IndyBall Evals: 17u

The final part of our IndyBall Shootout player evaluations are from the 17 and under age group. With the help of Eric Gardner and Jeff Schoenle, we broke down 54 prospects in the age group. For our 15 and under prospect evaluations click here and for 16 and under click here. We were able to see most of the prospects listed in the article two or three times in order to give a more accurate evaluation. Here are the breakdowns.

Eric Gordon-Green

Eron Gordon – 6-2 – 170 - SG – North Central (Indianapolis, IN) – 2016 – High Major

Gordon was about the same as he has been. He got to the rack and finished at a high clip, created fouls and finished at the line, and knocked down enough threes to win his team some games. Not sure he’s made much progression on his outside shot. He’s solid and a great scorer but has yet to take that next step. He has a strong build for high school and he is physically mature. Gordon is a good athlete that will finish above the rim, but he's not extremely explosive off the dribble. All his drives are still straight line in the half court.

Justin Thomas – 5-10 – PG – Pike (Indianapolis, IN) – 2016 – Mid Major

Strong showing at IndyBall from Thomas. The lead guard did a great job of leading and handling the ball for EG-Green. He took over one game by getting to the basket consistently on five straight possessions. Thomas is a good finisher around the lane despite not being a great leaper. The next step for Thomas is becoming a knock down shooter from the outside anytime that he is left open.

Bret Barclay – 6-6 – F – Crown Point (IN) – 2014 – D2/NAIA

Barclay is a senior this year and says that he will likely go the prep school route unless he gets an offer to his liking. Barclay is up and down without much consistency over his high school career. He has a strong build and is a solid leaper. He's not quick enough to defend small forwards on the perimeter. He is best as a stretch four.

Antoine Divine – 5-11 – PG – Decatur Central (IN) – 2016 – Low to Mid Major

Solid athlete with good quickness, Divine is a prospect to watch in the 2016 class. Good shooter from the outside and the free throw line. Divine needs to find a way to get easy baskets more often especially in the half court set. He will be a tough player to defend if he does that.

Alec Mabie – 6-6 – SF – South Carolina Sports Academy – 2014 – D2/NAIA

A player that has bounced around high schools in Illinois, Iowa and ended up in South Carolina. Mabie is a good leaper with length. He is a decent spot-up shooter. He doesn't do much off the dribble. Limited overall production at the IndyBall Shootout.

Grassroots Indiana-Lacy

Luke Callahan – 6-6 – SF – Danville (IN) – 2015 – D2

Late bloomer that has grown over the last year. He had a very good season for Danville. He's a solid athlete that finishes above the rim. He has a thin build right now, but he should be able to add muscle easily. His shooting mechanics make it hard for him to be a consistent outside shooter.

Jake Mann – 6-1 – SG – Zionsville (IN) – 2015 – NAIA

One of the best spot-up shooters in the state. He had games of 7 and 8 three-pointers made at IndyBall. He doesn't look to put the ball on the floor much and he is a slightly below average athlete. He could be a weapon at the small college level.

Wes Stowers – 5-10 – PG – North Central (Indianapolis, IN) – 2015 - D2

Stowers is a point guard with solid quickness and the ability to hit shots from the outside. He started off the season as North Central's starting point guard, but his minutes decreased as the year went on. He is a good small college prospect.

Grassroots Indiana-White

Ethan Woodrow – 6-5 – F – Fountain Central – 2015 – NAIA

Strong/stocky forward that can play inside and outside.Only shot 31% from 3 on a ton of attempts during the high school season though. Limited athlete.

Connor Umphress – 6-5 – SG – Columbus East – 2015 – Low Major

6-4/6-5 guard/forward that is a very good outside shooter. Average to below average athlete for the low major level in college. Good instincts and feel for the game. He can handle the ball as well.

Jordache Mavunga – 6-3 – SF – Brownsburg – 2015 – D2/NAIA

Best when he is attacking the paint and that is what he normally does. He is a strong kid that can overpower defenders on his way to the hoop. He does get out of control at times and settles for 3s too frequently.

Jeff White – 6-3 – SF – Pike – 2015 – D2/NAIA

White had a big game against EG-Green by hitting 3s and getting to the basket. White is a strong player that is a fair athlete. He is really tough when his shot is going down. He only shot 26% from 3 this high school season though.

Grassroots Indiana-Crist

K.J. Lesure-5-9-145-PG-2016-Indianapolis (IN) North Central – Low Major

Lesure may be undersized but that doesn’t hold him back from hitting shots and making plays for his teammates. If left open, K.J. can knock down shots from the perimeter as well as taking his man to the rim. Lesure shot 32% from the field averaging almost ten points in six games. He needs to reel in his shot selection as he has a pretty quick trigger. His handles are good and allow him to do anything he needs to do. He had an assist to t/o ratio of 18:7 this weekend. He will transfer/move to Tennessee at the end of the summer.

Hunter Crist-6-2-170-PG-2016-Arcadia (IN) Hamilton Heights – Low to Mid Major

Hunter, coached by his father Brett, was good as an all-around guard this weekend. He rebounded the ball well (3.5 per) and finished around the basket at a high level averaging ten points per game. He went 15 of 18 in the paint and while more than a few came in transition, Hunter also showed the ability to get to the basket and finish. Crist is proving to be more than just the shooter he was the last year or so.

Kiante Enis-6-3-175-G/F-2016-Winchester (IN) – Low to Mid Major

Enis was the most impressive on the UA GRIND 2016 squad this weekend. Kiante had two 20+ point games and averaged 15 points across his six games. Everything Enis did on the offensive end was at the basket. He’s got the body to bang against bigger, stronger forwards so when he get near the basket, he finishes at a very efficient clip. He went 34 of 42 in the paint during the tournament. Enis also showed off his impressive athleticism getting a couple big blocks on defense and finishing above the rim in transition. Rebounding was also a big part of his game this weekend averaging 6.3 with a high of 11. His college potential lies within how his handles and outside shot develop.

Chris King-6-4-175-SG-2016-Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central – Low Major

King is one of the more athletic players in 2016 in Indiana and at times can look like a really good guard prospect, but then other times he can have some mental lapses. His weekend started off with one of those lapses but was able to put a string of good games together. Chris wasn’t able to hit from distance but found stretches of games where he would be productive creating steals and getting out in transition for easy points. He relied upon his athleticism and offensive rebounding to get him points. He averaged almost two steals and six rebounds a game during the tournament. He has great length. He needs to do a better job of shot selection and having a better touch around the basket.

Nash Griffin-6-4-180-SG-2016-Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central – NAIA/D3

Griffin is a thick, well-built wing and he’s got the body already for the college game, just needs to refine it. Nash isn’t flashy and doesn’t put up outstanding numbers but he does a little bit of everything from the wing and a lot of his game won’t show up in the stat column. His range is limited but he can knock down a perimeter jumper and finish through some contact at the rim. Not much of a mid-range game at this point. High academic prospect as well.

Evan Borgman-6-7-180-PF/C-2016-Jac-Cen-Del (IN) – Low Major

Borgman is a developing big man with length. He’s skinny but uses his mobility to his advantage. He needs upper body strength badly right now. There are times when he is in position for a rebound and has it ripped from his hands. Borgman showed a couple post moves in the paint going to his dominant hand. With regards to rebounding, Evan does well when he keeps his hands high and away from smaller defenders but can get stripped. Evan had a pair of 5 rebound games this weekend. Borgman is still very raw but there is a little bit to dream on.

Mehki Biffle-6-1-165-2016-Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence Central – Mid Major

Biffle started the weekend off slow but as the competition got better and the weekend went on he showed his strengths. Mekhi averaged almost 14 points in his final four games and shot 45% from the field and 38% from distance. The only area Biffle didn’t shoot well from was from about 19’ where he shot from quite often going 3 of 13 throughout the weekend. However, he was able to find production on the boards where he was often the catalyst for fast breaks off the defensive end. He's a good athlete that will finish above the rim in transition right now. He's a tough competitor as well.

Keegan Northern – 6-7 – PF – Martinsville (IN) – 2016 – Low Major Plus

Good size at 6-foot-7, might get another inch. Northern finishes really well around the basket. He's an average athelete in terms of speed, quickness and leaping ability. His midrange jump looks solid, but he doesn't look for his shot outside of the lane right now. Strength will help his game. He's not afraid to be physical.

Darnell Butler – 6-3 – SG – McCutcheon (Lafayette, IN) – Low Major

Fair athlete with a strong build for his age. Decent outside shooter. Butler does a lot of things decently right now, but needs some refinement to take his game to the D1 level. Quiet IndyBall after a big first game in pool play.

Indiana Elite 2015

Chandler White-6-3-185-SG-2015-Fort Wayne (IN) Carroll – Mid Major

In the last nine months, Chandler has taken a little step forward in his game. He’s become more of a scorer. He’s shooting from distance a little better and finishing around the rim as well. White is a decent athlete and showed that in transition all weekend as Indiana Elite ran and ran on teams. The one thing that stood out this weekend was Chandler showed a pump fake to get by a defender and the pulled up from 16 and knocked it down. Haven’t seen a ton of that but would be a nice addition to his game.

Dylan Windler-6-6-180-SF-2015-Perry Meridian (IN) – D2/Low Major

For this being Windler’s first go around on the AAU circuit, he seemed to fit in pretty well with Indiana Elite. He’s much more of a wing, outside shooter than anything else right now. He’s got good size and length and hit from three enough to make you notice. He’s got decent handles for his size and position. Intriguing player with some upside. It is his first year playing travel basketball after being a standout golfer in the past.

Devonte Campbell-6-6-185-SF-2014-Culver (IN) Academy – Low Major

2014 prospect that is looking to go the prep school route. Campbell looked like he might have cut down a little weight and he also looked more athletic than last summer. He spent most of his time driving from the arc and using his body to create space and finish at the rim. They blew out most teams and was usually guarding a smaller wing.

Kyle Guy – 6-2 – SG – Lawrence Central (IN) – Mid Major

Guy had a good showing in a close game against a Rockerz team from Cincinnati. Good shooter with a good feel for the game. Showing that he can go off the dribble and get all the way to the basket would be an addition to his game. Guy is very thin still, he needs to add strength to help his explosiveness that he needs to compete at the high major level. Good first weekend with Indiana Elite 2015.

Hyron Edwards – 6-0 – PG – East Chicago Central (IN) – Mid Major to Mid Major Plus

We have discussed Edwards frequently on our site. He impressed me with his defensive intensity on Sunday at IndyBall. He has the physical tools to be a great defender. It is a matter of focus and him dedicating himself on the defensive end. Edwards offensive game is best in transition and when he is getting to the basket. Right now, it seems like most of the times he gets to the basket is in transition and then he settles for outside shots in the half court. He's not a good enough shooter to get away with that.

Grant Weatherford – 6-2 – G – Hamilton Heights (IN) – Low Major

Weatherford has added a ton of muscle in the upper body. He is a football recruit as well as basketball. He is a very good all-around athlete. He is not afraid to stir things up as he did while guarding Eron Gordon. It is looking more and more likely that he will go the football route in college.

Indiana Elite Diesel

Ryan Cline-6-4-170-SG-2015-Carmel (IN) – Mid Major to Mid Major Plus

Cline had a great weekend. His shot was working from everywhere. He used a step-back jumper that he couldn’t miss. Like always, Cline was stellar from distance. He’s trying to add more to his game he said, trying to diversify on the offensive end. He defended against smaller, quicker point guards and held his own for the most part. He wasn’t looking to make a play, just contain his man. Cline is closing in on 6-5 now after being 6-2 last summer. It doesn't look like he is going to stop growing any time soon.

Seth Adelsperger-6-10-210-C-2015-Peru (IN) – Mid Major

Seth is coming along as a post player. He’s still raw but he’s more comfortable with his big body and has a better idea and execution to his game. He plays with a little more confidence now as well. Seth rebounded the ball well and fought for a couple against other posts. He showed a 15’ jumper, which he hit from straight on but not from the baseline. He can get good position in the post and is solid going to his right hand. Adelsperger struggled in his match-up with Derrik Smits and Bronson Kessinger proving that he still has a ways to go to reach his potential.

Filip Serwatka-6-5-185-SF-2015-Elkhart (IN) Concord – Low Major

Serwatka is a solidly-built wing that can play a little inside and out. He’s best in transition where he’s athletic enough to finish above the rim. He is very good in the pick and pop game with his shooting ability. Filip does rebound the ball well and has enough size and strength to pull in some tough boards. He does a little bit of everything and is decent across the board. For Serwatka to be a D1 player, he has to defend at a higher level. He is a good scorer but many times he gives up just as many points as he scores. That needs to change.

Trevor Waite – 6-2 – G – Tri-West HS (IN) – 2015 – Low Major/D2

Good size and strength for a lead/combo guard. He had a very good first half against a talented GRIND-Reamer team then was quiet in the second half. He puts his body on the line often for charges. He has to prove that he can guard in space to be a D1 or high-level D2 player.

Keegan Culp – 6-5 – SF – Carmel (IN) – 2015 – Low Major

Shooter that always seems to hit big shots in both the high school season for Carmel and for Indiana Elite. Culp has good size at a true 6-5 and possibly 6-6. He also has strength to his frame. He's not afraid to be physical, and he pursues the ball well on the boards. Culp is a very good student as well.

Ryan Curry – 6-2 – SG – New Palestine HS (IN) – 2015 – D2/NAIA

Sat out with injury during IndyBall. He could be poised for a big spring and summer if he is healthy. He has grown a lot since last year and his game has expanded.

Kyle Bumbalough – 5-7 – PG – New Castle (IN) – 2015 – D3

Scrappy and tough point guard, Bumbalough has the ability to hit outside shots when left open. His size is a big disadvantage because he has a slight frame as well.

Menace

Sean Wilson-5-10-160-PG-2015-Noblesville (IN) – D3/NAIA

Wilson is a typical undersized guard who can knock down a three. Very similar to his teammate Jake Mills, Wilson did well shooting from distance all weekend. However, he could stand to reel it in just a bit. He’s a little to trigger happy but it’s the biggest way he contributes.

Jake Mills-5-10-170-PG-2015-Noblesville (IN) – D3/NAIA

Mills is back and looking fairly healthy but put on some weight that he could stand to cut. His shot

wasn’t as crisp as it has been in the past. Really just a spot up shooter at this point, Jake can put up points in a hurry. A bit of a streaky shooter but a guy you can count on for 8-12 points a game.

Pocket City Basketball

Adam Eberhard-6-6-175-SF-2015-Evansville (IN) Memorial – Low Major

Eberhard proved to be one of the more intriguing skill set guys of the weekend. At 6-6, Adam was able to shoot with some consistency from 15-19’. He was also able to slash, catch, and finish well. He’s got tons of length and he uses it well, catch and finish with high hands. Definitely not elite with anything he does but solid in terms of production. His lack of strength holds him back in many areas.

Jaelan Sanford-6-3-175-PG-2015-Evansville (IN) Reitz – Low Major

Sanford had himself a solid weekend and proved why he is a name to watch. He handles the ball well although in Milwaukee he over-dribbled without going anywhere. He can also pull-up and get to the rim and does it all at 6-3. He’s got the size you want from a point guard and his ball handling is solid, he’s got good vision, and can make the pass. The only knock would be to see a little more production on the offensive end. He doesn't seem like a very vocal player in the handful of times that I have seen him now. I'm not sure there is any dog in him on either end of the court.

Nate Hansen – 6-4 – G – Evansville Reitz (IN) – 2015 – Low Major/D2

My viewing this weekend of Hansen was the best that I have seen him play. He was very aggressive off the dribble. He is a very good athlete that can explode off the dribble and finish above the rim in the lane. He is a good passer although he will force the unnecessary pass at times. More of a D2 prospect at this time, but if he consistently plays like he did when I saw him at IndyBall, he could be a low major player.

Team Progeny 2015

Harris Brown-5-10-165-PG-2015-Indianapolis (IN) Howe – Committed to Loyola.

Brown’s energy and tenacity sparked a nice run to the championship game for his Progeny teammates. Harris was quick with the ball and wasn’t afraid to pull-up from three. He’s got a natural fade-away to his jumper which helps because of his size and he’s comfortable with it but it does hurt his overall accuracy. Brown is very athletic and has some bounce. He’ll hound you on the defensive end, needs a bit of guidance, but he gives solid effort. Loves to create turnovers and get out and go.

T.J. Henderson-5-11-155-G-2015-Indianapolis (IN) Scecina – Low Major

This weekend was the most Henderson has passed the ball. He’s got a lot of options on this team but usually he is the guy wanting to knock down a shot. However, he played the role of distributor on a team where everyone has a quick trigger. T.J. did get his and knocked down a couple jumpers from mid and deep but wasn’t always the main option to score.

Chris Nunn-5-11-160-PG-2015-Liberty Christian (IN) – D2

Chris found his role on his new team pretty quick. Nunn was more of a spot up shooter. He likes to play a little slower pace than the rest of his teammates but was there to knock down some catch-and-shoot threes on kick-outs. Didn’t handle the ball much unless they got in the half-court, which was not very often.

Dreon Lewis – 6-6 – PF – Indianapolis (IN) Howe HS – 2015 – D2/Low Major

Very good showing against GRIND-Reamer that has Bronson Kessinger and Derrik Smits in the post although Smits did not play that much. Lewis has a thick, strong build that he used to overpower guys in the paint. Lewis has liked to float on the perimeter in the past, but he was happy banging in the post against GRIND. That is where he is best. Not an explosive athlete. Mid-range to 3 is very inconsistent.

Nigel Robinson – 6-2 – G – Indianapolis (IN) Marshall HS – 2015 – D2/Low Major

Talented player, but the Progeny coaches went with other players deep in the tournament as they questioned Robinson's focus. That is something to watch because he had academic issues this high school season as well.

Mike Jones – 6-4 – SG – Indianapolis (IN) Arsenal Tech HS – 2014 – D2

Jones had a very good senior season for Tech's state title team. It is unclear what his plans are at this point. He could be a nice, late pickup for D2 or NAIA programs. He might be trying to go D1 only though. Jones had multiple strong games at IndyBall. He gave Progeny depth to their roster.

Noah Thomas – 6-7 – C – Traders Point Academy – 2015 – D2/NAIA

Hustles and competes on both ends of the floor. He is held back by his athletic limitations. His skill set is fair, but not enough to offset his athleticism to make him a D1 prospect.

UA GRIND-Reamer

Bronson Kessinger-6-7-190-PF-2015-Corydon (IN) Central – Mid Major to Mid Major Plus

Kessinger had a solid weekend playing for UA GRIND 2015. Kessinger really rebounded the ball well on the defensive end and on offense he used his agility and athleticism to drive past his defender for points at the bucket. Kessinger must continue to work on his ball handling and his jump shot. Kessinger has a tendency to put his head down on his drives which leads to trouble. His shooting mechanics produce a flat shot and flat shots are inconsistent; that is the case with Kessinger.

K.J. Walton – 6-2 – SG – Brownsburg (IN) – 2015 – Mid Major Plus

Not the best weekend for Walton when I observed him. He struggled to get going against Indiana Elite-Diesel and Progeny while I was watching. He was able to get to the line often against Diesel like he usually does. The hitch in his shot preparation has held Walton's shot back from being very consistent. Great first step, strong upper body.

Sean McDermott-6-4-155-SG-2015-Pendleton (IN) Heights – Low to Mid Major

Coming back and getting healthy was the main priority for Sean the last few months and he looked good to go this weekend. He moved much better than when I saw him against North Central late in the season. This was the best McDermott had looked on the offensive end in a while. His shot from distance was on (10 of 22) and was just as effective getting to the basket (18 of 40 from the field). McDermott went off the dribble and attacked the basket more than normal and finished going left and right. He threw in a pull-up from mid-range here and there as well.

Johnny Jager-6-0-165-PG-2015-Bloomington (IN) South – D2

Jager was a good change-of-pace guard from UA GRIND 2015. With the other point guards being speed guys, Johnny was sure and steady. He was able to knock down a few shots from three but mainly handled the team and got them into their offense and where they need to be and made good decisions. He wasn’t flashy, just got the job done. It was a very good showing for Jager at IndyBall.

Dana Batt-6-9-200-PF/C-2015-Fort Wayne (IN) Homestead – Low Major

Batt was limited in playing time this weekend but when he got on the floor he displayed what made him good during his high school season. Dana is a rim-protector with high energy. He got some bounce which allows him to get up to block shots quickly and he’s willing to fight on every play. Not necessarily an huge offensive threat yet, Batt can post up and go with his dominant hand and finish. Defense is ahead of offense for Dana.

Darrian Ringo – 6-1 – PG – Brownsburg (IN) – 2015 – Low Major

Always known as a very good defender in the open court, Ringo has improved his finishing ability in the lane. That is making him an offensive threat which he has not been in the past. He's a true 6-foot-1 and is adding strength to his frame. He will finish above the rim in transition. Academics are an issue for him going D1 right now.

Joey Morlan – 6-5 – F – Fort Wayne (IN) Blackhawk Christian – 2015 – Low Major

Shooter that has added strength to his frame in the last year. Morlan was cold from the outside this weekend. He is a proven shooter though. Morlan is also very good academically.

Derrik Smits – 6-11 – C – Zionsville (IN) – 2015 – Mid Major Plus

It was a very underwhelming weekend for Smits. Everyone has been waiting for him to make that next step in terms of defense, rebounding and physicality; it didn't look like he was any closer this weekend. He is a very good offensive player when he has space. When he is crowded and opponents are physical with him, he struggles. He can't play at the high major level or the mid major level if he does not absorb and play through contact better.

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