GBCA Live Session I
Analysis

GBCA Live Session I: 2023 Top Performers

AJ Dent2023 6-5 W AJ Dent – Thomasville
High energy combo-forward AJ Dent did damage in a 63-56 win over Spencer, helping spark a 24-3 run to close. Dent is a wiry lefty that plays inside and out. He served as a slasher when on the perimeter, but also knocked down the three when open. Around the rim was where Dent was most effective. He’s quick off his feet and scores with a soft touch. He had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Dent can cause mismatches on the perimeter when larger forwards have to check him. AJ’s effort makes him an interesting prospect to watch over the next two years.

Harrison Jackson2023 6-6 W Harrison Jackson – Thomasville
Another sneaky good prospect with size is Harrison Jackson, a true wing that has an accurate outside shot. Jackson has the size to shoot over smaller guards. He sank 3 threes en route to finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. He did a fine job handling Spencer’s aggressive full court press. Jackson can catch opponents off guard with his athleticism. He nearly teared down the rim on a nice take, using deceptively springy legs to play above the rim. The duo of he and AJ Dent will cause issues with their length and versatility.

Saulamon Evans2023 6-4 G Saulamon Evans – Mays
Though his shot was off for most of the game, even in one of his sub-par performances, Saulamon Evans was still the best player on the floor. He piled in 12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks in a win over Woodville-Tompkins. Evans has great size and strength for a guard. When he puts the ball on the floor, he has a crafty handle and can finish in a variety of ways making difficult shots look easy. Evans has good court vision and likes to rebound.

2023 6-4 SG Devon Rainey – Jonesboro
Devon Rainey was a bright spot in a loss to Roswell and was impressive all weekend long. A two-sport athlete, Rainey looked much better as a perimeter shooter than when I saw him last season when he connected at a 23% rate. Rainey dropped in 3 triples and finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. He’s a long-armed swingman that can turn live ball turnovers into easy baskets. In the half court, he’s a quality slasher. Locking in on defense consistently will help Rainey over the next two seasons. I like his upside as a two-way player.

MJ Whitlock2023 6-2 SG MJ Whitlock – Newton
Compared to the High Major and Mid-Major stars on his team, MJ Whitlock may not jump out at you. He doesn’t have elite size, but what he does have his elite leaping ability and an excellent three-point shot. While the rest of the backcourt will draw the bulk of the recruiting attention and defensive game plans from opposing coaches, it is Whitlock who may serve the most important role as a knockdown shooter. Whitlock profiles as a zone buster. He shoots with confidence and hits at a high percentage. Once defenses start running him off the line, Whitlock is able to attack the rim and finish with floaters or put somebody on a poster. In a win over Sequoyah, Whitlock nailed 4 threes and had a team-high 18 points. As good as he is on offense, Whitlock is equally important on defense. His athleticism helps him play bigger than his size, allowing him to block shots and jump passing lanes. It will be interesting to see what level Whitlock ends up at in college. His skill set is very intriguing.

Authur Johnson2023 5-9 PG Authur Johnson – Bowdon
The prolific scorer out of Class A-Public averaged 32 points per game this weekend. He is a high-volume shooter with an insane usage rate, but Johnson is built for it. He is used to having to carry the load. As he goes, his team goes. Authur has jitterbug quickness, low to the ground as he weaves in and out of the defense with a dazzling handle.  The lefty scores relentlessly at all three levels. He has deep three-point range and a masterful tear drop floater which is near automatic. Teams run big physical guards at Johnson, but the compact playmaker is pound-for-pound strong enough to handle a beating. He is rarely stopped at the Class A-Public level, with most teams hoping to contain him. He had 24 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in a loss to Mt. Pisgah. Johnson is one of the most entertaining players in Georgia to watch. He was outstanding at CTC Comeback months ago and I’m curious to see how he would perform on a team with equally skilled talent. Johnson could be a steal come senior season for a collegiate program.

Amon McDowell2023 6-2 G Amon McDowell – McDonough
McDonough has a chance to be extremely good this season and surpass last year’s Final Four run. Amon McDowell’s twitter handle accurately describes him: A Monster. McDowell was great in my first sit down, posting 23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block. He’s ball-strong, able to cut through the teeth of the defense and finish at the rim. McDowell can snap off eurosteps, finish with either hand, pull-up off the dribble from the mid-range and shoot the three.  He is a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor. McDowell does so many things to help a team win.

Keith Williams2023 6-8 C Keith Williams – Mt. Vernon Presbyterian
Blessed with a soft touch and nimble feet, Keith Williams is a legit D-I prospect with the offers to show. Williams has a knowledge of the low block. He works the pivot well, scoring in a variety of ways but not just restricted to the post. While Williams can score on hook shots with either hand, he can also control games from the high post with both his mid-range jumper and his passing.  Williams dumped in 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in a win over Groves.

Bilal Abdur-Rahman2023 5-10 PG Bilal Abdur-Rahman – WD Mohammed
Bilal Abdur-Rahman is a speed merchant that has been putting up big numbers in Class A-Private since Day 1 as a playmaking dynamo. Abdur-Rahman may be the quickest guard in the classification and one of the fastest in the state with the ball in his hands. He turns missed shots into transition layups as he races down the floor. Bilal forced the issue and got to the line at will against Johnson-Savannah, going 8-9 from the stripe. When he gets a head of steam, Abdur-Rahman keeps his eyes up, making slick passes to open teammates. Changing up speeds to keep defenses off balance will help with his development. Bilal tallied 15 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in the win.

Amir Boyce2023 6-9 C Amir Boyce – WD Mohammed
Similar to Keith Williams in terms of size and build, Amir Boyce could be a sleeper in the 2023 class. He’s a big body with quality footwork inside. He can score with either hand and can play both the power and finesse game. Boyce uses a strong drop step to move defenders out of the way, but he also can eurostep when catching on the run to finish in stride. Amir had 10 points and 6 rebounds.