2023 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions Top Overall Performers
SUWANEE, GA - The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions is one of the most storied, prestigious platforms in the travel basketball world. Shoe-sponsored teams and independents meet and battle through the weekend until champs are crowned.
Along the way, the best players separate themselves. The known add to their resume while under-the-radar names emerge on the big stage. To stand out, to be a top guy is different at Gibbons.
We have so much to get into from the weekend, and it all starts with the top overall performers from the 17U division.
Ace Bailey is in the discussion for the No. 1 overall spot in the 2024 class, and if you watched him at Gibbons, you’d understand why. Seriously, go pull up the highlights. The guy is different. There aren’t many boxes left to check for him. His athleticism is something to marvel at. Whether he’s gifting the mixtape crew with footage of dunks and blocks, Bailey can get up, and he does so emphatically. People his size can’t usually do the things he can do with the basketball in terms of creation from the wing either. His handle paired with his jumper are the separator. This is a special player we’re watching, and he showed it this weekend. - Josh Tec
What a weekend from our friends at Florida Pro. We weren’t surprised by this run at all though. We’ve applauded their balance all spring, and that led them to a championship at the end of the day. One guy that consistently brought it was 2024 guard Stone Bureau. Again, not a surprise to me or anyone on the HoopSeen team that has watched this team closely. Bureau can go. He can run a team at the point, he can take on a primary scoring role, he can be a defensive stopper, and he rebounds well for his size and position. Bureau has shown us that consistently for a long time now, and he did all of that at points throughout their Gibbons run. - Josh Tec
This is the third time this travel season that Team Loaded North Carolina has been to one of our events. Each time, Ellis impresses everyone. He shows that he can be a consistent shooter from the outside and get a shot off against some of the best defenders we have to offer, and he’s doing it as a 2025 prospect playing up in the 17U division. He never ceases to amaze us with his toughness, his skill set, and his passing ability. All of this is coupled with his ability to score the basketball at a high-level, he brings the crowds, the mixtape mafia, and he gives us all a show each and every time. Just when you think that there is no way that Ellis is going to be able to do it again, and he does. - Justin Byerly
Every year, Gibbons has a guy that comes through and generates that “who’s-that'' buzz. Well, this year, that was Southeast Elite Gold’s Ka’leel Stillman. We’ve seen big men from this program come through and elevate themselves at this event, and Stillman certainly did that during their championship run. The 6-foot-10 forward was a stat stuffer all weekend. Points, blocks and rebounds came in abundance for him. Without keeping track of stats, I’d be willing to guess that he approached triple-double territory more than once. He plays with high energy and a chip on his shoulder. Both show in his forceful play around the basket. It appears that Stillman is reclassifying to 2024 and should have a more-than-healthy list of offers come his way. - Josh Tec
We can make a compilation of Bryson Tiller top ten plays. That’s how good the Atlanta Xpress forward was this weekend. It wasn’t too long ago that we were watching him at Suwanee Sports Academy at the Next Gen Jam middle school event. We knew he had a chance to be something great back then, and he proved that at SSA this Gibbons weekend. He looks like he can step on a college court right now as a class of 2025 player. Tiller’s frame has developed, and he’s bigger and stronger than ever. That showed when he was putting people in the rim via emphatic posters. There were some Tiller dunks that had me questioning the strength of the rims in the building. Of course, he has the skill to go with the rest of his game. Expect the bluest of blue bloods, the highest of high majors to be ringing his line in June. - Josh Tec
