This category is annually the most challenging.  This year was no different as these players, above all others, made the most of their opportunities, resulting in a significant increase in their recruiting profile.

17U – Aaron Britt, Tre Mann Elite & Lewis Uvwo, Nightrydas

It was not possible for our esteemed committee to decide between these two.

Britt, a 6’1 guard out of The Villages Charter, was dynamic in leading Tre Mann Elite to the championship of the Puma Pro16/NxtPro circuit.  He has a tremendous ability to score, knocking down timely perimeter shots on either side of the arc as well finishing with strength and tough through contact at the basket.  Britt spent a good deal of the spring and summer impressing college coaches with passing ability and court vision.  Not only did Brit excel with Tre Mann, he made headlines with his play at the Section 7 team camp on Arizona, leading The Villages to the championship in the premier bracket as well as various individual camps of national note.  In Arizona he was lauded for his ability to create plays for himself as well as teammates.  At events such as the Pangos All-American Camp, Britt controlled games as a playmaker, pushing the pace, and continuing to establish himself as a premier scoring threat.

The 7’0 Uvwo arrived at Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale mid-season, fitting in well with a talented group.  Once he hit the Nike EYBL circuit with the Nightrydas, scouts and college coaches alike were bowled over with Uvwo’s interior dominance at the defensive end of the floor.  For the EYBL season, Uvwo’s numbers of 10.4 points a game on 64% shooting from the field and 66% shooting from the foul line, to go along with 8.4 rebounds are certainly noteworthy, it was his average of 4.5 blocks a game that stood out.  He had one game with ten blocks and three games with nine.  For his efforts, Uvwo was named the EYBL’s Defensive Player of the Year.  Uvwo punishes the basket as a finisher of lobs, putbacks, and rim runs.  He plays with great energy and a non-stop motor.  He played well at the NBAPA Top 100 Camp and earned co-MVP honors at the Pango’s All American Camp.

16U – Brandon Sharpe, SOH Elite: The 6’4 wing out of Weston Sagemont, Sharpe started out the season playing for the Nightrydas of the EYBL but quickly transitioned to SOH Elite on the UAA circuit, finding success against high-level competition on both platforms.  He averaged a double-double of 14 points and 11.5 rebounds per game for SOH Elite.  Sharpe proved to be efficient with his offense, hitting 53% of his field goal attempts and knocking down his free throws at a 74% clip.  He is a high-level athlete with a serious competitive streak with the ability to efficiently get to the basket with as few dribbles as possible.  Defensively, Sharpe has the aggressive attitude and physical gifts to defend any perimeter position.  He was one of the better players regardless of class at our Miami Summer Hoops Festival.

15U – Avery Jones, SE Elite: A positionless 6’6 player out of The Rock School in Gainesville, Jones was a catalyst to the squad’s run to the 15U championship game at the Adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships.  There, he impressed scouts and media with his high level of activity and loads of athletic ability.  For the 3SSB season, Jones averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.  Also noticeable were his nearly three assists per game with a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.  Jones spent a lot of time running the point for his squad, bringing the ball up the floor and initiating offense.  His size gives him an advantage when surveying the court to find teammates with good scoring opportunities.  Jones has a streaky perimeter shot that continues to improve but must be respected.  He has the ability to post up smaller defenders inside or take bigger ones off the dribble from the wing.  Active hands and feet to go along with good instincts give him great value on the defensive end.