2022 6-3 W Willie Henderson – Air Ballers Elite – Washington County
The most eye-popping athlete at the Georgia Cup was Willie Henderson of Washington County. Henderson is an elite leaper with a quick first step to the hoop. Listed at 6-foot-3, Henderson plays bigger than his size with how he’s able to effortlessly rebound in traffic and erase shots with his blocks. Henderson did his best work in the paint with dunks, putbacks and layups but also hit three mid-range jumpers and banked in a three. He was effective working the high post and has a high arcing shot. Henderson’s bounce and motor give him great value on defense, able to defend multiple spots. He scored 18 points on Friday night and followed up with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 block in a 60-54 win over SBC on Saturday. Expect Henderson to see an expanded role his senior season after serving as a rotational player a season ago.
2023 6-4 PF Grant Erickson – Inspire Atlanta – Marist
A walking double-double. That is what Grant Erickson has been this offseason. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Erickson is a physically imposing forward that uses his wide shoulders to carve out space when attacking the glass. While he isn’t a freak athlete, it’s his strength and knowledge of the angles that help him succeed. Erickson gets a wide base when he posts up and understands how to score with his back to the basket. He finishes with either hand but really likes to score over his left shoulder with a hook shot, which then sets up his short fadeaway in the lane once the defense thinks they finally have him figured out. From powerful drop steps to finesse finishes, Erickson scores in a multitude of ways in a wildly efficient manner inside.
2023 6-1 G Caleb Taylor – ATL Select Prime – Cedar Grove
Caleb Taylor got the Georgia Cup started by blasting 5 threes at 6 PM on Friday night. Every time he launched from deep it felt like it was going in. Once his outside shot started falling, Taylor began to showcase his creativity with the dribble. He had some strong drives to the hoop, utilizing an in-and-out dribble to freeze the defense. Taylor was active on defense and jumped passes to start fast breaks. He didn’t play a ton in the second half but Taylor still managed to finish with an impressive 25 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals. Keep an eye on the multidimensional scorer moving forward.
2022 6-0 PG Marquin Thompson – Georgia Stars Select – South Gwinnett
“Munchy” provides effort in every facet of the game. He is a strong athlete that was able to get into the lane and make things happen as both a scorer and facilitator. Thompson uses a euro step when he gets downhill and can rise up to finish over shot blockers. His consistent motor led to key stops on defense. Thompson finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. Marquin can do a little bit of everything.