Austin Dudley, OFW Galaxy: I’ll be straightforward here – Dudley is one of the best guards in the South no one knows about. Playing on a loaded, back-to-back state championship roster at Hoover High School, it’s hard to show everything. So, in fantastic fashion, Dudley left no doubt this weekend at #BOTS. The 6-foot-2 guard is constantly in attack mode, whether it’s in transition or in the half-court. He’s capable of getting by defenders and creating opportunities while also knocking down shots at a high clip. He made 4+ three-pointers in at least three games this weekend, proving he can fill it up when necessary. I’m a fan of the talented guard. - Garrett Tucker
