The finale of the spring for the NY2LA tournaments did not disappoint. To finish off their spring, many of the player in the 17U division brough their best play. Here are the standouts from the weekend. 

Sebastian Blachut – 2022 – G – Chicago Lockdown
An athletic guard that plays well with or without the ball. He can score it on all three levels, but he excelled at attacking the basket. He is strong with the ball in his hands and getting into the paint often. Blachut finished it well around the basket but also distributed the ball nicely with both good vision and passing ability. 

Josie Gillie – 2022 – F – Movement Hoops
A strong and physical forward that plays with great energy on the floor. He stands at 6’5” but plays much bigger on the floor with all his attributes. He completely overpowered defenders to score it extremely well around the basket and can also drive to the basket. Gillie is a great finisher who completed on multiple and one plays. 

Joe Jendusa – 2022 – G – WI RAP
Jendusa put on a shooting clinic over the course of the tournament. With the great form on his jumper and ability to get his shot off with little room, he was able to his shots at a high rate. He is an active player who moves well without the ball looking for his shot but can also play with the ball in his hands with good handle and ability to create for his teammates. 

Caiden Lecce – 2022 – G – DF Elite
A skilled all-around point guard that showed a high IQ and quick decision-making ability with the ball. While he’s a pass first guard that distributes the ball very well, he still showed a good ability to get to the basket and finish as well as hit some outside jumpers. He uses his great handle to get into the paint often and create with tremendous passing ability. 

Ben Olson – 2022 – G/F – WI Swing
Olson is a 6’4” wing that contributes in a number of ways on both ends. He plays with good physicality and scored the ball in a number of ways. Olson attacks the basket hard and finishes at a high rate around the paint but also shoots the ball at a high percentage spotting up from the perimeter. He also is a very active defender that matches up nicely with multiple positions. 

Carter Olson – 2022 – G – WI Swing
An energetic and athletic point guard who plays well with the ball in his hands attacking the defense. Olson has good quickness with the ball and was often getting into the paint and into the mid-range to score. He shoots it well off the dribble as well to finishing strongly off his drives. The point guard also showed a nice ability to see the floor on the move. 

Pierce Shirk – 2023 – G – Cream City Southeast
The 6’3” wing guard showed a great ability to put up big points and does it in multiple ways. He plays well with the ball attacking the basket as he uses his good moves to beat defenders or just overpower them to get to the basket and finish. As well, Shirk is a knockdown shooter when spotting up on the perimeter.  

Najashi Tolefree – 2022 – G/F – Movement Hoops
The 6’6” wing has good all-around skills and showed the ability to get a lot done on the floor. Tolefree showed a good ability to score it on all three levels but also distribute it at a high level. He’s at his best attacking the basket and finishes everything around the paint but is always scanning the floor looking to move the ball on his drives. With his strong play he was able to lead Movement Hoops to the 17U championship. 

Camron Yahnke – 2022 – G/F – WI Dynasty
A strong guard/forward who uses his body well and scored it often going to the basket. Yahnke handles the ball well and goes hard to the basket and overpowers opposing defenders to get into the paint and finish right through them. He plays with a big motor and was one of the more active players at the 17U level of the tournament.