–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.
The boys from Middle Georgia romped their way to the 16U HoopSeen/USSSA National Championship this past weekend at Suwanee Sports Academy. The Supersonics finished a perfect 6-0 with an average margin of victory of 29.5 points, scoring two wins by 46 and 47 points. In the championship game, the Sonics raced out to a large early lead and never looked back, coasting to a 65-42 win over Team Phoenix.
Consisting of players from Upson-Lee, Taylor County, Perry, Crawford County, Manchester and First Presbyterian Day, the Supersonics’ full-court trapping press wreaked havoc all weekend forcing turnovers that led to easy buckets.
The catalyst for the Supersonics was sophomore point guard Zyrice Scott. Scott led a trio of Upson-Lee Knights (23-4) that powered the Supersonics on both ends of the floor. The slight of build 5-foot-10 guard was lethal in transition. In the Sonics’ 81-34 rout of the Tampa Bayhawks, Scott netted a game-high 20 points. He drilled five threes and punished the Bayhawks when they left him open. Scott doesn’t have a lightning fast trigger on his jumper, but he is pure once he sets his feet and lines it up. With the ball in his hands, Scott is quick laterally and can shake his way past defenders. He scored eight points in a 62-29 win over the Rebels and in the finals he added 12 points.
Don’t let his look fool you. Zyrice Scott can play.
While Scott provided the outside shooting, big man and fellow Knight Travon Walker was a wrecking ball inside. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound star defensive tackle with an offer from UGA already entering just his sophomore season, can get the job done on the hardwood as well. Mobility, strength and length were all on display for Walker. He and Scott worked the pick-and-roll with Walker diving hard to the basket for easy buckets.
Walker excelled at catching passes while on the move and rebounding in traffic. His soft hands and strong grip allowed him to control the paint. He posted 15 points and nine rebounds against the Bayhawks and eight points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks against the Rebels. In the championship Walker once again led the Sonics with 12 points, winning his battle with 6-foot-7 Ibrahim Dodo.
Travon Walker will be a top big in Middle Georgia
The third-head of the Supersonic attack? Tye Fagan. The 6-foot-3 junior guard that led Upson-Lee in scoring last season at 20 points per game came off the bench as an electric sixth man. Fagan’s consistency and ability to score in bunches was something no other team was able to match. Fagan scored from all three levels, showing a three-point touch, a mid-range game and the ability to take smaller defenders into the post and shoot over them.
Fagan, a 3.6 GPA student, disrupted opponents with his active hands atop the Supersonic press. Against the Bayhawks he tossed in 10 points, three assists and three steals. He then went for 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks vs. the Rebels.
Tye Fagan is a versatile scorer
Perry High School’s Jake Smith also announced his presence with his play this weekend. The 6-foot-1 rising junior netted 10 points against the Rebels and contributed on defense and with his passing throughout the weekend. As a sophomore at Perry (18-11), Smith averaged 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and a team-leading 4.2 assists per game.
Travon Walker wasn’t the only star football player on the court with the Middle Georgia Supersonics. Lyn-J Dixon of Taylor County provided a spark off the bench with his non-stop motor and electric athleticism. Dixon, who gained national headlines after his 451-yard, 5-TD performance last season as a running back – yes, a running back – is entering his junior season and holds offers from Alabama, Tennessee and UGA.
Back to the court; Dixon added 12 points and three steals off the bench against the Bayhawks. Dixon is at his best in the open court and soars to the hoop in transition once he attacks the lane. He and Jahnile Hill (Manchester) added a dimension of relentlessness off the bench, both smothering opposing ball handlers and igniting the Sonics’ press.
Though the GHSA state championships have been moved out of Macon, there is still plenty of reason to visit Middle Georgia. The area is filled with talent and will give the Metro Atlanta schools a run for their money whenever they meet.
Some players receive college interest early on in their high school career and become much ballyhooed prospects. Some pan out while others don’t at the next level. On the other hand, there are tons of kids that have the ability to play at the college level but just need the right fit and need the right exposure. Here are a few Class of 2017 rising seniors that don’t hold dozens of major offers or are guys you might not have heard of, but most importantly are players that could contribute at the at the D-I level if the right opportunity presents itself.
Mohammed Abubukar – 6’8” – Eagle’s Landing
Not a familiar name to those in Georgia, the big fella will be his senior season after transferring in from Hamilton Heights (TN). Abubukar is well-built and can overwhelm smaller opponents inside. In the lane, Abubukar is confident with his back to the basket, displaying a quick spin and drop step to free himself. It will be interesting to see what type of impact he makes at Eagle’s Landing, but from my short glimpse I had of him at Georgia State Team Camp, I liked what I saw.
Mo Merritt – 6’7” – North Cobb Christian
Mo Merritt should attract some eyes now that he has transferred from Sprayberry to North Cobb Christian. He will learn under state championship winning coach Greg Matta and have a chance to anchor a frontline that needed an athletic and physical presence. Merritt looked very good at the Kennesaw State Elite Camp, rebounding at a high rate and altering shots. An active motor and a soft touch in the paint will do him well. His long build reminds me of current KSU Owl Jordan Jones, who starred at St. Francis and has earned a starting role at Kennesaw.
Avery Wilson – 6’3” – Forest Park
Physicality? Check. Scoring? Check. Avery Wilson hasn’t gotten as much publicity as his game warrants at Forest Park. He averaged 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds as a junior and should once again be one of the top scorers in his classification. Playing with 17U Infinite Skillz this offseason, Wilson has turned heads with his running back style of play, hitting holes in the defense and exploding for rim-rocking finishes. Wilson shot 180 free throws last year, proving he isn’t afraid of contact. He has a nice lefty three-point stroke that I hope he implements more his senior season.
Another 17U Infinite Skillz guard, Isaiah Miller was second in Class AAAA in scoring as a junior pouring in 25.3 points per game in addition to his 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.3 steals and 1.0 block. Sources have said he has withdrawn from Eastside and might land at Jonesboro, but nothing is set in stone just yet. If this great scorer can add a reliable three-point shot (28-of-95; 29%), watch out.
Khalil Cuffee – 6’4” – Langston Hughes
Khalil Cuffee has the size and strength (200 lbs) to play guard at the next level. He has the sweet stroke to do so also, posting averages of 18.5 points and 15.5 points per game his last two seasons while shooting 44% and 42% respectively from beyond the arc. Cuffee is as battle-tested as any guard in the state, playing major minutes since his freshman season and playing in the brutal Region 3-AAAAAA, which has produced countless High Major D-I players over the past two years including Jared Harper (Auburn), Brandon Robinson (UNC), Collin Sexton and many more. He draws another deep region this year and will once again get a chance to test himself, most importantly on the defensive side of the ball. With interest from UNC-Greensboro, New Orleans, Chattanooga, Florida Gulf Coast, South Alabama and Georgia Southern, Cuffee is still waiting for a school to pull the trigger on his first scholarship offer. He is finishing up his summer circuit with the Ware Prep Raiders.
Back in March, Tennessee Tech and Mercer were two of the schools showing the most interest in Evan Cole. By the time the high school season rolls around, I have a feeling they will have company. The best kept secret in Forsyth County is no longer a secret. At 6-foot-8, Cole is a deceptive athlete that scores inside and out. When matched up against tough competition, Cole finds a way to shine. Cole carried South Forsyth against Norcross in the first round of the Class AAAAAA State Playoffs and put a scare into the Blue Devils by giving four-star forwards Lance Thomas and Rayshaun Hammonds all they could handle. Cole should become a priority for schools in the southeast if he continues his upward trajectory.
A versatile lefty guard that does everything for Coach Gil Davis at South Paulding, Kane Williams is one of the more established players on this list with three offers already in hand from Middle Tennessee State, Alcorn State and Southern, but more should be on the way. Averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, Williams can help college teams on both sides of the ball. A quick athlete that glides to the hole, once Williams polishes his distance jumper, he has a chance to really take off.
Phlan Fleming – 6’5” – Cedar Shoals
Long arms and a competitive fire are two good qualities to have. Fleming can play passing lanes with ease and can score the ball as well. He is a diverse scorer in the sense that he can kill teams from three-point land once he gets hot and also is crafty enough to get into the paint and finish at the rim. Fleming was an integral piece of Cedar Shoals’ Class AAAAA Final Four run and should be the focal point of the offense his senior season. He’s gotten interest from a handful of schools but is still waiting for the scholarship offers to pile in. With a productive offseason with the Jaguars and 17U AC Georgia Phoenix, Fleming should see his recruitment pick up over the next few months.
Trevion Lamar – 6’5” – Jenkins
While Phlan Fleming might be described as a long and thin guard/forward, Trevion Lamar is the opposite. At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Lamar is a bruising forward with a versatile skill-set. He doesn’t look like the smoothest athlete, but Lamar can indeed get up and down the floor and finish with authority. Down at Jenkins High School, he won a state title in 2015 and led the Warriors to a runner-up finish in 2016. The offense ran through Lamar last year, leading Jenkins in scoring (16.4), rebounding (9.5), assists (3.7), blocks (1.7) and a fraction away from leading in steals at 2.6. Lamar might be an inch or two away from being a top-end power forward at the next level, but his work ethic has done him well, exemplified by his three-point shooting. As a sophomore he went 8-of-21. As a junior, his added dimension grew to 28-of-84, still having room for improvement.
Jules Erving – 6’5” – Holy Innocents’
If good bloodlines matter, you should be sold on Julius Erving’s son. If not, he will earn your respect by his play on the court. Somewhat of a late bloomer, Erving’s best ball is still ahead of him. He earned Sandy’s Spiel Class AA Most Improved Player honors after making the most of his new found role and averaging 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. To no surprise, Erving is a smooth and above-average athlete. I caught a glimpse of his potential in Holy Innocents’ season opening game where he absolutely took over down the stretch and nearly led the Golden Bears to a come from behind victory over eventual Class AAAAA quarterfinalist Riverwood. In that game he produced 19 points and 11 rebounds. When I saw him this summer at Georgia State Team Camp, it looked like he put on some more muscle to his slender frame. Erving does a lot of his scoring inside thanks to his motor whether it be off rebounds or slashes to the hoop, but if he can consistently stretch his offensive arsenal to the three-point line, Jules can become a jewel.
A virtual unknown last season exploded onto the scene at Lincoln County and parlayed his play into being named Sandy’s Spiel Class A-Public Player of the Year after averaging nearly a triple-double at 15 points, 13 rebounds and 8 blocks per game. Rand’s value right now comes on the defensive side of the ball with his elite shot blocking. He is a good enough athlete to play a stretch-four or guard small forwards on defense. Rand’s game is growing every day and still has untapped potential on the offensive side of the ball. Kennesaw State, Presbyterian, South Alabama and VMI have all shown interest. Rand has the length and bounce that peers covet, it’s up to him to stay focused on and off the court to fully reach his potential.
Marcal Knolton is another athletic forward from a small school that has put up video game numbers over his career. Not as elite a shot blocker as Ahmad Rand, Knolton has a high-energy motor that has made him one of the most feared big men in Middle Georgia. As a sophomore he averaged 17 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks as the Eagles lost in the Class AA title game. As a junior he ramped up his play, posting 20 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game.
Tyreke Johnson – 6’4” – Woodstock
Kennesaw State is in on the Woodstock standout. Johnson gets the job done on both ends of the floor and is blossoming as a leader as well. He was the catalyst in the Wolverines making the state playoffs for the first time in school history (20 years) and will be asked to power the pack again. He averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Johnson was a foul magnet, attempting a monstrous 247 free throws over his 28 games – 8.8 attempts per game. There’s no denying that Johnson can get to the basket. The next step in Johnson’s progression is similar to a lot of players listed above: a consistent three-point shot. Johnson hit 22-of-74 last year at a 30% rate. His shot is far from broke, but it’s something he will need to add to his arsenal eventually.
Tae Hardy – 6’3” – Miller Grove
The spotlight is back on Tae Hardy, now that a talented senior class has graduated. Former Miller Grove head coach and current Georgia State Assistant Sharman White told me at the beginning of last season that Hardy is “quietly kept as probably one of the best players in the state with his ability and what he can do with the basketball.” Hardy willingly took a bit of a backseat to Alterique Gilbert (UConn) and Aaron Augustin (Stephen F. Austin), averaging 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals, but everything worked out as the Wolverines captured their seventh state title. So how did Hardy earn this lofty praise from an accomplished coach such as White? As a sophomore at rivaling Southwest DeKalb, Hardy averaged 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. This summer Hardy has gotten back to his bucket-getting ways and has looked good doing so. Expect a potent year from Hardy.
Damion Rosser has projectable size at the guard position and has helped turn the Henry County backcourt along with teammate Javon Greene into one of the most exciting to watch in the state. Rosser is an attacking guard that excels at rebounding. He plays above the rim and can be a plus defender when he wants to be. Rosser along with Greene, has had a strong summer with 17U Atlanta All-Stars and is in-line for another stat-stuffing senior season.
Evan Jester, a stretchy and athletic forward from Sandy Creek, will have a chance to shine for Coach Anthony McKissic now that Elias Harden has transferred to Pebblebrook and Christian Turner is off to Gardner-Webb. Jester is everything you want in a player, especially off the floor as he boasts a 4.0 GPA and 25 ACT. Only Alcorn State has offered Jester who averaged 9.7 points and 8.6 rebounds as a third option. Ivy League schools are heavily involved with Cornell, Brown and Princeton leading the way while Low Majors Gardner-Webb, Wofford, VMI, Air Force and Nebraska of Omaha have checked in. Jester has a bright future ahead of him whether he pursues his basketball career or not.
Noah Gurley – 6’7” – Fayette County
A true late bloomer, Noah Gurley exploded onto the scene at Fayette County last year, winning Sandy’s Spiel Class AAAA Most Improved Player honors in a landslide after he upped his slash line of 2.1 ppg/2.6 rpg/0.7 bpg to 16.8/6.6/3.7. The lanky forward listed in March that Tennessee Tech, Kennesaw State, South Alabama and James Madison all have contacted him after his breakthrough season which saw him win Region 5-AAAA Player of the Year. Gurley has stated he feels most comfortable at the three position at the next level and is continuing to improve his handles and jumper. Gurley has one more season to raise his stock even higher.
Preston Horne – 6’6” – Tift County
Preston Horne has been a wrecking ball in South Georgia for years and has an important senior season coming up after a torn ACL ended his junior season abruptly. Before the injury, Horne, a physical presence in the low post, was averaging a team-best 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Tift County has had good ties to the ACC in years past with Tadric Jackson at Georgia Tech and his younger brother, Tyrie, entering his freshman season at Virginia Tech.
Avery Wilson of Forest Park can flat out score the ball. I said he was 6-foot-1 in my preview, but after shaking hands with him and meeting him face to face, he’s closer to 6-foot-3 or maybe 6-foot-4 on a good day. Stock up. The explosive guard didn’t play in the first half in a loss to Westminster but decided to give it a go in the second half.
Wilson was nursing a beat up ankle but that didn’t stop him from making an immediate impact. His first two touches in the second half? Two layups in a row, charging his way down the lane. Wilson wasn’t done there. Not just a put-your-head-down-and-attack guy, Wilson banged in three threes including a four-point play. He finished with 14 points, three rebounds and one steal in one half of work. Not bad, considering he hurt his ankle late in the game and did not re-enter. He’s healthy now and will continue to get buckets his senior season. Don’t sleep on the kid from Forest Park.
Bright Future
With Malik Beasley being the 19th pick in the NBA Draft, Kaiser Gates entering year two at Xavier, 6-foot-7 forward Chance Anderson gone to San Francisco and Kobi Simmons off to Arizona after a McDonald’s All-American career, one would think the St. Francis dynasty would finally be entering its twilight right? You might want to hold off on those predictions because Coach Drew Catlett is enamored with his group, especially his young talent that has worked its way up through the pipelines.
Freshmen Dwon Odom and Chase Ellis are ready to make an impact. Odom at 6-foot-2 but still room to grow a few more inches, is a freakish athlete that has had a great year. The 6-foot-2 Ellis might not have quite the athleticism or ceiling as Odom, but he is an elite scorer, pumping in over 1,000 points over his middle school career.
Final Four
Miller Grove 27, Cedar Shoals 24
Bucket-getter extraordinaire Tae Hardy poured in 13 points and three steals, including the game-clinching steal and dunk at the buzzer. Kevin Paige continued his strong camp with four rebounds and two blocks. Cedar Shoals received 12 points from Snipe Hall and five rebounds. Phlan Fleming finished with six points and three boards.
Cam Chavers, last season’s leading scorer for the Panthers as a sophomore, dropped in nine points and talented sophomore point guard Jamiel Wright added six points but the Wolverines were able to hold on. Late blooming post, 6-foot-5 senior Cameron Crowe was able to negate Ahmir Langlais’ dominance inside (four points) and outscored him with seven points of his own. Noah Frith, an active 6-foot-4 junior when healthy, tagged on six points in the win.
Championship
Miller Grove 35, Woodstock 18
Kevin Paige and Cameron Crowe battled inside. Both players saw their stock rise at GSU
The 7-time state champion Wolverines raced out to a 9-0 lead against the first time in 20 years state playoff berth Wolverines and never looked back on their way to the Session II title. Jalen Mason, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, poured in 11 points for Miller Grove. I liked what Mason did over the course of camp as an active defender on the perimeter that keyed a lot of breakouts over the weekend. Tae Hardy scored six in the win and Kevin Paige corralled six rebounds.
For Woodstock, Tyreke Johnson did everything he could to lead the Wolverines. Johnson, who had a strong showing at Kennesaw State Elite Camp which led to an invite back to practice with KSU, continued his hot summer. The 6-foot-4 guard netted 11 points in the loss. Cameron Crowe performed admirably against the bulkier Miller Grove front line coming up with three blocks.
Simply put, Jenkins dominated this game. Senior point guard Zion Williams finished with nine points and four assists, three assists coming off alley-oops, two to junior Tyrone Scott and one off the backboard to Trevion Lamar. Scott is a good athlete at his forward position, standing 6-foot-3. He averaged 8.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as the Warriors fell in the Class AAA state finals. Against Duluth, he scored a game-high 14 points to go with his eight rebounds. Lamar scored six points.
Junior guard Adam Flagler was the only Wildcat that could find the bottom of the net for Duluth. He scored a team-high nine points and added four rebounds and two assists. Lamont Smith was held to four points while Kennesaw State Elite Camp participant Jalen Hodges finished with two points and five rebounds. Alex Powell, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, grabbed just one rebound and didn’t score. He did not see the floor in the second half with a DNP-CD.
Cedar Shoals 52, Etowah 40
A lot of chatter has come from Towne Lake about Etowah building something special to rival Woodstock. Coach Allen Whitehart got a great test from Class AAAAA semifinalist Cedar Shoals and nearly stunned the Jaguars before Phlan Fleming came to life. Etowah jumped out to an early lead behind the sharp shooting duo of Lewis Simonson and Nick Nagy. Nagy hit four threes and finished with 12 points while Simonson canned three and ended with 11. 6-foot-6 junior post Julian Baldwin notched eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Cedar Shoals’ press eventually wore on the Eagles. Fleming caused the smaller Etowah guards nightmares, finishing with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and eight steals. Stavion Stevenson hurt the Eagles inside as well with 14 points. Snipe Hall was held to six points and five rebounds but Q’titrius Dillard provided a spark with eight points.
Etowah can be a dangerous team when they are knocking down threes. They hit six in the first half but just one in the second half when they began to struggle with the Jags’ length and athleticism.
King’s Ridge 36, Chattooga 34
The Foster twins are electric on the gridiron and hardwood
North Georgia’s finest, the Chattooga Indians who finished 23-5 last year, dropped a close game to King’s Ridge. I said in my preview that the Indians only lose three players for this upcoming season, but Head Coach Jared Groce informed me that it is now seven. The most notable loss being 6-foot-6 senior center Cameron Evans, who has swapped allegiances with now former region foe Darlington in order to be the Tigers’ starting quarterback. Outside of Evans last year, Chattooga’s tallest player was 6-foot-3 Dee McCutchins, who has since graduated.
Back for Coach Groce is the dynamic backcourt of twins Isaiah and Isaac Foster. The 5-foot-10 guards are feisty and can light up opponents that don’t take them serious. Isaac scored four points in the loss but brother Isaiah gave King’s Ridge everything they could handle. He took over down the stretch and put the Indians in a position to win before a late foul at half court diving for a loose ball damaged the Indians’ shot at winning, which resulted in King’s Ridge hitting the game-winning free throws.
Isaiah finished with 12 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. He can get to the hole with the dribble and can drain the three-ball. The Foster Bros. are must see basketball in North Georgia.
Sandy Creek 28, Therrell 26
TJ Bickerstaff (23) will be asked to take over Elias Harden’s scoring role
Without 6-foot-7 senior forward Evan Jester who was on a visit to Cornell, Sandy Creek was able to hold off Therrell. Junior guard Jarred Godfrey led the Patriots with eight points and two steals. 6-foot-6 sophomore TJ Bickerstaff contributed five points and three boards. Chris Porter had five points but my biggest game changer was the smallest man on the court; 5-foot-6 junior Kam Miller. The jitterbug lefty disrupted the Therrell guards with his quick hands, leading to four steals.
King’s Ridge 24, Centennial 21
Mountain of a man Tolu Jacobs, the 7-foot, 280-pound junior, didn’t pan out in Georgia and is now on the West Coast. Coach Scepter Brownlee is not deterred however, even with the loss of Jacobs and explosive scorer Ellis Merriweather (Alpharetta). Senior Sean Flanigan, who missed last year with a knee injury, re-enters the fold for 2016-17. The 6-foot-2 guard scored eight points in the win and collected three rebounds, two steals and a block as well. Flanigan attacked the rim well and finished when he got there. 6-foot-5 stretch forward Eric Coleman Jr. looked good knocking down two threes. Coach Brownlee expects good things from his duo along with senior point guard Kameron Dozier.
