Justin Young's three favorite prospects of the 17U division of the #BamaJam
Looking back on a busy couple of days at the 2020 HoopSeen Bama Jam, there were three players in the 17 and under division that really stood out to our Justin Young. Who shined the brightest from a prospect point of view? JY breaks down his picks.
He’s quickly becoming one of my most favorite players in the nation. The big man from Hamilton Heights (TN) continues to get better and better and harder and harder to score on inside the paint. Okpara has undeniable length and timing as a shot-blocker. He moves so well from block to block and knows how and when to go get a shot. His length is coveted at the highest levels of hoop. We’ve been high on him for a couple of years at HoopSeen and every time we see him we like the direction his development is making. The scary thing is this - he’s still very far away from the level of player that he’s capable of becoming. For two events now, he’s been the best prospect in the building on our HoopSeen stage. As I build my list of potential McDonald’s All-American level players for the class of 2022, Okpara has chiseled his name into stone for me. We are watching a major accession right before our eyes and it’s all kinds of great.
Admittedly, I didn’t know anything about Crawford coming into this event. Admittedly, he’s now one of my favorite guards that I’ve seen during this COVID season from the South. That’s why we have stages during this strange time. Crawford told me that he has a healthy recruitment at the moment, taking on some of the best non-majors in the South. Furman, Gardner Webb, Wofford, VMI, Lipscomb and North Alabama are interested. It is easy to see why. The 6-foot-4 guard boasts a close to full array of skill that will translate well to the next level of hoops. He’s skilled, keen to what’s happening around him, vocal on both sides of the ball and commands the respect of his teammates on the floor and in the huddle. We’ve had players like him come through our platform in year’s past and shine for conference contending mid-major programs. I think Crawford is one of those types of players in the 2021 class.
Buckets. That’s what the future Liberty guard racks up. Bucket after bucket after bucket. If you’ve read this site at all over the last three years, that shouldn’t come as a big surprise to you. Peebles is always keeping scorekeepers gainfully employed and plenty of pencils dulled because of the amount of work they get when he’s on the hardwood. This event was no different. Peebles led the field in scoring, posting 22.7 a contest. He continues to expand his game, too. Peebles has improved his footwork and quickness that allowed him to challenge bigger and more athletic defenders on all spots of the floor. He’s hard to guard and he’ll certainly rack up the points when he suits up for the Flames of Lynchburg, Virginia.
