2025 City Rocks Hope 17u Player Profiles
The City Rocks Hope is a Rochester, NY based grassroots basketball program was started by Chris Fox two years ago in partnership with the renown, Albany, NY based City Rocks EYBL program. HOPE is a non profit, non-sponsored program that has become Rochester’s leading AAU youth basketball program. HOPE provides year-round basketball instruction and experience. They have teams 11u to 17u playing at highly competitive levels, and also offer a developmental program for kids under 10. 80% of their athletes reside in the city of Rochester. 50% of program’s participants receive financial aid. They have already placed >25 athletes onto college teams. The program is 100% run by volunteers, and 10 members of their coaching staff played college basketball.
HOPE is committed to creating well rounded players on and off the basketball court. In addition to excellent basketball training, they provide quality tutoring and mentoring opportunities for their student athletes. As a result, HOPE players are being accepted at a variety of local private high schools where they can reach their full potential, as athletes, students and citizens.
The 17u team is coached by John McCauley. Coach McCauley is the boys’ varsity basketball coach position at Bishop Kearney High. McCauley graduated from the BK Class of 2003, where he was the starting point guard for legendary Coach Ed Nietopski. McCauley has over a decade of high school and AAU basketball coaching experience. Two years ago McCauley led the City Rocks 15u EYBL team to the Peach Jam Championship where they lost to Team CP3. Now with the ability to coach in his hometown of Rochester, he eliminates the 3 hour commute to Albany.
The team competed this spring and summer on the Nike EYCL circuit. They finished 26-7 overall, 12-5 on the Nike EYCL Circuit, and 7-1 at Peach Jam Invitational, losing in the championship the NY Lightning 70-62. At Peach Jam, they beat high profile programs Alabama Fusion (EYBL), Boo Williams (EYBL), Jett Academy (EYBL), UPLAY (EYBL), Legynds (Trae Young and Blake Griffin’s new Nike team) and Rens United (#1 in EYCL). Of the eight teams still playing on the final day at Peach Jam, they were the only non-sponsored team.
The 2025 City Rocks Hope 17u players are profiled below.
#1 Avery Council (2026) 5’10 point guard, Rush Henrietta High - Council is a super-explosive point guard. He can score from all 3 levels, plays with great pace and feel. He finishes way above the rim.
#2 Seimir Roberson (2026) 6’2 point guard, Catholic Central High - Roberson is cat quick and very, very explosive at the rim. He has an extremely smooth game overall. He is very comfortable attacking pressure and shooting the ball from deep. He is as good as they get defensively putting full court putting pressure on ball handlers.
#3 Jalen Taggart (2027) 6’4 guard, Putnam Science Academy (CT) - Taggart is the best shooter in the region. He becomes an absolute sniper soon as he crosses half court. He is very good off the dribble and in the mid-range as well. He is very athletic as well and finishes above the rim with ease in traffic. Has been offered by Gardner Webb.
#5 Cam Blankenberg (2027) 6’8 wing, Winchendon School (MA) - 2025 BCANY Rochester All Star. Two-time All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year, as a sophomore and junior at Wayne High (NY). Wayne won two Section V titles and made two trips to the state final four behind Blankenberg. He is do-it-all player who averaged 28.7 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks as a junior. He became the school’s All Time scoring leader as a junior. Blankenberg is versatile in that he can play the 2-3-4 spot on offense and guard 1-4 on defense. He is a super-efficient scorer often needing 3 dribbles or less. He has a very high basketball IQ evidence in cuts off the ball and timing of defensive rotations. 3.7 gpa
#10 Carson Chaffee (2026) 6’5 guard, Canisteo-Greenwood High - Chaffee is a very versatile and athletic wing. He is a great catch and shoot scorer, and also scores from mid-range and the post. He is as tough as they come, and plays with a limitless motor.
#14 Amir Haddaq (2026) 6’10 forward, Fork Union Military Academy (VA) - Haddaq is a super athletic big man. He is both an elite rim protector and finisher. He is only just scratching the surface of how good he can be.
#22 Jah Reaves (2028) 6’2 guard, Frederick Gunn School (CT) - Reaves got the call up from HOPE’s 15u EYBL team, and played a huge role in the team’s success. He did all the little things like competing, defending, rebounding, timely shot making, and was also a great presence on the bench.
#23 U’Mier Graham (2026) 6’8 small forward, Knox School - Graham is a do-it-all basketball player. He can guard 1-5 He is a rim protector and a defensive anchor. He is a vocal leader on the team. Offensively, he seemingly has no limits. He is comfortable on the wing or with his back-to-the-basket. He is also an aggressive finisher around the basket.
He is a great rebounder on both ends.
#33 Landon Washburn (2027) 6’7 wing, Honeoye High - Washburn was called up from the 16u EYCL team. He is a skilled, versatile and tough wing that can score in any way. He is very comfortable attacking the basket or as a catch-and-shoot option as well. He is physical in attacking rebounds.