Recruiting: Michael Porter Jr. makes his case as top 2017 talent

Mokan Elite dominated the PSA Cardinals to win the Peach Jam in front of a plethora of NCAA coaches and recruiting experts.

In front of a jam packed crowd and a national television audience, Michael Porter Jr., Trae Young and Mokan Elite (MO) dominated the PSA Cardinals (NY) from start to finish, 93-56, to capture the Peach Jam title on Sunday.

PSA was out-played in every phase of the game, as they lacked the energy on offense and commitment on the defensive end that was evident from Mokan Elite. Part of the reason for their disappointing showing may have had to do with the effort they expended in their semifinal match-up against John Petty and Team Penny.

The Cardinals were trailing by 20 points at one point in the first half and 18 points at the break before Quade Green took over the game in the second frame, leading his squad to the final.

But there is more to take-away from this result than just the score, a championship and the opportunity for Mokan Elite to eat peaches…for days.

So what did we learn during the two hour showdown?

Michael Porter Jr. makes his case for number one

Porter, a 6’10” small forward from Seattle, WA, recently cut his list down to five schools, Indiana, Missouri, Washington, Oklahoma and Virginia.

But does anyone really believe Porter, who’s dad is an assistant alongside Lorenzo Romar and who’s brother, Jontay, is already committed for the 2018 season, won’t choose Washington?

The bigger question in Porter’s recruitment is whether he will be able to move up from his number four overall ranking in ESPN’s top 100.

Well, Porter made a strong case in the Peach Jam final, scoring 33 points on 12-of-16 shooting and grabbing six boards.

The small forward has terrific size, great athleticism and solid length, but most importantly, he can score from anywhere on the floor. Porter is capable of attacking the basket off the dribble, can finish in transition, can knock down mid-range jumpers at ease and is capable of rising above opponents to drill threes. His moves are smooth and his ability to put the ball in the basket is effortless.

Michael Porter Jr is definitely a name to remember. Smooth but lethal scorer. Putting in work at Nike #PeachJam pic.twitter.com/WpTBaxeYRK
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 10, 2016

Right now, DeAndre Ayton is the number one overall player in the class of 2017, however, if Porter continues to show off his elite offensive skills, there is a good chance we could be talking about the Seattle native as the top player in the class and the potential future number one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Trae Young versus Quade Green

Young is ranked one slot (21st) ahead of Green (22nd) in ESPN’s top 100 for the class of 2017.

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It’s only one game, but Young completely commanded the match-up at the point guard position, while Green vastly struggled on both ends.

The 6’2″, 170 pound Mokan Elite point guard put up 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-6 from downtown. Young is a terrific sharp shooter (you don’t want to give him a lick of space to launch his jumper) with a quick release and unbelievable range. Even though he doesn’t get much publicity for his passing ability, Young can distribute the ball at a high level and is very unselfish.

Meanwhile, Green had an uncharacteristic performance. He had countless turnovers, forced shots and launched threes from well beyond the three point line. Green scored only nine points on 3-of-11 shooting and 3-of-6 from long range, and looked gassed after an impressive performance in the semifinal.

2019 Cole Anthony needs to remain consistent

Anthony was the lone PSA player who had a strong game on Sunday. The son of former NBA player Greg Anthony dropped 16 points, shot 5-of-10 from the field and drilled 50 percent of his threes.

One of the knocks on Anthony is the inconsistency of his jump shot. If he can shoot the ball like he did on Sunday, that would be a major plus for his game.

Next: Breaking down NC State's starting lineup

Remember, Anthony has good size, can play on or off the ball and shows a sense of maturity every time he steps onto the floor. If he can develop that jumper, he will be a standout and possibly a top-10 player in the class of 2019.

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