Sandy's Spiel Shootout Top Performers
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Sandy’s Spiel Shootout Top Performers


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Jeremy Anderson2023 6-3 F Jeremy Anderson – Monroe Area
When you think of Class 3A leading scorers, Jeremy Anderson’s name might not come to mind, but Lil Man has been one of the state’s most consistent scorers this season averaging well over 20 points per game. Anderson does it with his spatial awareness, able to process plays and understand where to be. Jeremy thrives at playing in the dunker spot and stepping in for dump off passes from the Newell brothers. Anderson has a synergy with the playmaking tandem and always presents himself available for any last second dishes. Jeremy doesn’t need many plays called for him. He’s a springy rebounder that scores on putbacks and has a soft touch which extends all the way out to the three-point line. Anderson has a compact stroke which carries over to the foul line where he went 7-9 in Monroe Area’s 67-63 win against Habersham Central. Jeremy’s activity and football toughness makes him an effective defender as well, capable of guarding multiple spots with his lateral speed and quick reflexes. Anderson’s quiet yet serious bid to earning All-State honors has lifted the Purple Hurricanes to No. 5 in the state. He poured in 28 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 3 blocks on Saturday.

Bryce Pittman2023 6-3 W Bryce Pittman – Habersham Central
Even though it didn’t feel like it was Bryce’s very best performance, Pittman was still wildly effective proving just how good he really is, impacting the game in every way imaginable as he collected 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 1 block. Pittman was steady throughout, causing issues with his ability to score through contact as he compiled three And-1s. Bryce was a foul magnet, going 6-10 from the free throw line. He sank a three, hit a baseline jumper and scored on a flex cut as Coach Tommy Yancey implemented him in a variety of ways. The diversity of Pittman’s game along with his motor and athleticism makes the southpaw one of North Georgia’s most dynamic players. D-III schools are aggressively pursuing.

AJ Vinson2023 6-6 C AJ Vinson – Social Circle
The size and strength of AJ Vinson kept Social Circle in the game against Archer, drawing foul after foul inside. The ox of a big man finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 1 assist, using his body as a battering ram to clear out space and score on post ups and putbacks. Vinson does a good job squaring his shoulders and powering into opponents when scoring up close. AJ has a soft touch, capable of hitting the mid-range jumper and spacing the floor out to the three-point line. The lefty has a flat shot from the foul line, but went 8-14. While football is his likely destination in college, Vinson’s play on Saturday proved he could be extremely effective in halfcourt settings.

Elijah Davis2023 6-3 W Elijah Davis – Archer
Archer could never quite land a knockout punch in their 57-52 win over Social Circle, but Elijah Davis was always involved when the Tigers needed a hoop to keep the Redskins at bay. Davis made his living in the high post, playing a pivotal role against the Social Circle 2-3 zone. The lean lefty hit three mid-range jumpers and drilled a corner three on his way to record a team-high 16 points and 3 rebounds. Elijah played with poise whenever the zone collapse around him and was able to elevate for clean looks at the rim. Davis drew fouls inside, going for 7-8 from the charity stripe.

Jax Abernathy2024 6-4 SG Jax Abernathy – Christian Heritage
In a thrilling 58-51 overtime win against Tattnall County, to no surprise it was Jax Abernathy who hit shot after shot to finally extinguish the Warriors’ upset bid. Jax scored from all three levels, drilling three three-pointers and scoring on backdoor cuts, but in overtime when it mattered most Abernathy showed the ability to get to his spots in the mid-range, connecting on a pair of pull-ups jumpers and scoring six of the Lions’ 11 overtime points.  Jax put pressure on the defense by drawing fouls downhill, going 8-9 from the line. While Abernathy’s offense will always draw headlines, his defense was impressive as well sneaking up on Tattnall County with his bursts of quickness and reaction time. Jax tallied 29 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Continuing to prove his level of athleticism to D-I programs will be important in determining what type of offers he lands.

Cash Hare2024 6-4 F Cash Hare – Christian Heritage
Arguably the lubricant to the Christian Heritage machine is none other than Cash Hare. While he may not pack as much of an offensive punch as Jax Abernathy does, Hare is a habitual stat sheet stuffer and one of the best rebounders in the state for his size. Cash is a high IQ point-forward. Though Hare doesn’t necessarily handle the ball like a true point guard, his passing and ability to deliver backdoor dimes to cutting teammates is as good as it gets. Rarely does Hare force plays that aren’t there. He knows when to make touch passes and how much zip to send on his bounce passes which slice up the defense. Hare’s rebounding acumen comes from his knowledge of positioning and his work in the weight room. He possesses a strong frame and can explode vertically for contested rebounds. As far as his offense goes, much like his floor game, Hare is well-rounded. Cash buried a pair of threes, scored on two cuts, had a baseline drive and went 4-6 from the foul line. In total, Hare posted a robust 16 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. D-III programs should start tracking.

Nook Prigeon2023 6-0 G Nook Prigeon – Tattnall County
It was a big stage for Nook Prigeon to play a rare game in the outskirts of Metro Atlanta with junior colleges watching. Coming off a career-high 28 points earlier in the week, the crafty guard had more in the tank finishing with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Nook doesn’t have blinding speed or explosive athleticism, but he’s a tricky cover with how he’s able to create separation and score with his jumper. Prigeon looks to get to his mid-range pull-up and will toss in floaters if he gets deeper into the defense. He has a nice handle which helps him breakdown defender when getting to his spots.

Caleb Taylor2023 6-2 G Caleb Taylor – Lithonia
Caleb Taylor took complete advantage of the Sandy’s Spiel Shootout platform, nabbing his first offer from Dodge City CC after dropping 27 points in front of Head Coach Brad Witherspoon. Taylor got off to a quick start and stayed hot in Lithonia’s 49-47 win over Baldwin. Taylor buried four threes, three coming in the first quarter as he showed deep range and a smooth release. From there, Caleb started attacking off the dribble scoring on pull-ups and floaters. Trailing 38-34 heading into the fourth, Taylor would net eight of the Bulldogs’ 15 points in the frame to secure the victory. With an offer from the nation’s No. 9 ranked JUCO now under his belt, don’t be surprised if more schools start contacting Taylor and his recruitment takes off.

Tremarius Lawrence2024 5-11 G Tremarius Lawrence – Baldwin
With Baldwin missing 37 points per game between Rudolph Satcher and Quamond Dennis, Tremarius Lawrence stepped up and nearly led the Braves to an impressive win against Lithonia. Lawrence finished with 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. The lefty balanced his offensive attack, netting three three-pointers while mixing in pull-up jumpers and drives. Lawrence plays with energy on both sides of the ball and is a sneaky good facilitator when driving.