Kell really struggled to get FGCU-commit Brian Thomas the ball
With a handful of important football players not in attendance, Alpharetta led wire-to-wire against Kell. 6-foot-4 senior Garrett Davis got the Raiders off to a quick start, scoring all six of his points in the first half. Davis, a dirty-work type of player, not only found baskets in the paint, but helped defend Florida Gulf Coast-commit Brian Thomas while giving up nearly four inches and 30+ pounds.
Davis along with 6-foot-3 junior forward Ryan Jenei kept a body on the 6-foot-8 big man throughout the game and didn’t give him any easy looks. Thomas was held to six points, 11 rebounds and four blocks as the Raiders forced the Kell guards to try and beat them.
Alpharetta held a 14-6 lead and took off once Westlake transfer Brandon Barron was inserted into the game. The 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard took over in the first half scoring 12 of his game-high 15 points.
Barron created off the dribble, showing a quick first step to get past defenders.
Barron got to the basket, stopped on a dime from the mid-range and even floated a teardrop over the elite shot blocker Thomas. Once Barron came in off the bench, the Alpharetta offense really started to click as he got open looks for Jenei, who hit two threes in the first half and finished with 10 points.
The Raiders held a 34-22 lead at the half and never let Kell back into the game. Junior point guard Jahwan Smith totaled seven points and three assists and Caelon Ball got hot down the stretch, hitting two late threes and finishing with 10 points and four rebounds but it wasn’t enough. Alpharetta’s guards protected the ball and won their individual battles on defense as the Raiders came away with 10 steals led by senior guard Jaylen Young’s five. Young also added six points and five rebounds. Senior David Swillum netted nine points and battled on the glass with seven rebounds.
Junior RJ Pass provided steady guard play and senior Tariq Latchison gave Alpharetta a boost with his hustle off the bench.
Kell could not establish Thomas inside, but it wasn’t all his fault. Too many entry passes were thrown away errantly either too high or too low. Whenever Thomas did get a clean ball, Alpharetta crashed down and physically put a body on him. For the Longhorns to build on their 16-win season, working on getting the ball to Thomas on the low block will be a priority. Feeding Thomas will help loosen up the perimeter defense to give players like Ball, Smith and Demetris Page open looks.
Lovett 69, Woodstock 59
Dylin Hardeman created opportunities for others, picking up 5 assists
Both Lovett and Woodstock were far from full strength thanks to football season with the Wolverines missing juniors Dominic Hewitt, Noah Frith and Sid Mesumbe while 6-foot-4 D-I hopeful guard senior Tyreke Johnson and junior Quentin Doby were not there as well. Lovett was missing a handful of football players too, highlighted by sharpshooter Crawford Schwieger, Nick Jackson, Peyton Ringer and Evan McKown out, meaning only sophomore point guard Ryan Greer was on the floor with any significant varsity experience.
Greer proved to be more than enough for the Lions.
The super sophomore tormented Woodstock with a silky touch and a red-hot motor that saw him collect eight rebounds in the first five minutes of the game alone. Greer finished with 32 points (20 in the second half), 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. His poise with the ball and all-around winning mentality consumed the game.
Greer scored from all over the floor, but he’s at his best attacking the basket. He’s not afraid to mix it up with the bigs inside and has crafty finishes around the hoop. While his mid-range game was on point all night, Woodstock hung around and never let in.
Georgia Tech baseball-commit 6-foot-6 left-handed senior Brant Hurter came out firing. He scored nine points in the first half with his soft touch from the block and the high post and finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lions held a 27-22 advantage at the half before Greer and senior Ryan Pate turned on the afterburners. Pate, a seldom used guard last year, put on a shooting display in Schwieger’s absence, playing Greer’s right-hand man knocking down three first half threes and finishing with five on the night en route to 20 points, five rebounds and three steals. The two combined for 31 points in the second half.
At the 9:50 mark it looked like the Lions were going to race away from the Wolverines but instead Woodstock’s role players took aim. Sophomore Chris Carroll bombed a three followed by a Nate Garner triple, making it 51-45 with nine minutes to play. Greer pushed the Lions ahead 56-45 with 7:23 to play and managed to hold off Woodstock.
Both teams have used the Fall League to build depth and it shows.
Pate looks like a valuable piece from the perimeter when he’s on target, giving Greer another option next to Schwieger from deep. Woodstock received 11 points apiece from Carroll and Garner, a junior. Cameron Crowe struggled early, but came on strong late, the 6-foot-6 forward finishing with nine points and five rebounds. Dylin Hardeman wasn’t hunting his shot in Johnson’s absence and instead helped out in other ways with a team-high five assists.
Sophomore Ahmir Langlais readies for battle with senior Richard Surdykowski
Without Jules Erving (HIES) and Jack Lapenta (Parkview) in attendance, two of the league’s undefeated teams set the stage for an evenly matched battle. Parkview boasted youth while Holy Innocents’ leaned on its veteran core. In the end, it was Parkview who scored an impressive win.
Holy Innocents’ held an early 11-4 advantage in the first quarter thanks to a hot start out of senior guard Cole Smith, but Parkview closed with an 8-0 run to take a 12-11 lead after one, the Panthers guards aggressively defending right at half court, taking the Golden Bears out of their early rhythm. Young gems Toneari Lane and Ahmir Langlais paced Parkview to start, both dropping in four points apiece.
In the second quarter Holy Innocents’ gained control with an 11-0 run to take a 22-14 lead. The Bears received major contributions from role players Robert McGovern and Todd Ennis. McGovern, a senior guard, finished the day with a game-high 14 points and chipped in five rebounds while Ennis, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, added eight points and six rebounds, both players knocking in a pair of threes.
It looked like the Bears were going to enter the second half with a comfortable lead, but Parkview’s Cam Chavers got hot from deep. The 5-foot-11 guard drained two late threes and helped draw the Panthers to within 27-24 at the half.
At the end of three, Holy Innocents’ maintained a slim 33-29 advantage.
In the fourth quarter Truitt Spencer gave the Panthers a spark, scoring his only two buckets of the game. Richard Surdykowski fouled out for the Golden Bears at the 5:07 mark with the game tied at 38, which hurt Holy Innocents’ interior defense down the stretch. With 55 seconds remaining, Smith hit a pull up jumper from the right elbow to edge Holy Innocents’ ahead 42-40. The ensuing possession, Justin Spencer attacked the rim and earned a one-for-two free throw attempt which he sank to knot the game up at 42 with 24.7 seconds left.
Holy Innocents’ attempted to hold for one shot, but pressure caused Smith to turn the ball over with 5.8 seconds left.
In overtime Chavers knocked down his third three of the game and Jamiel Wright added a bucket to take a quick 47-44 lead. Chavers finished with 11 points while Wright, a crafty sophomore, totaled nine points and a game-high four assists. Lane put the finishing touches on the win with two hoops inside as the Panthers earned a hard fought 53-47 decision.
Toneari Lane and Ahmir Langlais caused problems for Holy Innocents’, the freshman and just recently turned 15-year-old sophomore proving why colleges are already starting to offer. Lane, a 6-foot-5 lefty, scored a team-high 12 points and collected four rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks. Lane doesn’t play like a freshman and fits in with the Panthers nicely, his versatile skill set allowing him to play all over the floor.
Langlais, fresh off offers from Middle Tennessee State and North Florida, added nine points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals and four blocks. The lean 6-foot-7 post had a nice battle inside with veteran 6-foot-7 center Richard Surdykowski. Langlais showed polish with ball fakes around the rim and got a hand on loose balls coming off the glass thanks to his length.
Langlais just recently celebrated his 15th birthday and should be a freshman instead of a sophomore, which means there is even more to like about his development. Surdykowski and others at times frustrated Langlais with physical play, but Ahmir was effective nonetheless. Once he starts to grow into his body and add weight, there is a ton of potential. Next week Langlais tussles with the strongest big man in the league, 6-foot-8 senior Mohammed Abubukar, which will be a great test.
Aside from Parkview’s two young standouts, Jamiel Wright and Cam Chavers also looked good. Chavers hit timely shots while Wright was a pest defensively and got people involved on offense while choosing his spots to attack the basket. Brandon Harvey, Truitt Spencer and Justin Spencer all provided active hands and feet on defense and slowed down Holy Innocents’ on the perimeter.
6-foot-2 senior guard Cole Smith finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal for Holy Innocents’. Parkview did a nice job of not letting the lethal three-point shooter get any looks, but Smith still was able to affect the game with his passing and ability to make the right decision when faced with pressure.
I was most impressed with Holy Innocents’ role players who stepped up in the absence of Jules Erving. Junior guard Matt Meadows, Todd Ennis and Robert McGovern all played within themselves. Meadows finished with six points, two rebounds and two assists. Meadows looked steady at point guard as Ibrahim Shabazz, the Bears’ usual starter, was also out.
Eagle’s Landing 43, Alexander 38
Big men Damion Howell & Mohammed Abubukar keyed the action inside
Alexander jumped out to an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter paced by three three-pointers, two from 6-foot-3 junior Grant Howard. Newly offered by Kennesaw State guard Brandon Thomas carried the Eagles early with five of his seven points in the first quarter.
After a scoreless first quarter, 6-foot-8 senior Mohammed Abubukar began to wear down the Cougars. The big man sank a corner three to give the Eagles a seven point lead, but Alexander would close the gap with another Howard three and enter halftime trailing Eagle’s Landing 18-16 in a low scoring game.
In the second half, Abubukar continued to do damage. He helped the Eagles to a 31-24 lead after three but as he pounded away inside, 6-foot-7 senior Damion Howell did the same for the Cougars. Howell scored all eight of his points in the second half. Methodical in the way he gathers himself, Howell likes to face the basket with his drop step, create contact in the defender’s chest with the ball and then either draw the foul or finish atop him. He can be a load to handle, but dig downs from guards can bother him.
In the fourth quarter, Abubukar, who listed North Carolina A&T, Elon and South Carolina State as colleges showing the most interest in him, earned back-to-back And-1’s in the paint to make it 37-28. He finished with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Alexander rebounded from Abubukar however and used their quickness to clamp down on defense and create scoring opportunities. Senior guard Ron Gibson scored his lone two hoops in the fourth quarter during the Cougars’ 10-2 run to draw within 39-38 with 1:21 left to play on Rod Rapley’s lay-in, the senior scoring seven points and grabbing four rebounds on the day.
Rapley’s hoop would be the last Alexander bucket of the game however as sophomore point guard Rashad Elloie would pick up four points from the line to close out the game 43-38, Elloie finishing with eight points and four rebounds.
Eagle’s Landing hurt Alexander on the glass outrebounding them 34-18. The Eagles were in control for most of the game before Alexander’s pressure defense tightened the screws in the fourth quarter. Grant Howard hit three threes for the Cougars, but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter finishing with nine points and three assists. Sophomore big man Brady Spence, all 6-foot-7 arms and legs of him, gave the Cougs a nice spark in the fourth quarter during their run, scoring inside off some nice footwork and then blocking a shot.
Mohammed Abubukar is a name to get familiar with in the GHSA
Rashad Elloie’s cool free throw shooting and Mohammed Abubukar were too much down the stretch. Abubukar doesn’t wow you with high flying athleticism, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he plays below the rim. His footwork on the low block and his strength are what butter his bread. He even showed off a three-point touch and once again showed confidence in his ability to catch at the elbow, turn and face and attack the basket successfully. This Under the Radar Senior will make a nice addition to a college frontline.
St. Francis 59, Marist 46
Senior point guard Wallace Tucker poured in 16 points while 6-foot-3 freshman Chase Ellis dropped 18 to lead St. Francis over Marist. The War Eagles were led by senior Whid Childs who hit four threes for 12 points and 6-foot-5 junior Jake Mauldin who added 12 points and drained two deep balls.
Up until the regular season starts, Suwanee Sports Academy is home of the High School Fall League spanning from Week 1 (Aug. 20) to Week 8 (Oct. 15). 16 varsity teams take to the court along with two AAU programs, creating a competitive atmosphere. A handful of teams are in early contention to crack the Top 10 in their respective classifications for the 2016-17 season, making the SSA Fall League an intriguing stop during the dog days of summer.
Parkview 59, Alexander 49
Two teams with high expectations that could really sneak up on the state met in Week 2. The Panthers were without 6-foot-7 sophomore Ahmir Langlais and 6-foot-5 freshman Toneari Lane who were both at North Florida Elite Camp where they picked up scholarship offers. Even without two of their brightest young talents, the Panthers still managed to lead coast-to-coast and knock off the Cougars.
Parkview entered the fourth quarter up 11 before Alexander’s Damion Howell began to hurt Parkview’s smaller interior, the beefy 6-foot-7 big man collecting six of his eight points in the quarter. The Cougars clawed to within four before Parkview leaned on last year’s leading scorer, junior Cam Chavers to carry them to the finish line. Chavers netted six of his team-high 14 points in the final frame. The Panthers’ backcourt harassed the Cougars into turnovers which led to easy hoops. (Jr.) Justin Spencer scored 13 points followed by (Jr.) Myles Joseph and (So.) Jamiel Wright scoring 11 apiece. As a team, Parkview knocked down nine threes, which should stretch defenses out to allow Langlais space to maneuver inside this upcoming season.
Alexander showed flashes of being a dangerous team in Class AAAAAA with their lineup of (Jr.) Grant Howard, (Sr.) Rod Rapley, (Sr.) Zeek Copeland and sophomore Cameron Armstrong surrounding senior Damion Howell inside. Howard provided the most consistent outside shooting, able to pull up off the dribble and drain from deep. He hit four three-pointers en route to a game-high 16 points. Rapley added nine points and Howell, eight. The Cougars’ aggressive guard play will be at its best when configured into Coach Jason Slate’s system.
St. Francis 49, Grayson 45
Junior Travis Anderson caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points and rallying the Rams to a 40-39 lead after trailing 39-32 to enter the final period. The game was tied at 45 with 1:59 left, both teams matching baskets. A silly late foul with 14 seconds remaining put St. Francis senior guard Wallace Tucker at the line. Tucker, who scored a game-high 18 points, sank the two-for-one free throw to give the Knights a two point lead. Anderson had one last chance to either tie or win the game, but the ball slipped out of his hands and a thunderous dunk by Dwon Odom sealed the deal.
Plenty of new faces will be front and center for St. Francis this year. None will be more heavily tracked than freshman guard Dwon Odom. The 6-foot-2 mega-athlete made his presence felt during the travel circuit and enters high school ball as a ballyhooed prospect. Odom stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, one assist, five steals and three blocks. As elite an athlete as the youngster is, he must craft his shot over the next four years. All 10 of his points came on fast breaks; three of them dunks. Once he gains more confidence in his jumper Odom has a chance to be a very special player.
Now asked to be the leader, veteran Wallace Tucker played the best game I’ve seen him put forth. He did a number on the physically smaller Grayson guards and cleaned up when sent to the foul line, scoring eight points via the charity stripe.
For Grayson, Anderson really turned it on when the game got competitive in the fourth quarter. Incoming freshman Deivon Smith didn’t play a whole lot. The little guard is crafty and has a nice future ahead of him. He hit a game-winner at the buzzer to beat Odom’s Atlanta Celtics earlier in the offseason, giving the two guards a little history. It was a downer not being able to see each other matchup more.
Outside of Anderson, 6-foot-4 senior post Kyle Butts impressed. He is a strong rebounder that gives Coach Geoffrey Pierce a lot of effort inside. He finished with six points and 10 rebounds. Another senior, Aaron Rowe, brings some depth to the wing after moving in from Parkview. He had five points and five rebounds. Terrell Greene scored six points from the perimeter to go with his two steals. The Rams were missing starting center, 6-foot-6 Kenyon Jackson inside who is currently in football season.
Eagle’s Landing 56, Georgia Elite Ballers 53
A pair of transfers helped the Eagles over a talented AAU team. 6-foot-8 senior Mohammed Abubakar led the way with 13 points. The big man from Hamilton Heights, TN was aggressive, getting the ball and attacking the rim from the high post. He even knocked down a three. Junior sweet shooter Brandon Thomas moved in from Locust Grove to hit three threes for nine points. Lengthy sophomore CJ Hood pitched in 12 points and was active on defense and the glass rebounding the ball.
Holy Innocents’ 66, Marist 54
The big three of seniors Jules Erving, Cole Smith and Richard Surdykowski overwhelmed Marist. Erving poured in 22 points followed by Smith’s 14 and Surdykowski’s seven points. Marist received 17 points from senior David Sever.
East Jackson 51, Prince Avenue Christian 42
Junior guard Kobe Haley powered East Jackson with 21 points. Prince Avenue was led by senior guard Sam Todd’s 11 points and junior forward Dalton Meeler’s 10 points.
Behind guards Justin Quick and John Mills, the Falcons pushed the Cougars to the brink. Quick, a junior, led all scorers with 16 points. Senior Dalton Gerdts buried three threes and finished with 11 points but missed on a game-tying three at the buzzer. Mills, a senior, added 12 points while fellow starting senior guard Brannon Clark was not in attendance. Once again, Grant Howard supplied the offense for Alexander with 11 points. Zeek Copeland and Rod Rapley both went for seven points.
Johnson-Gainesville 55, Forsyth Central 49 OT
The Knights rallied from down double digits to force overtime where they surged past the Bulldogs. Senior forward Dwayne Wilson posted a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
The HoopSeen travel ball circuit has come to a close. It was an exciting few months with plenty of storylines and valuable information that will help shape the 2016-17 GHSA basketball season. The Best of the South put a capper on the season, going out with a bang as some of Georgia’s top blue-chippers and sleepers alike battled at the best live period event in the southeast.
16U: Georgia Bulls 63, Georgia Stars EYBL 53
The little engine that could, the Georgia Bulls, dominated the Georgia Stars and led wire to wire for one of their most impressive wins of the season beating the shoe circuit team. Deon Berrien (Lakeside-Augusta) got the Bulls off to a hot start against the bigger and more athletic Stars. Berrien, a 6-foot-6 forward that averaged 14.8 points and 13 rebounds as a junior, knocked down jumper after jumper to give the Bulls an early lead. He finished with 16 points and three steals, scoring 12 of his points in the first half.
Berrien along with Mike Dukes (Westminster-Augusta) battled against 6-foot-9, 260-pound Mohammed Abdulsalem (Greenforest) in the paint. Dukes, one of the fiercest competitors I’ve seen this summer, didn’t back down from the challenge. The 6-foot-3 forward with a bulldog mentality came away with six points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Dukes’ non-stop motor and quick leaping ability gave the Stars fits. He is a tough-nosed player that brings a burning desire to win to the table. He’s a guy that you definitely want on your team.
The Stars trailed 29-9 in the first half before closing on a 9-0 run to enter the break down 29-18. Peachtree Ridge’s Caleb Holifield got hot, knocking down two of his four threes. Holifield finished with a team-high 12 points all coming beyond the arc. Four-star 6-foot-5 guard Diante Woods out of Sacred Heart, AL was held to three points in the first half while 6-foot-6 rising junior Rashun Williams (Calhoun County) couldn’t crack the score column.
In the second half, the Bulls continued to maintain their distance. Brad Hilley (Lakeside-Augusta) knocked down a pair of threes and finished with nine points and three assists in the game. The floor spacer hit timely threes when left open and is a valuable asset at the high school level.
Sophomore Kalen Williams scored seven of his 10 points in the second half after playing the role of facilitator in the opening 16 minutes. The 6-foot guard tallied five assists. He led Lakeside-Augusta in scoring as a freshman with 13.7 points and has improved his game as a passer and finisher at the rim.
Berrien picked up his fourth foul with 8:02 left and the Bulls leading 42-29. The Stars began to make their move and close the gap. The lengthy frontcourt started to wear on the smaller bulls as Abdulsalem, Jamari Smith (Jonesboro) and Williams pounded away at the glass. Abdulsalem posted 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Smith played above the rim, soaring for putbacks and collected a 9-point, 9-rebound performance. Williams scored all seven of his points in the second half and added eight boards. Woods slashed to the lane and got to the line. He finished tied for a team-high with 12 points.
The Stars’ athleticism and full court press sped up the usually unflappable Bulls guards and closed the gap to 47-41 with 3:39 remaining. With all the momentum in the Stars’ corner, Ryan Jolly (Augusta Prep) announced his presence. The 6-foot-1 rising junior who is the straw that stirs the drink for the Georgia Bulls took over. After a quiet first half saw him sink four free throws, the All-State GISA performer dissected the Stars. He finished through contact for an And-1 layup to stem the tide with 3:10 left and brought the Bulls’ lead to seven points. He followed it up the next possession with a dagger three to push the lead back to 10.
When all was said and done, Jolly poured in a game-high 18 points – 14 coming in the final three minutes and some change. Ice water courses through Jolly’s veins as the best closer I’ve seen in the 16U Division this summer. He hit seven free throws down the stretch and went 11-for-11 over the course of the game. Jolly needs to receive interest from LM-MM coaches before it’s too late. Playing in the GISA, Jolly doesn’t get the exposure he deserves. The pass-first playmaker has seized the opportunity on the big stage at Suwanee Sports Academy and has cashed in in a big way, earning the No. 16 ranking in HoopSeen’s Georgia Class of 2018 rankings.
17U: Atlanta All-Stars 64, GA Stunners 53
The ultimate showdown of LM-MM sleepers in the state of Georgia took place at 11AM on Court 5 at Suwanee Sports Academy. This game was littered with guys I deemed as Under the Radar seniors such as Evan Cole (South Forsyth), Damion Rosser (Henry County) and Kane Williams (South Paulding). The trio did not disappoint.
The Atlanta All-Stars outside the Stunners at nearly every position, the All-Stars pulling kids from all over the metro Atlanta area while the Stunners stayed primarily in Paulding County, the lineup close to 90% filled with the South Paulding program.
The All-Stars led the whole way with Cole leading the early charge from the low block. The 6-foot-8 post went to work, scoring eight of his 10 points in the first half. His first three buckets all came with the left hand, ultra-impressive for a right-handed player. He showed a soft touch with a baby hook off the glass and even displayed nifty foot work going with a face up and spin off a defender. He pulled down eight rebounds and blocked two shots as well.
Henry County guards Javon Greene and Damion Rosser attacked the basket. Rosser netted a team-high 13 points while going 6-of-10 from the line and adding three rebounds and four assists. Greene went 5-of-8 from the stripe en route to 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block. The duo is dynamic together with Rosser galloping to the hoop and Greene providing a deft stroke from three.
South Paulding’s Kane Williams and JaCori Wilson kept the Stunners in it. Both lefties, Williams finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal before injuring his ankle with a minute left in regulation. Wilson, a long 6-foot-7 scorer, poured in a game-high 15 points but saw his night end early fouling out halfway through the second half on a questionable call.
At the half the All-Stars led 34-24. The closest the Stunners got was 41-39 with 10:32 left after Wilson sank three free throws. Colby Leifson (North Gwinnett) drilled a big three to regain separation and the Stunners were never able to regain one-possession striking distance. Leifson knocked down two threes and finished with eight points.
Chris Freeman (McEachern) and Jandan Duggan (Greenforest) provided nice sparks for the Stunners throughout the game while the All-Stars honed in on Williams, using the length of Rosser and the quickness of Greene to try and slow him down. Freeman, a lanky 6-foot-2 guard, scored 13 points and got to the line taking seven free throws and hitting six in the second half. Duggan followed suite, scoring eight points and attempting eight free throws all in the final 16 minutes. DJ Jackson (South Paulding) is a nice leader for the Stunners. Pushing 5-foot-6, Jackson still managed to come away with five rebounds and three assists and did a nice job of staying in front of the All-Stars’ taller guards.
Without question, the All-Stars’ X-Factor in the second half was 6-foot-5 post Kovi Tate (Henry County). Tate brought great energy in the paint and scored nine of his 10 points in the second half. He flirted with a double-double as he ripped down a game-high nine boards. When he has the chance, Tate is a powerful finisher and the rim and a guy opponents must seek out to put a body on when he attacks the glass.
LM-MM coaches filled the seats for this one, most notably Georgia State was three-deep checking out a few guys they offered this weekend.
17U: Southern Stampede EYBL 70, Atlanta All-Stars 57
Blue-chippers vs. Blue-collared guys. That was the narrative surrounding the 17U Best of the South Championship. In the end, the Stampede overwhelmed the All-Stars with their firepower and proved why they are some of the best of the best in the state of Georgia even without superstar Collin Sexton.
The Stampede raced out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back, holding a double digit lead for the entirety of the first half. Jay Estime (Berkmar) banged home consecutive threes to set the tone. From there, Indiana-commit Al Durham started to sizzle, hitting everything he tossed up including banked-in jumpers and contested floaters off the glass. His night finished with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The stage wasn’t too big for Javon Greene. He scored eight of his 13 points in the first half to keep the All-Stars from getting blown out down 36-22 at the half. Greene filled the stat sheet with six boards and five steals against the Stampede’s ballyhooed backcourt.
Consecutive buckets and stops were hard to come by for the All-Stars. The Stampede’s balanced attack was headed by Rheaquone Taylor in the second half. The electric 6-foot-7 small forward out of Barringer High School in New York was on a mission to get to the rim. He took seven free throws and finished with a game-high 14 points, six rebounds and two steals. Joining him on that mission was Central Gwinnett’s Jalen Hillery. The aggressive 6-foot-5 guard scored all 12 of his points in the second half and went 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.
Evan Cole and Kovi Tate fought valiantly with the longer (TJ Massenburg) and stronger (Chris Agbo) inside. Cole went for 10 points, eight rebounds and a block while Tate, who earned a start, chipped in seven points and four rebounds. Massenburg (Shiloh), who was named Co-MVP with Zach Cooks (Berkmar), finished with five points, two steals and three blocks. Agbo (Covenant Christian), who gives the best bodybuilders a run for their money, pitched in six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Colby Leifson netted eight points and Will Crumly (North Cobb Christian) added seven in the loss. Kendrick Summerour (Milton) was a nice spark with five points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals off the bench. The Southern Stampede received six points and three rebounds from Kenton Eskridge (Columbia).
Established Stock Risers
Damion Rosser & Zach Cooks didn’t see their recruitment explode, but both took positive steps to the D-I level
Did anyone help their stock more than the Atlanta All-Stars’ Evan Cole and Javon Greene? Just in the past few weeks Cole has landed offers from the likes of Georgia State, Jacksonville, Youngstown State, UNC-Wilmington, Troy, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Western Carolina, firmly putting him ON the radar, not under.
Greene cashed in with Georgia State, Lipscomb, Western Carolina, George Mason and Coastal Carolina, the Chanticleers being his first offer on July 10.
Damion Rosser might not have landed all the offers his backcourt mate Greene did, but he certainly caught coaches’ attention and has gotten the ball rolling on his recruitment. The downhill attacking 6-foot-4 guard will have D-I offers coming his way.
Colby Leifson heated up his recruitment by stroking nine threes in a single half this weekend. He won’t be available right away as he is taking a mission trip, but Gardner-Webb and BYU are now in on the sharpshooter. He still needs to round out his game an become more than just a specialist, but D-I programs have definitely taken notice of his elite floor stretching ability.
GA Stunners guard Kane Williams had a monster weekend, sniffing the 30-point barrier in multiple games. He poured in buckets from all over the floor by showing off an improved distance jumper, knocking down a handful of threes in each game. Georgia State, Stetson and Northern Arizona all extended offers to the playmaking combo guard.
Do you notice a trend here? Georgia State has taken full advantage of putting out offers to GHSA standouts. Assistant Coach Sharman White can be seen at nearly every game alongside Head Coach Ron Hunter. The addition of White to the coaching staff is already starting to pay its dividends as a major boon for the Georgia State program. With knowledge of the Georgia landscape and his years of unparalleled success, White and the Panthers are in mighty fine shape moving forward as they pound the pavement trying to land some of Georgia’s hidden gems.
Southern Stampede point guard Zach Cooks got buckets this weekend and was named Co-MVP of the 17U Division. For his standout play, the 5-foot-8 leader earned a scholarship offer from NJIT.
Though he didn’t earn any offers, Kovi Tate impressed me with his hard work. He busted his butt in the paint and gave Atlanta All-Stars’ coach Ben Miller excellent minutes. Tate’s stock trended upward. He is somewhat of an unknown due to the fact he didn’t play high school ball last season after transferring from Woodland-Stockbridge to Henry County and not receiving eligibility. He is an undersized 6-foot-5 rim rocking post that will bring toughness to the Henry County frontline.
Lastly, Ryan Jolly is finally starting to get his due. Middle Tennessee State has inquired on the Augusta guard from the Georgia Bulls. As he continues to get stronger and stronger, the high-IQ guard will see his stock soar. I give props to MTSU for doing their due diligence on the talented sleeper.
–Story & Photo contributed by Joe Chapman (@Joe_Chapman3)
The Mecca of high school basketball every summer that features the best talent in the country is located at the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, South Carolina. An event that is on most every basketball fan’s bucket list and is the highlight of the summer for high school basketball “junkies”, the Nike EYBL Peach Jam is the grand finale of what most everyone can agree is the best summer basketball circuit in the country. While the highlight of this event is the 17U division, the under-the-radar 16U division produces some of the best competition in the country. And while no Georgia teams are competing in the 17U division, two teams from the Peach State, the Southern Stampede and the Georgia Stars, are holding their own in the 16U division. I made sure to catch a game from each team while I took a trip down to the Peach Jam and what follows are my thoughts from each game and what Georgia high school basketball fans have to look forward to during the 2016-17 season.
Southern Stampede 81, St. Louis Eagles 74
Facing a team with a big-time name in the St. Louis Eagles, the Stampede quickly found themselves down 7-0 and looked as if they would be no match in the game. They then clawed their way back in the game and took the lead at halftime 42-36. The Eagles cut the lead to as close as 1 early in the second half but ended up falling as the Stampede grinded out a tough 7-point win. Leading the way for the Stampede was uber-athletic rising junior wing from Allatoona, Trey Doomes. Doomes was in control of the game all night as he finished with a game-high 18 points on 6-9 shooting. He was doing it all for the Stampede as he was the go-to player knocking down mid-range jumpers, attacking the rim with both hands, and drawing fouls as he went to the line 10 times. Look for Doomes to have a breakout campaign for Allatoona this year, who comes off of a heartbreaking 50-48 state championship loss to powerhouse Miller Grove.
Not to be outdone, Travis Anderson poured 17 points off of the bench in the tightly contested affair. While he didn’t start, Anderson played 25 of the game’s 32 minutes and controlled the offense while on the floor. As the Eagles kept chipping away at the lead throughout the game, Anderson was a calming presence when pressed and hit clutch shots to halt any run made against them. He added 6 rebounds and 4 assists in the game and knocked down four consecutive free throws to seal the win for the Stampede. After a solid sophomore campaign, Anderson looks to be on the move again and wherever he ends up will be getting a very solid point guard.
The final Peach State prospect that really impressed me from the Stampede was Lorenzo McGhee. The 6-foot-4 McGhee finished with 14 points on an efficient 5-7 shooting and was a high-energy spark plug off of the bench. He was attacking the rim while also stepping out and knocking down the long ball. The rising junior at Columbia High School played 28 minutes off of the bench and like Doomes, is one that expects to have a breakout junior campaign.
Georgia Stars 64, PSA Cardinals, 44
The Georgia Stars have had good fortunes in North Augusta as the 17U team in 2015, led by Jared Harper and Wendell Carter Jr., took home the title. This weekend, the good fortunes continued as the 16U Stars earned a blowout win over the PSA Cardinals from New York City. An ugly turnover-filled first half in which neither team shot the ball well ended with the Stars ahead 21-19. In the second half, Liberty County product Will Richardson put the Stars on his back and carried them to victory. With about 9 minutes left in the second half, the Stars found themselves up three and unable to pull away from the Cardinals. Then, Richardson scored 10 straight points for the Stars to put the lead at double-digits and they never looked back. In the span, he hit two 3’s, a mid-range jumper, and a strong layup as he had all of the college coaches in the gym nodding their heads in approval. The 10 straight turned into 15 of the 17 points for his team late in the half as Richardson finished with a game-high 17 points on 7-10 shooting (3-4 3PT). Richardson played a huge role for Liberty County this year, providing a much needed third scoring option behind Davion Mitchell and Richard LeCounte as the Panthers from Hinesville captured their first ever state championship, denying Jonesboro and MJ Walker a three-peat.
A pleasant surprise for me in this game was the performance of one of the many big men at Greenforest, Mohammed Abdulsalem. Coming off of the bench, “Big Mo” played 27 minutes for the Stars en route to 12 points and a game-high 9 rebounds on the afternoon. While he is not necessarily a shot blocker, he still managed to alter shots frustrating the Cardinals. One thing he did very well was start multiple fast breaks by handling the ball and in the beginning of the second half, went coast-to-coast and finished a layup with the foul in Charles Barkley fashion. Abdulsalem’s unexpected versatility with the ball in his hands was stock up moment. He fouled out in the game I watched, but if he can stay out of foul trouble, he can play a very important and valuable role for a Greenforest team that looks to repeat as state champions this upcoming season.
The final standout to me for the Stars was obviously Khavon Moore. Other than Richardson’s breakout in the second half, Moore was the Stars’ go-to-player. He didn’t have the greatest of shooting performances (4-12 FG) but the rising junior stuffed the stat sheet with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Moore is a very long point-forward that can block shots, attack the rim, and hit mid-range contested shots. If he continues to grow and put on some muscle, the sky is the limit for Moore and the offers will keep piling up. Moore will once again star for his Westside-Macon squad this year after they bowed out of the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs last year to Calhoun.
