Grassroots Summer Recap: CBC Adidas Elite 17U
This past summer was one heck of a ride for the Colorado Basketball Club’s Adidas Elite 17U team. The team played in the platinum division of the Adidas Circuit and in the top division of all independent tournaments, and more…
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Continue ReadingThis past summer was one heck of a ride for the Colorado Basketball Club’s Adidas Elite 17U team. The team played in the platinum division of the Adidas Circuit and in the top division of all independent tournaments, and more than held its own at every turn. Let’s take a look at some of the squad’s highlights from the summer season.
Tournament Highlights
Overall record: 29-4
Two championships & one finalist
- Champions – Triple Crown Colorado’s Finest, Denver
- Finalist – Super 64, Dallas
- Champions – Adidas Finale, Indianapolis
- Top 5 – Adidas Summer Championships, Atlanta
Adidas Gauntlet Spring – Finished 3-1 for seeding in Adidas tournaments top 10
Arizona Spring Classic – Finished 3-1, reached Final 4
Atlanta Peach Splash – Finished 4-0
Individual Standouts
Jana Van Gytenbeek, 2020, 5-7, PG, Cherry Creek
*Stanford commit
Throughout the summer campaign, Van Gytenbeek was regular written up for her outstanding qualities as a point guard, including leadership, being a team player, not having an attitude, being coachable, playing defense and always going all out. The list goes one. She was named top point guard at the Arizona Spring Classic for her outstanding court awareness and basketball IQ. The soon-to-be senior is a two-time Adidas All-American and was named to the Adidas USA Select Team in both 2018 and 2019. Van Gytenbeek is the No. 1-ranked 2020 player in the Prep Girls Hoops Colorado rankings.
Payton Muma, 2021, PG, 5-9, Highlands Ranch
One of the fastest stock risers in the state of Colorado, Muma went nuts this summer. CBC’s backcourt of her and Van Gytenbeek was simply too much to handle for most clubs they faced this summer. Still an incoming junior at Highlands Ranch High School, Muma can shoot or drive, and willingly dishes the ball to her teammates. Muma (Prep Girls Hoops Colorado’s No. 2 2021) was also named top point guard at the Arizona Spring Classic for her high IQ, as well as her quick speed burst and ability to change directions on a dime. The two-time Adidas All-American has a next-level feel for the game and will continue to turn heads once the prep season arrives.
Cali Clark, 2020, 6-2, F, Cherry Creek
*Colorado State commit
At the Adidas Finale, she chipped in 20 points to help the CBC Elite 17U team win a championship. Clark was also named top post player at the Arizona Spring Classic and impressed all season long as a rebounder with a natural ability to start the transition play. It’s obvious that Clark can finish around the rim and her tenacity to always keep working for extra opportunities doesn’t go unnoticed. Clark (PGH Colorado’s No. 4 2020) was selected to the 2019 Adidas USA Select team.
Makayla Hemingway, 2020, 5-11, SG, Cherokee Trail
*Colorado State commit
Not only did Hemingway (PGH Colorado’s No. 6 2020) stand out as a good rebounder who gives her team second chance points, she dazzled with her ability to shoot the 3-pointer and a smooth pull-up jumper. The Cherokee Trail senior is also a good passer and consistently finds the open player in transition. She averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 4.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game for Cherokee Trail last winter, so her senior season should be a sight to see.
Taylor Ray, 2022, 6-0, SG, Highlands Ranch
By far the youngest player on the team, just making this roster should tell you something about Ray. At 6-foot-2 with a long and lanky frame, this player is a game changer at shooting guard. Prep Hoops Colorado’s No. 3-ranked player in the 2022 class, Ray is always working both ends of the court and is very coachable, and is an offensive threat both on the boards and on the perimeter. She’s tough to shoot over too, and gets her hands on a lot of balls. Ray is a 2019 Adidas All-American.
Notes on the team
- Every game a different player would step up and be an impact player to give the team an advantage.
- CBC’s transition game and shooters created havoc for many teams, generating significant leads, and the team’s swarming defense proved to be a differentiator against bigger teams.
- This team was the talk of the Adidas circuit for its fast transition offense, trapping aggressive defense and strong play throughout the season. They embodied team play, with scoring threats from every position, and overall team discipline.
- Many of these players have been in the CBC program for 6-8 years.
- This team believed that overall team success is built on a combination of parents believing in the process, players trusting the coaches, and a culture of team play.