Elite Junior Sports The Invite
Analysis

Elite Junior Sports – The Invite: Top Performers

2023 5-7 PG Damien Smith – Chattooga
No one turned more heads at camp than Head himself. Cursed by not growing since his freshman year, it’s hard to believe the diminutive scoring dynamo is already about to be a senior. Though his height has remained the same, Smith has added muscle to his frame benefiting from football. Damien is known for his deep three-point range and he brought that marksmanship to camp, drilling numerous long balls, but it was his decision making that really impressed. Smith limited any bad field goal attempts and instead did a nice job of drawing in the defense before making the extra pass. On the rare occasion that he did get all the way to the rim, Smith did well using his body to bump into defenders and keep them out of reach of his layup attempts. Head figures again to be among Chattooga’s leading scorers and is established as one of Northwest Georgia’s best shooters.

2024 6-0 PG Zundra Jackson – LaFayette
Just as he has done all offseason, Zundra Jackson scored, scored and scored some more. He finds points from all over the floor using his touch to pepper defenses from the mid-range, the three-point line and around the rim with crafty finishes. When Jackson is engaged, pound-for-pound he’s one of the better point guards in Georgia’s 2024 class.

2025 6-4 W Tre Winters – Adairsville
Long, wiry and athletic, Tre Winters shouldn’t take long to fill the enormous shoes left behind by Tusculum-signee TJ Printup. Winters has an explosion to the rim and enough ball skills to consistently get downhill. He saw big minutes as a freshman, averaging 9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His outside shot may not be a true weapon yet, but it is enough to be respected. Tre’s activity and wingspan give him upside as a multipositional defender.

2023 6-0 G Romo Pace – Cartersville
The lefty has some strength to his frame. He was a streaky shooter that got hot toward the end of camp behind the arc. When Pace is able to avoid overdribbling, he has sneaky good court vision, whizzing in sharp passes.

2024 6-3 G Jayden Foster – Cass
Cass needs a head coach. Whoever gets the job will have a nice piece in place for both the present and future. Jayden Foster is a bright talent. Standing close to 6-foot-3, the wiry guard is a scorer. He likes to use a crossover to get free downhill. Foster is slight of build, but he has the springs to play above the rim. As he adds on more weight and crafts a consistent three-point shot, he will take off. Foster averaged 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals as a sophomore.

2024 6-1 PG D’Marion Floyd – Darlington
Floyd didn’t have an explosive camp offensively, but he is an up-and-coming playmaker with great athleticism and defensive upside. Floyd will play a huge role for the Tigers next season. He was an X-Factor this year; when he played well Darlington could hang with anybody. When Floyd is locked in, he’s using his shiftiness to get into the paint and create. He can hang in the air for tough finishes or use that time to kick out to open shooters. The game really slowed down for D’Marion in Year 2, becoming comfortable leading the offense. His defense should be his calling card no matter what happens on offense. His quickness and leaping abilities help him record steals and rotate over for blocks. Floyd has the tools to become an All-State level point guard.

2025 6-2 W Drew Snyder – Dalton
As we saw at the Sandy’s Spiel Spring Showcase, Drew Snyder has a diverse and growing offensive game. He’s packed with muscle but has a signature floater he uses in traffic which gets a ton of arc. Drew can space the floor with his outside shot. He looked comfortable securing rebounds and pushing in transition on Wednesday.

2024 6-4 F Marcson Bataille – Paulding County
Effort plays get you noticed. Hustling is still cool. Marcson Bataille plays hard. He runs the floor to gobble up any missed shots. He’s a solid rebounder and a good athlete. Long and lanky, Bataille gets off the floor well, finishing with a handful of slams. He’s a glue guy that does the dirty work. With his effort and athleticism, Bataille can be effective in a fast pace system as a quasi-interior presence and solid defender with switchability.