With the completion of this year’s NY2LA Association calls for some well-deserved honors. The 17U level had a remarkable level of talent that included several nationally ranked players in addition to handfuls of scholarship players. Here are the players that were selected for the first team voted upon by the NY2LA staff. 

Xavier Booker – 2023 – PF – George Hill All Indy

This year on the Association, Booker made his case as the top ranked player nationally amongst the 2023 class and cemented his spot on this list. He is an elite talent that consistently played at a high level in all his games each tournament this year. There are few players out there like him at 6’11” with great length and the ability to make plays off the dribble and consistently knock down threes. He scored the ball consistently well and was a dominant force, look for Booker to do the same in a Spartans jersey in the future. 

Garwey Dual – 2023 – G – George Hill All Indy

The second member of George Hill All Indy to receive first team honors. While he entered the spring as a bit of an unknown talent, he quickly rose into a top one hundred level national recruit for the 2023 class. Not just one of the top two-way guards on the NY2LA Association but the entire nation as well. He proved to be an elite defender with his length and quickness as well to his tenacious play. Dual went from zero division one offers to a long list of them and ultimately committing to Providence College. 

Owen Freeman – 2023 – F/C – MidPro Academy

Freeman is one of two members of the dominant 17U MidPro team that received this first team honors. Throughout the spring and summer, he was one of the most dominant and impactful big men with all he can do on the floor. Not only can Freeman bully opponents down in the paint at 6’9” with his strong build but also the agility and skills to play out on the perimeter. Whether it was his scoring, rebounding, or defense, the Iowa commit was a huge reason behind all the success for his team this season. 

Corey Hadnot – 2023 – PG – Team Temple

The point guard out of Texas only continued to improve each and every tournament this year to battle his way into first team honors versus a great deal of competition. With the play of Hadnot, Team Temple was one of the better teams at the 17U level of the association which included a semifinals appearance to end the season at the Final Chapter. The high scoring, playmaking point guard has continued to draw greater college interest over the past few months earning himself offers from Purdue Fort Wayne, San Jose State, Texas Rio Grande Valley, and others. 

Marcus Hall – 2023 – G/F – Wisconsin Swing

Hall is another player on this list who was one of the top stock boosters in the entire region. He entered the spring without a single scholarship offer and ended the season with not only several division two offers but four division one offers as well. With his play this summer, including leading his Swing team to the title game of the NY2LA Association championship, he solidified his spot as a division one player. In the final tournament of the summer, Hall was playing his best basketball and had college coaches buzzing with his play. 

Brock Harding – 2023 – PG – MidPro Academy

As well to his inclusion on this first team list, Harding was also awarded MVP honors. He was the floor general and engine behind this MidPro squad that captured both the NY2LA Association and TGBA championships this summer. He ended the season in a fitting measure, hitting a buzzer beating pull up three to capture the NY2LA Association crown. With his incredible elusiveness, playmaking ability, elite vision, and shot making ability, Harding consistently played at an extremely high level. The Iowa commit is one of the more uniquely talented point guards in the entire nation. 

Gehrig Normand – 2023 – G/F – 3D Empire

Not only a first team selection, but Normand was also voted as the top scorer on the 17U NY2LA Association. An elite scorer with his shot making in addition to his ability to make plays off the dribble. He is a true three level scorer with tremendous bounce to his game. He was the leader all season for one of the top teams on the Association, 3D Empire. With his play over the past few months, he earned himself offers from Auburn, Illinois, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Wisconsin, among several others before making his commitment to Michigan State recently.