This coming weekend, Phenom Hoop Report will be hosting their second annual Grassroots Tip-Off Classic. Over 120 teams from across nine different states will be making their way to Greensboro, North Carolina to showcase their talents to a plethora D1, D2, D3 and JUCO coaches. With such a wide variety of talent, we’ve made a list of potential 17U standouts that people need to keep a close eye on.
POTENTIAL 17U STANDOUTS:
6’10” JR. Jay Huff:
HIGH SCHOOL– Voyager Academy (Durham, NC)
AAU PROGRAM– Carolina Flyers (Durham, NC)
THOUGHTS ON HUFF:
After an impressive performance at the NC Phenom 150 Camp this past fall, Jay Huff was a player we immediately added to our radar. The 6’10” barbarian possesses an extremely athletic skill set that could cause problems for defenders all weekend long. Offensively, Huff can get the job done at all levels. He can bury shots behind the arc, hit the flashy mid-range jumper, or drive down low and wreak havoc in the paint. His ability is simply limitless. On defense, Huff can take control at any moment. His LONG arms and extraordinarily high basketball IQ make him an opponent’s nightmare deep in the trenches. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Huff swats shots left and right and crashes the boards with authority. He’s an elusive player with a true love for the game and a very prestigious basketball background. This kid could potentially be an absolute dog in the coming years. Huff currently holds seven D1 offers from several high-caliber programs and has received interest from the likes of Duke, Clemson, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and Virginia. If he can put on additional weight and add a little toughness to his game, people can expect big things from this big time player.
6’6” JR. Jo’Vontae Millner:
HIGH SCHOOL– Burlington Cummings (Burlington, NC)
AAU PROGRAM– Brand X (Durham, NC)
THOUGHTS ON MILLNER:
This past winter, Phenom Hoop Report took a trip down to Kinston, NC to check out some early round playoff action between the Burlington Cummings Cavaliers and the Kinston Vikings. With all the hype surrounding ESPN Top- 100 standout Brandon Ingram, a lot of fans didn’t realize the top-tier performance Jo’Vontae Millner put on that night. His strong effort and determination was astonishing. Going into the battle, Millner was a name we weren’t exactly familiar with, but right from the start, our eyes were glued to the 6’6” baller. Millner is explosive on both ends of the floor and an extremely hard worker. He’s a scrappy player with a high motor that gives him a slight advantage against the opposing competition. Millner isn’t flashy, but his toughness is unmatchable. His tight on-ball defense and absurd rebounding ability make him a player that every college coach desires to have on their roster. On offense, Millner is a workhorse. He attacks the glass strong at all times and always fights for boards. He has a beautiful shot and distributes the ball well and evenly. Millner’s athleticism allows him to play any position on the court. With an impressive showing this weekend, we wouldn’t be surprised if this young stud headed back to Burlington with a few scholarship offers.
6’8” JR. Adam Sledd:
HIGH SCHOOL– Virginia Episcopal School (Lynchburg, VA)
AAU PROGRAM– Sports Spectrum Academy (Roanoke, VA)
THOUGHTS ON SLEDD:
Adam Sledd could possibly be one of the most underrated bigs in Virginia’s class of 2016. When we first scouted Sledd earlier in the year when Virginia Episcopal School hosted Middleburg Academy, we immediately fell in love with the kid’s toughness. He didn’t put on a phenomenal performance, and didn’t necessarily creep up to the top of the stat sheet, but he did play a very important role in VES Head Coach Curtis Staples’ offense. Sledd is a big-bodied player with soft touch around the rim. He has efficient footwork and is surprisingly quick for a player of his build. Despite being a tad bit undersized, he always finds a way to bring down much needed rebounds. Sledd hustles hard and busts his tail every time he steps foot on the floor. He’s a very intelligent player that strives to make his teammates better. He has that dog in him that everyone loves to see. Before transferring to VES earlier in the fall, Sledd earned 2ND Team All-State honors at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, VA. After an impressive season this year for his Bishops’ squad, Sledd reeled in his first offer from Mt. St. Mary’s out of the Northeast Conference. If he can effectively expand his offensive game outside of the post and work on his on-ball defense, he could definitely make some noise in Greensboro this weekend.
6’1” JR. Jack Konstanzer:
HIGH SCHOOL– First Flight (Kill Devil Hills, NC)
AAU PROGRAM– NC Blazers (Elizabeth City, NC)
THOUGHTS ON KONSTANZER:
If you aren’t familiar with this sharpshooter already, I guarantee you will be at the end of the weekend. Jack Konstanzer could be one of North Carolina’s most hidden gems for the class of 2016. On offense, Konstanzer is absolutely FEROCIOUS. His scoring ability is beyond impressive. After a few 50+-point outings this season for his Nighthawks’ squad, Konstanzer immediately caught the attention of several scouts around the area. He’s quick and has those shifty handles that allow him to create magic every time he touches the rock. He consistently buries deep 3-point shots and always manages to set the tempo on every offensive possession. A few weeks back, Konstanzer was invited to our Phenom Hoops NC Top 80 Camp. He had a remarkable showing on both sides of the floor and quickly emerged as one of the camps top performers in the eyes of many. He made it known he was on a mission the second he rolled into Proehlific Park. Konstanzer averaged just over 25 points per game this season and was awarded NCC Player of the Year honors. He posted eight 36+-point performances this year alone and crossed the 1,000-career point line in early February. With above average defense and a true scorers’ mentality, Konstanzer has shown his possibilities are endless.
5’9” SO. Landon Lee:
HIGH SCHOOL: North Raleigh Christian Academy (Raleigh, NC)
AAU PROGRAM: Garner Road-16U (Raleigh, NC)
THOUGHTS ON LEE:
Landon Lee is a player that really caught our attention a few weeks back at the Phenom Hoop Challenge. When the Garner Road-16U Bulldogs filed into Proehlific Park early that Saturday morning, it was easy to tell that they were eager to compete. Standing at 5’9”, Lee didn’t let his size or age become a factor. Playing up in a division can be a struggle for a lot of players, but this jack-of-all-trades made it clear he doesn’t fear any competition. Lee is a sensationally smart point guard for his age that showed no signs of mercy all afternoon long. He’s an electric player with a determined mind-set that strives for excellence in all aspects of his game. Lee created countless amounts of plays for his teammates on offense, and showed off his outrageous ball-handling ability throughout the course of the afternoon. Whenever his squad needed a big time play, Lee was there to deliver. He isn’t the quickest player and may be undersized, but this young gun knows what it takes to win ball games. His defensive game could use some extra development, and he will need to get stronger, but that shouldn’t be an issue as he progresses. People can expect Lee and the Garner Road-16U Bulldogs to battle at the Grassroots TOC.
OTHER POTENTIAL 17U STANDOUTS:
Adrian Hatfield– Team Felton- Unsigned Seniors (NC)
Davion Mintz– Charlotte Nets (NC)
Drew Johnson– Upward Stars Upstate (SC)
Ethan Groude– CC Flight (NC)
Felipe Weisheimer– WCBA-Unsigned Seniors (NC)
Henry Odunze– SEBL (NC)
Lee Romero– Prep United (VA)
Messiah Baptiste– CC Flight (NC)
Papa Ndiaye– Team Vision Red (NC)
Zavian Jackson– Brand X (NC)