2021 5-10 PG Jamal Taylor – Team GA Magic – Hancock Central
When’s the last time the smallest player on the floor led a team in rebounding? When’s the last time the player that did so was only 5-foot-10? Jamal “Peanut” Taylor is a state champion at Hancock Central and an energizer bunny on the court. You can always count on exceptional effort out of Taylor no matter the stakes. A classic heart over height player, Taylor went for 17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a win over A1 Basketball. The southpaw has jitterbug quickness and the toughness to get the job done. He hit 2 threes but did most of his damage getting to the rim and putting the pressure on the defense. The lefty went 5-7 from the line. It will be fun to see what Taylor does for an encore as he will look to repeat in Sparta.
2021 6-2 CG Raheem Swain – A1 Basketball – Lithonia
Swain caught my eye has a long shifty guard that can make things happen off the bounce. The Bulldog has a quick handle that can shake defenders. He broke down the defense in got into the lane when he wanted to. Swain knocked down a pair of threes. He finished with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Raheem looks like a big-time sleeper that could turn some heads in an elevated role at Lithonia.
2021 5-10 PG Kawasiki Ricks – A1 Basketball – Columbia
Another fearless undersized guard, I was impressed with how Kawasiki Ricks was able to control his team and balance scoring with facilitating. For his size, Ricks did a great job of slicing into the lane and was very effective in transition. Just like Jamal Taylor, Ricks also led his team in rebounding as he collected 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. He’s had a strong summer scoring the ball and should see the ball in his hands even more this upcoming season as he returns to Columbia as DeKalb County’s leader in assists at 5.4 per game.
2021 6-3 SG Ian Davis – AC Georgia – Discovery
Coming off the bench, Davis quickly made his presence felt. The potent scorer showcased his offensive arsenal against Team Dickerson, pouring in a team-high 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Davis has a quick trigger from beyond the arc and doesn’t need much space to launch accurately. He drilled 3 threes. Davis also got to the rim with some hard drives and finished in traffic. Ian has a well-rounded offensive game and can catch fire quickly from all three levels. He’s a good-looking prospect for schools in search of a point-getter on the perimeter.
2021 6-8 C Taje Kelly – Team Dickerson – Grayson
With a trimmed down body, Taje Kelly showed some flashes throughout the weekend. Against smaller teams, Kelly dominated like he should. He put up 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists against Atlanta Timberwolves White. He followed up with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block vs. AC Georgia. Kelly looked more decisive when he got the ball on the low block. He made quick moves and was aggressive inside. He liked to dive middle and jump stop with two feet to power up with either hand. Kelly isn’t as high profile as Grayson teammates Ian Schieffelin or Chauncey Wiggins, but he is more than usable and could play his way onto some more Low Major radars if he is able to earn enough minutes come the high school season. Kelly picked up an offer from Charleston Southern in July. He’s always been a reliable banger and rebounder off the bench but if he can consistently score with his back to the basket, he will have added a whole new dimension to his game.
2021 6-0 PG Iajah Phillips – GA Canes – Lanier
In an ugly low scoring gritty game, Iajah Phillips helped keep the GA Canes afloat while both teams struggled to score. He finished with a game-high 12 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal in a 40-38 win. Phillips is a strong guard that brings football toughness and super athleticism to the table. He did a good job of getting to the basket and powering through contact. Defensively he’s very effective thanks to his long arms and mixture of strength and speed.
2021 6-0 PG Jax Bouknight – Atlanta Timberwolves White – Blessed Trinity
Bouknight had a coming out party at LakePoint Live II, pouring in the points. He came out of the gates blazing against Team Dickerson before ending his day with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. Bouknight is lightning quick and hard to stay in front of when he gets a head of steam. He shot the ball extremely well, canning 4 threes. Jax can both run an offense as a facilitator or play go-to guy and score the ball when needed. He’s the complete package and extension of the coach on the floor. D-II schools should make him a priority before he gets the attention of D-I programs.
2021 6-5 F Kalib Clinton – Game Elite Orange – Jackson County
Trailing 40-19 after JD Davison dunked a defender into oblivion, instead of laying down and giving up, Game Elite Orange came storming back for a thrilling 96-92 overtime win over the Nike Elite Stars. Kalib Clinton, a Charleston Southern-commit, was a workhorse in the second half. Clinton’s effort and toughness inside could not be matched as he scored 23 of his team-high 29 points in the second half while adding 13 rebounds. Clinton is a quick leaper and explodes for rebounds. He finished everything with authority up close and left no room for being denied. It’s a shame that the state hasn’t been able to fully appreciate his talent as Jackson County has yet to make the state playoffs with Clinton on the roster and has compiled a 3-31 record in the tough Region 8-AAA. Now moving up to Region 8-AAAAA, if Clinton has enough help around him the Panthers may be able to claw their way into the playoffs. After averaging 27 points and 10 rebounds his junior season, Kalib Clinton may be the best player in Georgia you likely haven’t seen.
2021 6-3 PG Omari Fonteno – Game Elite Orange – Douglas County
Omari Fonteno tallied 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals – a solid all-around stat line – but it was his defense that stood out the most as he helped make timely stops on JD Davison to help Game Elite Orange complete their wild comeback. Possessing great length on the perimeter, Fonteno didn’t shutdown Davison but did just enough to make life hard when it really mattered. Fonteno did a good job moving his feet and having active hands on the perimeter. His overall floor game gives him great value.
2021 6-1 PG EJ Walker – Game Elite Orange – Stephenson
A strong stocky guard, EJ Walker was a consistent threat on offense. He didn’t make too many highlight plays, but he was steady. Walker has the strength to finish off drives but also the peace of mind to pull-up and take short jumpers to avoid shot blockers. He’s a reliable guard that can handle against pressure and keep his cool. He had 16 points, 2 assists and 2 steals.
2021 6-3 SG Zyair Greene – Game Elite Orange – Miller Grove
Zyair Greene has always been one of the state’s most overlooked consistent scorers. He brought his hard hat on Saturday and got to work right away against Nike Elite Stars. Greene pitched in 22 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. He’s a tough guard that loves to throw his body into the teeth of the defense and earn a tough bucket. Greene’s got good balance and powers through crowds. He’s got a reliable jump shot as well that stretches to the three-point line. Greene’s physicality allows him to be an effective rebounder from the guard position. He’s a sneaky good player that should at the very least be on D-II radars.
2021 5-11 PG Najhae Colon – Georgia Select All-Stars – Kell
Najhae Colon set the tone against Team Forrest with his persistent full court pressure defense. Colon was a pit bull on D, picking up as soon as the ball was inbounded. His tenacity and aggressiveness led to deflections and turnovers. He did a great job of turning ball handlers multiple times and making them uncomfortable. Colon takes great pride in his defense and vocally urged his teammates to meet his level throughout the game. On offense, he tossed in 13 points and is a dangerous three-point shooter.
2021 6-5 W KJ Doucet – Team Forrest – Chapel Hill
Senior season will be a memorable one for KJ Doucet as his 15.2 point-per-game average should near 20 a night as transfers and graduation has hit Chapel Hill. Doucet went about his business in a loss to the Georgia Select All-Stars and stay aggressive in the isolation-heavy offense. KJ finished with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. He forced the issue and bulled his way into the paint to draw fouls. He went 8-10 from the line. Doucet knocked down 3 threes as well to round out his scoring. He’s a three-level threat that uses his strong body to cause mismatches. Doucet is a player that schools of all levels will want to familiarize themselves with.