2024 6-5 F Dylan James – Georgia Legacy – River Ridge
Over the past few years, River Ridge has slowly begun to stockpile talent. The latest in the crop is Dylan James. He made an impressive first impression on Saturday as he nearly carried Georgia Legacy to a come from behind win before falling short to Game Elite 67-61. James is a hard-working post that is a rugged rebounder. He battles on the glass and can earn second chances for his team. James scored with both hands inside but what really caught my eye was his stretch ability. In the second half he started to pull defenders away from the hoop and space the floor. Dylan hit a pair of threes and hit a turnaround jumper in between. James’ soft touch and clean release adds an interesting dimension to his game. He finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist. If he benefits from a River Ridge growth spurt like how 7-footer Braden Pierce and 6-foot-9 Jared Russo did at his age, watch out.
2024 5-7 PG Yuta Yamamoto – Georgia Legacy – Chattahoochee
Yuta Yamamoto was the engine that made the Legacy go. He’s a sharp guard that makes plays off the dribble as both a scorer and facilitator. Yamamoto has a strong pull-up jumper and can get to the rim and finish with either hand. He serves as a reliable ball handler that’s able to get others involved. He had 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.
2024 6-4 SG Ricky McKenzie – Game Elite – Walker
Walker is coming. A talented young 2024 class sees a slew of guards lead from the backcourt. Ricky McKenzie could be the best long-term. He has the size and skill to take over games with his ability to slash to the hoop. He’s comfortable attacking from both sides of the floor using either hand. McKenzie can sink the one-dribble pull-up and has range that is growing beyond the three-point line. Over 5 games he averaged 16.2 points. He poured in 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block to open the event.
2024 6-3 SF Cal Liston – Game Elite Orange – Roswell
I was impressed by the toughness Cal Liston played with. A physical combo-forward, Liston loved to attack from the top of the key and drive hard with his right hand. Liston was aggressive getting downhill and would duck his shoulder into the chest of the defender to clear space and finish at the hoop. Liston’s game loosened up to the three-point line. Cal could be an important piece down the road for Roswell as a versatile producer.
2024 6-3 F Ernesto Almonte – Atlanta All-Stars South – Trinity Christian
Ernesto Almonte plays hard and attacks every 50/50 ball as if it belongs to him. The rebounding machine put up 13 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks in a win over Game Elite Orange. Almonte could start fast breaks and push the ball in transition after clearing the glass. He liked to attack off the dribble and launched a handful of threes. Almonte was at his best when he was in the paint, using quick leaps to clean up misses and score inside.