Welcome to the second part of ‘Taking a Look at the Class of 2017’ where we break down the names to remember for the upcoming junior recruits. Part One featured some big name guys like Michael Porter Jr. (No. 2 ESPN), DeAndre Ayton (No. 1), Jarred Vanderbilt (No. 3), Gary Trent Jr. (No. 8), and Wendell Carter Jr. (No. 4). Part two will be on those trying to wiggle their way onto the elite level of being a known prospect.
It’s important not to think of the order of the players as “rankings.” The junior class has a long way to go until the final rankings are set, and as we all know, final rankings aren’t always spot on. It’s a process, and this is simply to get a few names out on the web for recruiting enthusiasts to remember.
To start, Troy Brown Jr. is an absolute handful to guard. He’s a quick, decisive shooting guard who can catch fire at any time. Whether it be off the pick and roll, or breaking his man down off a pass, Brown Jr. will be getting to the rim. He gambles a bit on defense, but it’s usually calculated enough to the point where he isn’t killing his team. He’s a smart player, and he even has a personal blog for USA Today on his the recruitment life. Brown competes for the Las Vegas Prospects in the Nike’s EYBL, where he averaged seven rebounds per game, an outstanding number for a guard. He is on the USA U16 National Team, too.
P.J. Washington is a tweener forward at this point in his career — that’s not a bad thing. He has exceptional athleticism that he uses to get to the basket at will. He can also stretch the floor, though, and that’s what makes him dangerous. The defense has little chance against him. Throw in his solid rebounding and defense, and you have a sought-after recruit. Washington lit up the EYBL for being a 2017 guy, playing for Team Penny in New York. He averaged 16 points per game and 9 rebounds per game, showing the country his skills. He is involved in USA basketball as well.
The first thing you notice about Jeremiah Tilmon is his footwork. OK, maybe you notice his size. He’s a built, towering individual, standing six foot ten inches. He uses that size to his advantage, and dunks on anyone in sight. Against other big men, Tilmon has a few nice go-to-moves that he is confident utilizing. He is an anchor on defense as well, and is good at helping a beaten teammate with a chase down block. He does a nice job getting rebounds and getting the outlet pass out to start the break. Tilmon plays next to 2016 phenom Jayson Tatum for the St. Louis Eagles on the EYBL circuit, and has made a difference on both ends of the court.
Trevon Duval (top) is the definition of a scoring point guard, but does a nice job finding his teammates within the flow of the game as well. He is an energizer bunny on the court, flying from end to end to do anything to help his team win. He is always in the passing lanes on defense, getting steals that can lead to easy buckets for his team. He is a good shooter, and that forces a defender to respect him. He knows when to drive or when to shoot depending on a defender’s closeout. He competed in the NBPA Top 100 Camp and the Under Armor Association, where he was very impressive at both sites.
The rawest player we have yet to speak of is up next, and his name is Mohamed Bamba. That’s not a knock on Bamba at all, as it shows out much room he has to grow. He has ridiculously long arms, and uses them to corral rebounds, get buckets, and snatch steals. The more Bamba plays, the better he will get, and hopefully he will add a quality jump shot to his arsenal. He has plenty of college coaches looking at him despite the rawness of his game, showing just how much potential he truly has. His defense can translate to the college game right away. He spent time with the PSA Cardinals this spring on the EYBL circuit, gaining valuable experience.
