2023 Best of the South: 17U Standouts V
ATLANTA, Ga.—Four days of a live period event the size of Best of the South means that we saw a lot of basketball at Best of the South. We're still in recovery mode, but that means that we have a lot of players to talk about. We're still going with more of the weekend's standouts.
Related: 2023 Best of the South Content Hub
Best of the South can be a lot. I didn’t get to see as much of certain teams as I would have liked. OTP was one on my list, and I did get to catch them on Sunday. 2025 guard Avery White shined for them. He took the second half of that game over. He was able to get whatever he wanted on offense at the rim or in the mid-range. White also made key plays defensively in big moments. He’s been a guard on the rise in the Peach State. - Josh Tec
Korbin Long caught my eye by chance. I sat down in the HoopSeen HQ which happened to overlook the court they were playing on, and he looked fantastic. In that game, he had a ton of success attacking the rim. He was Pro One Select’s primary source of offense in that one. - Josh Tec
Jax Abernathy continued to show his game in front of coaches at the next level with the Atlanta Allstars. Known as a prolific scorer, Abernathy did what he does best in a few viewings. He’s a machine in his attack. Abernathy can fill it up from all levels. He has a high IQ and will help a team win when he gets to college. - Josh Tec
Playing up in the 17U division, 2025 G Alex Young continued to prove himself with some moments of brilliance with Norcross Heat. He’s repeatedly shown that he can leave his mark on a game in numerous ways. There were times in which his shooting and savvy around the basket led the way to putting points on the board, there were times in which his defensive instincts took over, and there were times in which his positional rebounding was in the spotlight. He keeps writing positive chapters in his story. - Josh Tec
The one time I caught a full Classic City Ballers Blue game, 2025 guard Marcus Gillespie showed off what’s making him a prospect that’s seeing early recruiting buzz. First of all, his passing was on display. He sees the floor well and delivers high-level passes whether they amount to assists or not. Gillespie also dominated the game with his ability to get buckets. He’s a gifted scorer with the ability to use his quick first step and athleticism to get to the basket. Gillespie has a build that can take contact well, and he can also get going with his jumper. His offensive game is multi-faceted. - Josh Tec
This Stars team went 2-0 when I caught them, and Blake Dean was right in the middle of their success both times. He can get hot with his jumper, and he’s a trustworthy playmaker in clutch situations. Several coaches were on hand each time he pllayed, and he walked out of Atlanta with an offer from Covenant College when it was all said and done. - Josh Tec
When watching this Pro One team, Windle stood out. His 6-foot-6 size with his reliable ability to hit a shot is always going to be in demand. Windle aslo just knows how to play. He seldom made mistakes and helped lead his team to a 6-0 weekend. He can be an impactful player at the next level. - Josh Tec
