Slam Dunk showcased above-the-rim action from many of nation’s top programs

The 2017 edition of Slam Dunk to the Beach may not have delivered a moment of sheer roundball bliss like last year’s 20-dunk, buzzer-beating barnburner between Westtown (Pa.) and Gray Collegiate (S.C.), but that once-in-a-millennium game set the bar somewhere in the stratosphere. This season’s tourney more than lived up to its name, showcasing above-the-rim action from many of the top programs and players in America.

Fans were treated to the coolest cat this side of the Pink Panther in Duke-bound blue-chipper Cam Reddish, who dropped 56 effortless points for Westtown over two games at the Big House. He was joined by fellow top 10 senior Simi Shittu, a powerful point-forward who dunked seven times and did his best Ben Simmons impression in a pair of Vermont Academy (Vt.) victories. Nazreon Reid, a 6-foot-10 forward from Roselle Catholic (N.J.), the No. 18 senior in the nation, pulled off a baseline spin move into a one-handed throwdown that fans will never forget.

Meanwhile, Immaculate Conception combo guard Jalen Carey did his darnedest to overshadow the big guys, flashing a sweet stroke and endless energy on the way to a Slam-best 30 points per game. Westtown forward Jake Forrester lifted off like Apollo 11 and nicked his ‘fro on the rim during an inbounds alley-oop.

Delaware’s own Caleb Matthews posted the first triple-double in modern (2014-17) Slam history and later helped Smyrna put a scare into national power Roselle Catholic. Vermont Academy, Gonzaga (D.C.) and St. John’s (D.C.), blessed with rosters full of high-major talent, played unselfish, efficient, beautiful basketball straight from Gregg Popovich’s playbook. I could ramble on for days about the high-caliber talent (75-plus Division I prospects) on display, but words just wouldn’t do it justice. If you were fortunate enough to attend this year, file the mental images somewhere between “Holy mother of God!” and “What did I just witness?” in your memory bank. If not, I’d suggest reserving tickets to next year’s Slam as soon as possible.  

All-Tournament Team

Jalen Carey
G Immaculate Conception (N.J.)
30.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 17-34 fg, 9-15 3fg, 17-17 ft

Jake Forrester
F Westtown (Pa.)
22.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.0 bpg, 18-22 fg, 8-12 ft

Simi Shittu
F Vermont Academy (Vt.)
19.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.5 spg, 12-19 fg, 1-2 3fg, 13-17 ft

Juwan Gary
F Gray Collegiate (S.C.)
29.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.5 spg, 23-41 fg, 3-10 3fg, 9-12 ft

Cam Reddish
G Westtown (Pa.)
28.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 spg, 13-29 fg, 6-15 3fg, 24-24 ft

Terrance Williams
F Gonzaga (D.C.)
22.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.5 spg, 17-26 fg, 6-10 3fg, 4-6 ft

Nazreon Reid
F Roselle Catholic (N.J.)
19.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 14-27 fg, 11-12 ft

Jason Gibson
G Sidwell Friends (D.C.)
23.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 spg, 16-35 fg, 7-18 3fg, 7-8 ft

Khalil Whitney
F Roselle Catholic (N.J.)
20.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 spg, 15-24 ft, 6-8 3fg, 5-7 ft

Mason Hooks
C Harvard-Westlake (Calif.)
17.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 28-40 fg, 14-17 ft

Deshawn Bartley
G Dillard (Fla.)
18.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 spg, 14-19 fg, 5-7 3fg, 4-4 ft

Jaymeir Garnett
F Smyrna (Del.)
24.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 19-37 fg, 4-8 3fg, 7-11 ft

Ian Robertson
F Cape Henlopen (Del.)
25.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 18-32 fg, 1-8 3fg, 14-19 ft

Caleb Matthews
G Smyrna (Del.)
21.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 17-38 fg, 5-17 3fg, 4-4 ft

Bryce Golden
F Saint James (Md.)
16.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 13-22 fg, 2-4 3fg, 4-4 ft

*minimum two games played to qualify for all-tournament honors

Kenny’s awards

MVP: Jalen Carey, Immaculate Conception (N.J.) - The 6-foot-3 Carey, a Syracuse commit, will feel right at home in the high-octane ACC. Carey, ESPN’s 34th-ranked senior, knows how to score and does it in bunches. He lived up to that reputation in Immaculate Conception’s 62-56 win over Saint James (Md.), breaking open a tight game by scoring 13 straight Lions points during a three-minute third-quarter burst. Carey finished with 33 points on 5-for-8 three-point shooting in that one and was just as impressive the next day, when he poured in 27 points and four triples in the Lions’ 63-59 victory over Archbishop Wood (Pa.). Carey averaged a tournament-best 30 points per game, hit 50 percent of his field goals, went 9-for-15 from long distance, and converted all 17 of his free throws.

Best team: Vermont Academy (Vt.) - Although nationally ranked Gonzaga (D.C.) arrived in Lewes with all the buzz and left with a pair of wins, it was the Wildcats who raised eyebrows with their disciplined, selfless brand of basketball. Armed with at least nine Division I-bound players, Alex Popp’s squad made light work of highly regarded Sidwell Friends (D.C.) and Gray Collegiate (S.C.). In a 71-51 opening-day romp over Sidwell, senior forward and future NBA lottery pick Simi Shittu scored 21 points and hauled in 11 rebounds for Vermont Academy, which shot an otherworldly 56 percent from the floor and tallied 19 assists on 27 field goals. Sophomore guard Symir Torrence was everywhere for the Lions, collecting 16 points, eight boards, four assists, and three steals, while junior gunner Tyler Bertram netted four three-pointers. Matched up with Gray and top-50 forward Juwan Gary the next day, Vermont Academy picked up right where it left off. After Shittu went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter, the Lions turned to 6-foot-9 center Daniel Schreier for scoring punch off the bench. The Manhattan signee responded with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Shittu added 17 points in just 11 minutes on the floor. Vermont matched its Day One effort with 56 percent field-goal shooting and assisted on 18 of its 25 makes. Those Warriors-level numbers earned the Lions the “Best Team” nod over Gonzaga, St. John’s (D.C.), and Westtown (Pa.).    

Best game: Westtown (Pa.) 72, Dillard (Fla.) 68 (Day Two) - After seven blowouts in the first 10 Slam Dunk games, fans loved this dogfight between the blue-chip recruits of Westtown and the blue-collar public-school kids from the Sunshine State. Senior forward and fan favorite Jake Forrester lit up the Big House for 25 points and senior wing Cameron Reddish added 24 as the Moose held off the feisty Panthers in a back-and-forth affair. Westtown calmly sank all 16 of its fourth-quarter free throws, 10 of them by Reddish, to nullify an inspired effort from defending Florida 7A champ Dillard. Senior guard Bryce Oliver battled the Duke-bound Reddish all night and finished with 20 points for the Panthers, who also got 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from junior guard Deshawn Bartley. The lead changed hands 15 times, and both teams shot 50 percent or better from the floor in what was surely the Slam’s most entertaining and cleanly played game. Forrester added to his ever-growing fan base with three dunks and six loud blocks.