Man, it was great being back involved with AAU again. After a good break, I realized how much I missed it. There were so many good hoopers as usual so it’s only right that I took a couple of notes on guys. Instead of releasing a bunch of articles from every event, I decided to start a Spring Notebook of guys that stood out to me. Some I got names and heights for, and some I didn’t catch soon enough after post-game team huddles. Either way, these guys below caught my eye. Some are well-known, others are hidden gems, and some are stock risers you need to start paying attention to.
Deny Basketball 17U | 2024 Kyle Counts, 6’7 F*
Skilled forward who played mainly inside, but can step out to the perimeter as well. He plays physical, using his strength and footwork to his advantage. Kyle had a reliable jumper with a high release, and he even hit a game-winning fadeaway shot in overtime one game I watched. He is also a versatile defender, capable of guarding multiple positions. He has some underrated passing skills, too. Offers rolled in for him in the Spring, and I think July will be the same.
Elite 24 17U | 2025 Beckett Currie, 5’10 PG
Major shooting threat, range as soon as he walks in the gym. Efficient game, doesn’t take a lot of dribbles to get things down. He has a smooth handle and clean pick-ups on his jumpers. Has a variety of finishes at the rim. Showed playmaking ability for teammates which is big for college coaches to see. Interest will rise in July for him for sure.
PNW Sixers 17U | 2024 Gavin Purdue, 6’6 F
Skilled wing forward. Major spot-up threat from deep. Fluid mechanics and high release on his shot. Not phased by closeouts; makes contested 3s. Not bad attacking in a straight line when ran off the 3pt line. Can lead break after rebounds to initiate an action with a playmaker. Will need to show coaches he can defend the perimeter this July.
GAME Winner Basketball 15U | 2027 Malachi Patton, 5’9 PG
Showed me a lot this spring. When playing in 14U MADE Hoops, he plays forward and off the ball a lot. I got to see him up close in a lead-guard role and it’s clear he has a ton of upside. Smooth handle and can go both directions. He has good vision and can pass with either hand. His two best skills to me right now are defending and finishing. Defensively he is special. He has really good instincts when going for steals and blocks (really good shot-blocking guard). His ability to finish at the rim is high-level as well. He has them all in the bag— runners, swing-steps, euros, same-leg same-hand— and he can do them with both hands. Not much of a 3pt threat yet, but can hit them. Decent middy pull-up; has a high release and gets good elevation. He will be one the best freshman in SW Washington next season.
PAC Express 16U | 2025 Gage Brumfield, 6’2 SG
Standout athlete, displaying strength and physicality on both offense and defense. He aggressively attacked the rim, seeking contact and drawing fouls. Gage also had a solid three-point shot when given the opportunity. Definitely a player to keep an eye on at the 16U level this July.
Oly Hoops 15U | 2027 James Morgan, 6’2 F*
Impressive forward who played above his age group. He showed great skills both inside and outside the paint, scoring points from close range and beyond the arc. James showed good patience when trying to find openings to score against wall-ups, and he also made good passes when double-teamed. His three-point shooting was solid, especially when he had a good setup.
GAME Winner Basketball 17U | 2024 Malakai Gray, 6'1 PG*
Plays with a chip on his shoulder. He's proved to be a consistent threat as a spot-up shooter from 3. He has a tight handle with a herky-jerky rhythm to it; a lot of stop-and-go. It keeps defenders off balance and creates scoring opportunities for himself and others. He has good vision and is a good passer. He is crafty defensively. He gets a lot of strips, and he might lead 17U AAU in charges taken. Can get careless with the ball, and have loose turnovers at times. Competes at a high level though. July will be big for him, I expect coaches to start taking notice.
Seattle Select 16U | 2025 Dylan Gilderhus, 6'0 PG
Reliable point guard who took care of the ball and made smart decisions on the court. He had excellent ball handling skills and great speed. He often drove into the paint, setting up his teammates for easy shots. He could also score it himself off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations.
EBC Elite16U | 2025 SG #22
Sharpshooter from downtown, with a quick release that made it hard for defenders to stop him. He moved well without the ball, always finding open spots to take three-pointers. He also showed some scoring versatility as a primary ball handler in the pick-and-roll. He stopped for a pull-up one possession, and got all the way to the cup a few possessions later.
Rose City Rebels Select 17U | 2024 SG #8
He did a good job of creating space to get his shots off. He could hit tough shots off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. Although he took some difficult shots, he proved he had the skills to make them. His crafty moves around the rim, using both hands for finishes, were impressive.
PAC Express16U | 2025 Judah Kelly, 5’9 PG
Excellent floor general. Kept control of the game and took care of the ball. He provided direction to his teammates with his voice and ensured everyone was in the right positions. Judah also showed the ability to create scoring opportunities for himself when needed. Nice floater in the lane and quick catch and shoot jumper.
GAME Winner Basketball 17U | 2026 Cam Newsome, 5’6 PG
Watched him play with his grade at the 15U level, and watched him play up at the 17U level— the kid has a lot of talent. Usually the smallest guy out there, but he’s fearless. He keeps defenses on their heels because he is constantly looking to attack downhill. No matter the level, he is getting paint touches. He squeezes through cracks for tough finishes and has a knack for drawing fouls. Blur in transition. Started to find rhythm as a playmaker at 17U level in the last few tournaments.
Deny Basketball 17U | 2024 Jacey Canallin, 5’10 PG*
Quick left-handed point guard that was a blur in transition with his speed. He had clever passing abilities with both hands, often fooling defenders with his assists. Jacey used his shifty handles to keep opponents off balance and excelled at driving to the basket with runners and floaters. He also surprised me with his rebounding skills despite his size. Hidden gem out of Oregon.
South Sound Roots 17U | 2024 Clay Morgan, 6’5 F*
Versatile forward who contributes in many areas of the game. Not the most athletic, but he plays with a high level of effort and gets things done. The game I watched, Clay knocked down three-pointers, whether he was open or facing tough defense. He also initiated fast breaks and showed his ability to make plays for his teammates. Defensively, he could guard different positions effectively.
GAME Winner Basketball 17U | 2025 Jadyn Jenkins, 6’2 G
Good athlete with raw skills. He performed well when playing under control. His three-point shooting was reliable when his feet were set. He has good open floor speed in transition with and without the ball. Jadyn impressed me with his offensive rebounding skills as a guard. He’s active in passing lanes always looking for steals and deflections.
Dynasty 15U | 2026 Josh Crane, 6’4 WF*
Special motor and competitiveness— that’s what stood out to me first. He has it on both ends of the floor, too. He is at his best playing downhill and in straight-line drive situations. He isn’t super fast but he has a good burst and he plays strong. You’re going to feel his shoulder in your chest when he drives. Long arms that are active defensively, and help him secure boards. Quick second jump— he rebounded his misses the majority of the time. Nice young prospect from Oregon with upside.
GAME Winner Basketball 15U | 2026 Anthony Robinson, 5’9 SG
Good shooter when in rhythm and feet set. He’s always thinking score and can go on large individual scoring runs. He likes to get to his spots for the middy. Will be a problem for defenses if he can add a downhill part to his game.
PNW Sixers 17U | 2024 Hayden Yore, 6’1 PG
Strong guard. A really solid defender that can take bumps and cut guys off. Makes the right play majority of the time. Willing passer. Showed craftiness when finishing around the rim, and showed he can get to his spots to hit the pull-up middy. He’s a guard I’d want to see more of this July if I am a college coach.
South Sound Roots 16U | 2025 Liam Sheeran, PG
He has a craftiness about his game that catches your eye. Very skilled guard with a lot of potential. His handles keep defenders off balance and help him create space for jumpers. When he’s at the rim, he has the awareness to evade rotating help defenders and the touch to avoid shot blockers.
GAME Winner Basketball 17U | 2024 Beckett Turner, 6’4 W
Wing scorer. Turner can do it in a variety of ways. He can spot-up from 3, he can post up, he can be a pick-and-roll ball handler, and he can shoot off screens. I like that he plays off two feet on most of his paint touches. He has good footwork and plays with step-thrus and pivots. Pretty good passer-- I'd like to see him be a playmaker more often. Bigger guard for coaches to pay attention to in July for sure.
ECBA 17U | 2024 Braydon Olson, 6’2 SG
One of the best guards in the state. He’s a gifted scorer that oozes with self-confidence. Has a knack for finding any window of space to get his shot off. Shooting is his best skill, but he can score it from all three levels. He also has a great handle and is one of the best guards I’ve seen at stringing dribble moves together. Underrated playmaker; needs to show this side of his game more. Had back-to-back games of 53 and 44 at the War of the Border tournament. He is a must-watch for coaches in July!
More Than Hoops 17U | 2024 Chance White, 6'1 SG
Tough guard that can fill it up. He will take and make tough shots. Defenders had trouble all spring trying to keep him in front. Explosive first step to get downhill, and does a good job of seeking contact to draw fouls. Will hit people's radars in July.
GAME Winner Basketball 17U | 2025 Dalton Stevens, 6’2 W
Stocky-built guard that has a lot of success when playing downhill. Good at continuing his drive through contact, and can finish through contact as well. Can be dangerous when leading the break— a dual threat that can push for a layup or drop it off for an assist. Competes as an on-ball defender. Long arms and is a good shot blocker for a wing defender. Not the best shooter from 3, but capable and can find a rhythm.
More Than Hoops 15U | 2026 Kareem Artharee, 6'3 W
Strong and athletic. Decent handle to create space to get downhill. Capable 3pt shooter. Playing a bit out of position because it’s what his team needs, but takes advantage of his mismatches with bigger defenders. He also holds his own defensively guarding in the post and rebounds well. Can lead the break after rebounds, too.
GAME Winner Basketball 15U | 2026 Drew Ibarreta, 5’7 PG
One of the best true point guards I’ve seen all spring regardless of level. Floor general. Tough as nails. Doesn’t do anything flashy, he’s just solid all the way around. He defends, he takes care of the ball, he makes plays for teammates, and he hits open shots. Has a nice two-foot floater. The best thing I love seeing when I watch him play is how hard he competes.
If you recognize a player and know his info, shoot it my way! Looking forward to catching more players for the July Summer Notebook. Until then, KEEP STACKING GOOD DAYS!
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