Five of the stars of FBC United 17u
The Prime event Finals 2022: A strong finish to club season; FBC United 17u impresses most!
Presented by Premier Basketball, The Prime event Finals (4th annual) was held August 20-21, 2022, at Fieldhouse USA in Mansfield, Texas. From all over the USA, 65 club teams ranging in age from middle school to rising seniors participated in this three-game guaranteed (Some teams played four in reaching a bracket final.) in a combination of divisions that were pre-set games or bracket play. One goal of the event was to give teams from the various leagues (Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Select 40, total independents) to compete on the court. Although a NCAA Division 1 “dead period” event, there were a very small number of NAIA college coaches present along with about ten regional and national scouting services.
FBC continues to impress
FBC is short for Finest Basketball Club. For several years now, FBC (about 30 teams based out of Georgia with branches in 13 states) has been one of the most successful clubs at the 17U level. This year its crown jewel FBC United 17u team lost just once for the entire spring and summer and that being in the multiple overtime UAA (Under Armour) 17U final to a strong West Virginia Thunder team.
At this event, FBC United 17u defeated the Wisconsin Lakers 2023 White 90-57. The Lakers had won a division of the Select 40 league. Next, the team defeated a talented Jason Kidd Select 17U (based out of northern California) 81-33. As an aside, NBA Dallas Coach and team sponsor Jason Kidd was present to watch his various teams on Saturday. Finally, on Sunday, this FBC squad defeated ProSkills 17u EYBL 63-23. In April, ProSkills won the top division of the prestigious Nike EYBL 17u division at the Boo Williams Invitational.
During the July evaluation period, I approached a Power Five coach and asked “how many players on FBC United 17u were not future Power 5 recruits?” The answer was “zero!”
What makes them so good is having quality athletes with high levels of skill at all positions plus quality reserves off the bench. The team plays hard at both ends often using its defense to get run-outs for fast-break points. These gaps may then be followed by a period that the talented opponent (such as the three above) play even with them for a while before being gapped again. As this process repeats, eventually the score develops into a blowout
As a tribute to FBC United 17u, five of their many talented players (uniform number in parenthesis) are recognized alphabetically before proceeding to the general list. See photo above to match player to write-ups. Home state in parenthesis.
Jaloni Cambridge (#22), 5-6, point guard, 2024, The Ensworth School (Tennessee)
Cambridge was the MaxPreps sophomore of the 2022-2023 season and starting point guard (and all-tournament) for the USA U17 FIBA champions. She can do it all at both ends of the court.
Essence Cody (#11), 6-3, post, 2023, Valdosta High School (Georgia)
Committed to Alabama, Cody posts up well on the block with physicality, runs the court more than adequately and has some face-up game.
Joyce Edwards (#12), 6-2, forward, 2024, Camden High School (South Carolina)
Edwards is one of the very top 2024 prospects in the USA. Over the last year, she has added perimeter range to what was already a strong game in the paint.
Reniya Kelly (#10), 5-6, point guard, 2023, Hoover High School (Alabama)
Committed to North Carolina, Kelly can handle it, shoot it and attack the basket at a high level. She is the leading candidate for Miss Basketball in Alabama for the coming season.
Courtney Ogden (#40), 6-0, small forward, 2023, Westminster School (Georgia)
Committed to Stanford, Ogden is a quality athlete who can get out and finish on the fast break and score at the mid-range in the half-court setting. High IQ comes in the package at no extra charge. Cody (above) and Ogden should be lead candidates for Georgia Miss Basketball for the coming high school season.
Below are players from other teams that impressed at The Prime event Finals. For some of the younger ones playing up one to two years in competition, potential as much as production is what we were looking at.
Players are listed alphabetically within class with height, position, club team, school with its state location in parenthesis. Quality players previously written up during this summer were passed on here even if the player showed well.
2023
Grace Grocholski, 5-10, forward, Wisconsin Lakers 2023 White, Kettle Moraine High School (Wisconsin)
Committed to West Virginia, Grocholski is a bit undersized (but physical) for her in-paint scoring but also can step out on to the perimeter selecting her shots wisely. She helped her team go 2-1 at the event.
Skylar Jones, 5-11, small forward, Mac Irvin Lady Fire Godfather, Whitney Young High School (Illinois)
A lefty with Power 5 upside, Jones is a quality athlete who can attack the basket and shoot the three.
Julianna Lamendola, 6-0, guard/forward, ProSkills 17U EYBL, Coppell High School (Texas)
Committed to Indiana, Lamendola’s best attribute may be her versatility scoring in and out of the paint with good movement without the ball. On D, she is not afraid to take a charge.
2024
Jordan Lee, 5-10, forward, Jason Kidd 2023, St. Mary’s of Stockton High School (California)
Lee has been considered a Power 5 prospect for some time. What seems to be improving is her handles and ability to score on the perimeter not just working her way into the paint.
Eris Lester, 5-10, shooting guard, Miami Suns Select EYBL, Orange Park High School (Florida)
Word on Lester is that her game has grown from being promising athlete to one with more skill showing athletic driving ability and improving range. She is also active on defense. Power 5 schools should be monitoring.
Eva Love, 5-9, guard/forward, NM Clippers 17U, La Cueva High School (New Mexico)
Love stood out as she was in constant motion initiating the offense on one possession and playing off the ball attacking the rim on a later possession. Word in the gym is that she has at least a handful of mid-major offers.
Teagan Mallegni, 6-0, wing, Wisconsin Lakers 2023 White, McFarland High School (Wisconsin)
Playing up a year, Mallegni still stood out where older Power 5 prospects were present. Very mobile, she showed the ability to attack the rim and hit perimeter shots.
Tamya Smith, 6-0, power forward, Alabama Southern Starz-Bush Nike EYBL 16u, Pleasant Grove High School (Alabama)
On a team starting three other players with Power 5 offers, Smith (no Power 5 offers as yet) looked as good as any of them as an above average athlete able to drive, shoot from the perimeter and rebound in helping her team with a division (4-0) at the event.
2025
Caliyah Devillasee, 5-6, point guard, Elevate Elite 2025, Good Counsel High School (Maryland)
A nice athlete with handles and Power 5 upside, Devillasee can attack the basket from either side.
Taliyah Henderson, 6-0, power forward, AZ Supreme 2025, Salpointe Catholic High School (Arizona)
A strongly built lefty, Henderson showed a nice face-up stroke in and outside the key.
Monique Mitchell, 5-8, shooting guard, Indiana Blaze, South Bend Washington High School (Indiana)
Mitchell plays on a a high school team and a club team where others are often the headliners. Here she showed a solid division 1 upside with a good motor, driving ability and hitting a three. Defensively, she showed good “ups” in blocking a shot.
2026 – all below should be monitored at Power 5 level
Amari Byles, 6-2, forward, Banshees Sadler, DeSoto High School (Texas)
A quality athlete with advanced attacking ability for her grade, Byles can play on the perimeter or in the paint.
Devin Cosgriff, 5-8, shooting guard, Jason Kidd Select 2024, Bishop O’Dowd High School (California)
Playing up two grades, Cosgriff, showed nice variety in skills including three-ball, pull-up jumper and ability to enter ball to post (an often overlooked skill).
Amayah Garcia, 5-10, shooting guard, Team Lex Prime, DeSoto High School (Texas)
Another incoming athletic DeSoto player with Power 5 upside, Garcia can slash to the rim but has a perimeter stroke that needs to be respected.
Sanai Green, 5-9, shooting guard, Elevate Elite 2025, The Steward School (Virginia)
A quality athlete, Green showed a nice spin move in attacking the rim with ability to finish in traffic.
Natalie Kussow, 5-10, guard, Wisconsin Lakers 2025/2026, Arrowhead High School (Wisconsin)
One can argue if this lefty is a shooting guard or point guard as she has perimeter stoke, handles and above average court vision.
2027 – these three played up a few years having impressive moments
Caroline Bradley, 6-3, center, Mavs Elite 2025, Oak Grove Middle School (Louisiana)
For one so young, Bradley showed some nice skill in lower paint with adequate mobility for height
Symora Damon, 5-6, point guard, Example Sports 15U, Example Academy (Illinois)
What most impressed in this very young guard was her combination of quickness with advanced ball handling ability for her age.
Miciah Fusilier, 6-2, forward, Mavs Elite 2025, Camden Middle School (Arkansas)
What stood out playing up with older players was the agility and poise that Fusilier demonstrated while still needing to fill out to come closer to reaching her potential.
2023 - #20 Julianna Lamendola of ProSkills 17u EYBL
2024 - #11 Tamya Smith of Alabama Southern Starz 16U - Bush Nike EYBL
2025 - #4 Caliyah Devillasee of Elevate Elite 2025
2026 - #23 Natalie Kussow of Wisconsin Lakers 2025/2026
2027 - #4 Miciah Fusilier of Mavs Elite 2025
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