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Fall 48 Invite analysis

William Avery’s Fall 48 Invite featured some of the CSRA’s top players with a few of the surrounding areas’ standouts sprinkled in. While there was no cell service in the gym to recap the action live on Twitter, I was still able to take some quick notes. Many players will be broken down into further detail on this week’s Spielin’ & Dealin’ Podcast.

Back in Action

The Augusta Chronicle’s reigning Player of the Year, Aquinas’ Tre Gomillion, looked like he didn’t miss a step. Just a week removed from receiving clearance to return to action after meniscus surgery, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard had coaches in attendance turning their heads with his new trimmed down look, improved outside shot and his trademark explosion to the basket. The 2016 Class A-Private All-State Second Teamer registered 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in his usual stat sheet stuffing fashion. Gomillion attacked the basket and finished around the rim with power. More importantly, he went 2-of-4 with his jump shot, hitting a three to open up play. His communication on defense and ability to clog gaps as a help defender was also a big improvement from last year.

Glenn Hills Gang

Timmy Sellers, Tim Williamson and Tre Whitehead played on separate teams, but will join forces at Glenn Hills on what should be one of the area’s best teams and a threat to make a deep run in Class AA.

Sellers, 6-foot-8 with a South Carolina State offer, didn’t get many post touches but showed nimble footwork when working the baseline with a propensity to finish on the other side and use the rim to shield defenders. He finished with six points, eight rebounds and one block. His final hoop of the game came on a coast-to-coast drive after snagging a rebound off the glass. That kind of versatility should make him a popular name among Low Majors his senior season.

Williamson, who transfers in from Hephzibah for his senior season, is a 6-foot-4 guard that can help out on both ends. He put up 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block in a balanced game. Williamson is best at getting to the lane, but he also knocked down a few outside shots including a three. His length makes him an intriguing defender on the perimeter.

Whitehead, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, has one of the highest ceilings in Augusta. The athletic slasher has a nice feel for the game which helped him post 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal in a track meet. If Whitehead can develop a three-point shot, he has a chance to pick up some Division-I interest before all is said and done.

Baldwin Braves

A slew of Braves joined the fun from Milledgeville and did not disappoint. 2019 shooting guard Donte Justice was in attack mode from the opening tip, showing that he is wired to score. The football standout is quick off the bounce and hunts his shots. He drilled four three-pointers en route to a loud 23 points, four rebounds and three assists.

2018 guard Brenden Robertson scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half. Known for his effort and motor, Robertson wore down his opponents adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. He is someone that smaller college programs should check into.

Junior point guard Torez Hicks had 11 points, two assists and three steals in his outing. Hicks wasn’t as flashy scoring the ball as his teammates were, but Hicks brought energy and clearly took pride in his defense. It isn’t often that you see a point guard set up to attempt to take three charges in a showcase camp. Little things like that are what win ball games and hopefully get you noticed by college coaches – I know I took notice.

Good Guards

Donald Henley Jr. (2018) of Laney and Richard Crawford III (2019) of Greenbrier looked good. Henley is small in stature (5’9”) but the tough point man has jets. He can race down the floor and create offense for himself and others. He tallied nine points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in a win. Crawford was smooth in his game and did a little bit of everything, totaling 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Crawford has a sweet jumper and knows when to pick his spots. He gives me reason to believe that Greenbrier should be much improved this season.

Stock Riser

Many of the aforementioned players from the Fall 48 Invite have been regulars on Sandy’s Spiel, but one player who hasn’t seen the publicity yet and now has earned it, is Grovetown senior point guard Eric Graham II. The 6-foot-1 guard was one of today’s best performers. He scored the first 11 points of the game for his team and finished with 18 points, three rebounds, five assists and one block. The 6-foot-1 guard isn’t overly intimidating with a nice smile full of metal but the senior showed he has some bite to him.

Graham played with patience and composure and was crafty and reliable with the ball in his hands. He knocked down contested jumpers, including three from distance. Graham isn’t a player that will ‘wow’ you, but he was on the top of his game in front of Augusta State and a handful of other schools. It was a good first step to get himself on the radar to play at the next level and if he can be a leader on a team that won just 5 games a year ago and help the Warriors to the postseason, his career should be deemed a successful one.

Tune into Spielin’ & Dealin’ later this week for more in-depth analysis on more players from all six teams

Top 2018 Stock Risers

Landers Nolley – Langston Hughes – Nike South Beach

From Lovejoy to Curie, Ill. to Langston Hughes, the well-traveled wing has found a home in Fairburn. The 6-foot-6 shooter now has two state titles under his belt after winning one in Chicago and carrying the Panthers to a Class AAAAAA championship this year. His monster season earned him a First Team All-State selection along with Class AAAAAA Player of the Year honors. Nolley averaged upwards of 25 points and 7 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 52-point outburst on November 22 where he drilled nine three-pointers. Nolley has played his way into the discussion as one of the best shooters in the nation. While he’s not a freakish athlete, Nolley has High Major written all over him with his ability to score the ball.

Will Richardson – Liberty County – E1T1

At 31.4 points per game, the smooth 6-foot-4 combo guard led Georgia in scoring. Richardson scored over 40 points six times including a 55-point showing against Bradwell Institute. Richardson took his game to the next level after scoring 19 points in last year’s state championship victory over Jonesboro. Richardson averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals as a sophomore before tacking on 8.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.6 steals and taking the lead scoring duties over from Auburn-signee Davion Mitchell this year. With his senior season approaching, big things will be expected out of Richardson as he will be asked to not only get the job done on both sides of the floor, but to become a team leader as well. SEC and ACC schools have started to push for Richardson’s services.

Tye Fagan – Upson-Lee – Middle Georgia Supersonics

It took a while but Tye Fagan has finally cemented himself as one of Georgia’s top dogs. Fagan was named Class AAAA Player of the Year after averaging 21 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals, leading Upson-Lee to a perfect undefeated season and state championship. The smooth 6-foot-3 lefty is best when slashing his way to the basket but also excels as a playmaker, driving and dishing to get his teammates involved. He has shown the ability to take his man into the post and has good foot work around the basket while also having a nice mid-range game. Fagan can be streaky from beyond the arc, but still projects to be a competent outside shooter. Defensively, Fagan is long armed and active on the perimeter, routinely picking up deflections and steals. Middle Tennessee State has been the first to offer, but High Major schools have begun to show interest. While he doesn’t play on a travel shoe team, Fagan’s team-first devotion has already produced one state title and with another year playing year-round with Zyrice Scott and Travon Walker, another state title and more scholarship offers are likely on the way.

Tre Gomillion – Aquinas – Southern Kings

The Aquinas Fighting Irish finished 26-2 this year in Class A-Private and took a trip to the Elite Eight. The Region 7-South Player of the Year and Second Team All-State selection was a workhorse for Coach Darren Douglas. Still young for his age at 16, the “Man Child” wing is starting to gain statewide recognition. With a frizzy ponytail and a linebacker’s body, the 6-foot-4 bowling ball plays with a junkyard dog’s mentality, not afraid to mix it up and punish smaller guards; his downhill assaults usually end in power finishes. He averaged 20 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals as Augusta’s most underappreciated superstar. His non-stop work ethic has already poured over into the offseason, running over 20 miles a week and taking over 2,000 jumpers to improve his outside shot. Don’t be surprised to see Gomillion’s name surface on the D-I recruiting level by the end of this summer.

Rashun Williams – Calhoun County – Georgia Stars

The 6-foot-6 wing was impressive as anyone during state championship week as he went for 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. Since he plays in Class A-Public, it’s hard to track his progress as easily as it is with larger schools. Even though he’s not playing the caliber of talent that the higher classifications see, Williams, the Class A-Public Player of the Year, still does what a potential D-I player should do: dominate.  The Region 1 Player of the Year was aggressive in the title game and gave fellow D-I hopeful Clarence Jackson fits when trying to slow him down. Williams attacked relentlessly from the left wing and got to the basket at will. He knocked down two three-pointers in the game, the last part of his offensive repertoire he needs to shore up before establishing himself as a big time next level talent. With another year on the circuit with the Georgia Stars, Williams will be able to test himself against athletes of the same ilk which will help his progression.