2024 Best of the South: 17U Top Performers, Part II
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: Top performers, Part I
Jordan Smith, Kountry Wayne Elite: 44 points and 13 rebounds was the stat line for the 6-foot-7 forward out of Luella (GA) to start things out on Thursday at The Best of the South. He cooled off a little after his initial outburst but remained a consistent problem for opposing teams because of his length and ability to score in the paint. You can tell that Smith has the tools to be a top player in Georgia. He can do a lot of good things on both ends of the floor. - Justin Byerly
Toney Collins, Wellington Wolves: Collins has been a scoring machine here at Best of the South, leading a fun-to-watch Wellington Wolves squad to an undefeated record. In their final game against a tough Team Scoot-TJ squad, Collins scored 36 points. He has a knack for finessing his way inside the paint and getting to the rim as well as drawing fouls and converting at the line. Deadly from outside, Collins will torch defenders if given room to shoot. - Zack Cepress
Jason Welborn, Champions Chance-Jody: Playing up in the 17U division, the 2026 guard has been the best on the floor in every game he’s played. Welborn notched two 30+ point performances over the weekend and averaged over 27 points. His ability to create his shot off the bounce and get to the rim is second to none, allowing him to draw help defenders and create easy looks for his teammates. Welborn also isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, consistently getting deflections that typically lead to impressive dunks on the break. Coaches should recruit him early before it’s too late. - Mekhi Mckinney
Treylan Neal, Pressure Elite #3: Pressure Elite finished the weekend 6-0, and Treylan Neal was a big reason why. Neal scored over 20 points in both games I watched this weekend, and it was all within the flow of the game. Neal’s combination of explosiveness and pace makes him a problem for opposing guards. Adding to that, his tenacity on the court only makes him more entertaining to watch. - Mekhi McKinney
Harry Malone, Pro One Select Hood: Malone rose to the occasion and bailed out his team in a couple of tight games over the weekend. With his knack for scoring the basketball, the rising senior converted some tough finishes down the stretch in several games that either led to victories or kept Pro One Select Hood in the ball game. A confident lefty, Malone mixed things up with some straight-line drives at the rim while also stopping and hitting some mid-range jumpers. - Garrett Tucker
