LakePoint Live
Analysis

LakePoint Live Showcase I: Standouts

Travis Harper2021 6-6 W Travis Harper – Team GA Magic – St. Anne-Pacelli
Wow. Travis “Deuce” Harper won game MVP at the Sandy’s Spiel Showcase this January with a 15-point performance, but to be honest, he was quiet in the second half as the Vikings nearly saw the game slip away. Fast forward six months and Harper left everyone speechless. While it was supposed to be Florida-commit Kowacie Reeves Jr. that was to light it up (which he eventually did), it was Harper who legitimately was unguardable the entire game. The slender swingman drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd with his sky-walking ability and precision shooting. He pumped in 22 points in the first half before finishing with 35 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Harper stayed aggressive for the full 32 minutes with his confidence through the roof. He splashed in 3 threes, knocked down a handful of smooth mid-range jumpers off the bounce and gracefully finished at the rim while floating past defenders. Harper started gaining offers from D-II and Low Major D-I’s this offseason. If he can replicate games even close to this, his recruitment will explode. He averaged 20 points and 5.8 rebounds at the tournament.

Kowacie Reeves2021 6-6 SG Kowacie Reeves Jr. – Team GA Magic – Westside-Macon – Florida
Showing up just three minutes before game time, it took Reeves a little bit to get going vs. NME but once he did, he showed why he’s an SEC-commit. The High Major guard that seemingly sprouts up an inch every time I see him, now flirting with 6-foot-7, poured in 21 of his 29 points in the second half to go along with 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block. Reeves has improved his game every single season and has done everything needed to be regarded as a top prospect. Once a skinny little three-point specialist, then a shooter that could occasionally get to the rim, Reeves is now a multi-dimensional scoring force that can fill it up every way imaginable. Three-pointers off the dribble, elevating over defenders. Check. Shaking his man to get to the rim and finish with authority. Check. Even posting up smaller defenders and hitting turnarounds over top. Check. Reeves splashed in 5 threes as NME had no answer for him once he got cooking. As Reeves adds more mass to his frame and continues to elevate his game aside from his dynamic scoring, the sky could be the ceiling for him.

Miles Kelly2021 6-5 SG Miles Kelly – ATL Hoops – Parkview
Miles Kelly burned down the house with his sharpshooting, pumping in 35 points in a dominant effort against the Atlanta All-Stars. Kelly was incredibly smooth and did whatever he wanted in the 61-49 win, playing at his own pace and never rushing or forcing any shots. He buried 6 threes and went 7-7 from the line. Kelly also grabbed 7 rebounds. He needed almost no space to pull from deep and got a majority of his offense by creating separation. It was a huge statement game for Kelly. He averaged 26 points and 8 rebounds on the weekend – good enough to earn an offer from Mississippi State.

Kevin Taylor2021 6-4 W Kevin Taylor – NME – Allatoona
The one thing you can count on Kevin Taylor for no matter what is effort and energy. He did it again this weekend as Mr. Consistent was a key piece in NME’s impressive 2-2 showing. Taylor showed off the complete package both offensively and defensively. He routinely knocked down threes and made plays getting to the basket. In NME’s break-neck pace of play, Taylor had no problem getting up and down the floor and even initiating fast breaks. Taylor rebounded at a high level and did a good job altering shots with his contests. In two losses against top programs Team GA Magic and Aim High, both loaded with D-I standouts, Taylor averaged 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.5 steals and 1 block while hitting six threes. Holding a 3.4 GPA, D-II programs are starting to show interest in the Swiss Army Knife.

2022 5-11 PG Travion Solomon – Team GA Magic – Northeast-Macon
Travion Solomon will be a name to remember as the appropriately twitter handled Shifty T1, had his defenders on skates. Already with a Mercer offer, Solomon averaged 12 points and 3.6 assists this past weekend and gained some fanfare with his feel for the game from the lead guard position. Solomon was steady in a 96-86 win over NME with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. He showed that he could wriggle into the lane when needed but also that he was content with getting the ball to the hot hand. There’s a lot to like about Solomon’s mature game.

2021 6-2 CG Emondre Bowles – Team GA Magic – Johnson-Savannah
Down 46-44 at the half to NME, it took a collective effort for Team GA Magic to power past the plucky group. While Travis Harper and Kowacie Reeves each had monstrous games, quietly Emondre Bowles had a heck of a second half to be a difference maker. Bowles scored 14 of his 15 points over the final 16 minutes and added on 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Bowles got downhill effectively and also scored from the mid-range. He went 6-7 from the foul line and knocked down a three. Another infectious energy giver for Team GA Magic, Bowles fits in on any team whether it be as the go-to guy on offense or a non-stop effort role player.

2021 5-10 PG AJ White – Aim High – Chattahoochee
Back on his original team after spending The Tip-Off Classic with the Atlanta Celtics, AJ White was able to torch defenses with his elite level shooting. Over two games vs. NME and AC Georgia, the scoring dynamo averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.5 steals while hitting 4 threes. White is a marksman that abuses anyone that goes under screens. He’s crafty enough to score inside the arc and rarely takes bad shots.

Omarion Smith2021 6-5 PF Omarion Smith – Aim High – Douglas County
I’ve been telling anyone who will listen for three years now that Omarion Smith is the best shot blocker in the state of Georgia. Yes, even at 6-foot-5, Smith is as good as it gets in the entire nation, pound-for-pound. Not only did he swat away everything in the paint for Aim High, he also wiped the glass as well as he’s ever done before. In two games he averaged 7.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 4.5 blocks. Smith knows his role and excels as a rim protector. I don’t know where he will end up since he is an undersized power forward, but his leaping ability and strength lets him play so much bigger than his listed height. He’s an impact maker immediately with his defense.

2021 6-4 PG RJ Noord – Aim High – Heritage-Conyers
A strong athletic big guard that gets downhill, Noord proved that his jump shot is definitely playable as he hit two threes and a handful of nice mid-range jumpers over two games. He averaged 11 points and helped run his offense efficiently. Noord still can be a lockdown defender when needed and helped hold Derrick Harris Jr. to a 3-14 day. Noord still has his best ball ahead of him.

2021 6-3 PG Derrick Harris Jr. – AC Georgia – Mitchell County
Derrick “Mannie” Harris Jr. has been gobbling up offers left and right. He’s an aggressive guard that hunts his offense and can shoot from distance. He struggled vs. Aim High and saw his team go 1-3 over the weekend but has continued to score at a high clip. He had 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in a 66-56 loss to Aim High. Harris went 9-9 from the foul line. He’s in line to put up some huge offensive numbers in Class A-Public his senior season.

2021 6-11 C Ryan Mutombo – Team Forrest – Lovett
Team Forrest didn’t have their best game in a 70-54 win over Lights Out Ballers, pulling away late from the undermanned unit. Ryan Mutombo however, produced and did what he was supposed to. He finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 8 blocks. Mutombo is a patient player that takes his time on the low block on offense and doesn’t get head faked into the air on defense. While he is continuing to transform his body and get stronger, he’s not an explosive athlete but not many near 7-footers are at his age. What Mutombo does do well is finish strong in traffic and keep the ball high. If teams don’t run double teams or dig down on him, he is bound to eat up defenders that play him single coverage.

Caleb Richardson2022 6-6 F Caleb Richardson – Georgia Legacy – Cherokee
Glue guy Caleb Richardson helped win a lot of games this past weekend. Athletic and active, Richardson did whatever was asked of him to help contribute. After posting 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks battling against the Atlanta Celtics and their D-I frontline, Richardson posted 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 blocks vs. the Atlanta All-Stars. Richardson can play either forward position and with his length and sneaky bounce, can really surprise people when he meets them at the rim, both offensively and defensively. On a Cherokee team that needs its role players to find a niche and step up, Richardson could be the perfect jack-of-all-trades to be implemented by Coach Roger Kvam in a variety of ways.

2022 6-4 SG Chance Thacker – Atlanta All-Stars – Providence Christian
Doubling up at the 16U and 17U levels, Chance Thacker got plenty of burn. He was a bright spot in the 17U’s loss to ATL Hoops, contributing 7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block. At the 16U level, he had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Thacker is a high IQ player with a good motor and toughness. He’s physically strong enough to put his head down and pound his way to the rim. He can finish through traffic or pull up short for a floater. He’s not shy to go rebound in a crowd and mix things up. Thacker has the attention of D-I programs and will continue to get better.

2021 6-2 PG Camren Lee – Atlanta All-Stars – Walnut Grove
One of the best athletes in the gym, Cam Lee is a perfectly built guard that lives above the rim. Similar to Jaylon Brown (UNC Pembroke) formerly of Alexander, Lee has long arms but is packed with muscle. Not a lot went right for the All-Stars in their loss to ATL Hoops, but Lee had spurts through out that had people talking. His on-ball defense could end up being elite as his lateral quickness and hand speed are a deadly combination. Lee finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.