Battle For Georgia
Analysis

Battle For Georgia Standouts

2023 6-4 PG London Johnson – Game Elite – Norcross
Maybe I’m missing something but I feel like that’s not the case. I don’t think player rankings mean much of anything, but if they do, I’m not sure how Johnson isn’t regarded as one of the top point guards in the entire nation and a certain five-star prospect. What does matter are offers and Johnson is starting to swim in High Majors. The North Carolina native was spectacular, nearly single handedly carrying Game Elite to a 66-59 championship over TSF in the 16U division, taking TSF’s best shot and rallying his team after falling behind by eight points with just 6 minutes remaining. From there, Johnson would score 11 of his game-high 27 points to close on a 16-9 run to capture the title. London was unflappable. Even with a great defender like Kanaan Carlyle on him, Johnson proved once again that elite offense beats elite defense. Johnson was able to consistently get into the paint and finish with floaters and eurosteps all while drawing fouls, going 8-10 from the line. On the rare occasion he wasn’t able to get two feet in the paint, Johnson scored with his jumper hitting a pull-up and sinking 3 threes. With all the attention focused on stopping him, Johnson was able to facilitate and set up teammates as he drew the defense. On the other end of the floor, Johnson made plays with his aggressive hands, poking away steals. London collected 4 assists and 5 steals. Norcross has an embarrassment of riches again, but the brightest star and most important has to be London Johnson.

2023 6-2 G Kanaan Carlyle – TSF – Milton
Though it came in a loss, Kanaan Carlyle looked every bit of a five-star guard as he poured in 24 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in a 66-59 loss to Game Elite in the 16U Championship. Carlyle scored 19 points in the second half including a stretch of four threes in near succession, hitting six total for the game. Carlyle has a quick release and was able to create space on the perimeter and shoot off the dribble. He hit two step-back threes, one being an And-1. Carlyle can disrupt offenses with his focus on defense. He sits down in stance and moves extremely well laterally. Kanaan’s shot-making and ability to defend put him in an elite category.

2022 6-4 F Connor McKay – Atlanta Timberwolves – Rabun County
D-II programs will want to jump on Connor McKay, the hardworking standout that can no longer be classified as a sleeper in the North Georgia mountains. McKay continues to raise his stock. The double-double machine jumps out of the building and time and time again, catches opponents off guard who don’t have the scouting report. McKay explodes off the ground for rebounds and is a great shot blocker for his size, able to perfectly time when to go wipe away shots. The lefty can be a streaky shooter but is a threat to score from the three-point line.  McKay has area for growth as a ball handler as he will likely be asked to play much more on the perimeter than in the paint in college. Connor posted 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocks in a 73-64 loss to the Atlanta Celtics.

2022 6-7 F Daniel Pounds – Atlanta Xpress – Forest Park
I come away impressed with Daniel Pounds every time I watch the explosive forward. At 6-foot-7, maybe closer to 6-foot-8 at this point, Pounds is a game-changer with his athleticism. He can control the glass and protect the rim extremely well. Pounds’ length gives him superior reach which allows him to alter shots on defense and catch any lob remotely near his area on offense. He is a great alley oop catcher and looks to finish everything in the paint with a slam. Aside from his measurables that immediately jump out at you, it’s Pounds’ skill that gives him High Major upside in my book. Pounds can go coast-to-coast in transition with enough ball skills to create mismatches away from the basket. Daniel can shoot the three and has a soft touch from the mid-range which he can get to off the dribble. His switchability on defense allows him to guard multiple positions. Pounds covers an alarming amount of ground and can jump passing lanes with ease. He tallied 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 blocks in the semifinals against AC Georgia before adding 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in the championship against the Atlanta Celtics. I love Pounds’ upside at the next level.

Damoni Harrison2022 6-5 W Damoni Harrison – Promise Elite – Archer
Coming from a program full of grinders at Archer, Damoni Harrison was the leader of Promise Elite this weekend, setting the tone with his toughness. Harrison got the event started with 20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block in a 62-53 win over One Shot Shooters before sparking a comeback from down 17 with 8:13 left against Team Forrest to steal a 74-71 victory, scoring 14 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to go along with 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Harrison is a big swingman that likes to do damage in the paint. He drives the ball hard and does a nice job using his body to shield the ball from would-be shot blockers while drawing fouls. Harrison went 9-16 from the line in his two games. Damoni has good footwork when getting downhill and can spin off defenders to free himself. He has high release on his jump shot and can convert from the mid-range and is a threat to score from deep when left open.  With his size, Harrison is a versatile defender. He’s strong and athletic able to guard 1-4 competently.

2024 6-2 G Amari Brown – Atlanta Celtics – Sandy Creek
With the 2021 class out the door, the rest of Class 3A can finally take a breath – or so they thought. The addition of Amari Brown from New Mexico will once again put Sandy Creek in the driver’s seat as the team to beat. With the target on their back maybe being slightly smaller this year, Brown could be the guard that finally puts the Patriots over the top. The lefty is a smooth scorer that shoots the ball with great accuracy from distance. Once defenders try to press up on Brown, he’s got wiggle to the basket and has a pretty floater that he rarely misses. When weaving through the defense, Brown can kick out to open shooters as he surveys the floor. Amari finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in a 74-56 win over Team Huncho.

2024 6-7 W Micah Smith – Atlanta Celtics – Sandy Creek
Everything is coming together for Micah Smith. Offensively, Smith can do a little bit of everything. At 6-foot-7 he’s very mobile and skilled with the ball. He can take his man off the dribble and finish with authority. Smith has shot the ball with confidence this summer, sinking 3 threes vs. Team Huncho. Micah poured in 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. As good as Smith is on the perimeter, I would like to see him develop some offense with his back to the basket when smaller defenders are on him. Getting easy baskets inside can make things much easier for him if dribble penetration and his outside shot aren’t working.

2022 6-2 CG Kami Young – Georgia Legacy – Pebblebrook
Kami Young scores in bunches. He’s a physically strong guard that gets to his spots without getting bumped off course. Young scores it from all three levels. He can put his head down and get to the rim where he draws plenty of contact or he can stop short and hit the mid-range. Young plays with poise and meaning. He had 18 points (8-8 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in a 66-52 win over Atlanta Xpress Black. Young should be a hot name among Low Major and Mid-Major programs looking to add firepower to their backcourt.

Dante Harrison2023 6-0 G Dante Harrison – Georgia Stars 2023 Select – Campbell
Dante Harrison is a bucket. I don’t use the lingo often to describe players, but that most definitely fits Harrison’s game. He is a deadly scorer from all over the floor. Harrison creates offense on the perimeter without the need of a screen. He gets separation with the dribble and lights it up with his jump shot. Harrison drilled 5 threes en route to 30 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block in a 74-72 win over BCB. Dante has a compact stroke and is able to get to wherever he wants. He’s a crafty driver downhill that can score on floaters and lay-ins. Harrison will make an immediate impact with Campbell and should be one of their top scorers. I will be interested to see how he does this season and if he can grow into more than just a pure scorer.

Braden Mullis2024 6-1 G Braden Mullis – BCB – North Forsyth
One of the most fun games to watch this weekend was BCB vs. Georgia Stars 2023 Select as Braden Mullis and Dante Harrison traded bucket for bucket. Playing up in the 16U division, Mullis finished with 28 points and 5 rebounds. The lefty has unlimited range and will pull without hesitation with rainbow threes. He sank five long balls, doing so in impressive fashion, hitting one off a step-back. Mullis plays with great energy. He has a high IQ and finds himself in the right spot often. Braden is subtly shifty when attacking with the ball, able to eurostep past defenders. Mullis is an intriguing scorer that I would like to see more of.

2022 6-3 CG Tomiwa Adetosoye – Atlanta Xpress Black – Chattahoochee
I’ve been a fan of Tomiwa Adetosoye since last August. He is a very good athlete that plays with a terrific motor. Adetosoye does so much on the floor. He’s a stat sheet stuffer, able to impact games in a variety of ways. He had 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a loss to the Georgia Legacy. Adetosoye is a valuable defender with quickness and a burst to the ball. He turns steals into breakaway layups and has the bounce to contest anyone at the rim, blocking a 7-footer inside on Saturday. Tomiwa is a strong slasher and a capable three-point shooter. He’s flying under the radar but could be a guard that really develops into something impressive at the next level.