2022 6-6 W Peyton Law – Atlanta Wolfpack – Calhoun
The most impressive player I saw this weekend in the 17U division was Peyton Law. Down to just five players on the roster, the versatile swingman carried the Atlanta Wolfpack to a 3-0 Sunday and a 4-1 weekend overall. Law did it all. He scored in every way imaginable as a true mismatch. He scored with his back to the basket, posting hard and finishing with hooks and fadeaways. He attacked from the wing, beating his defender off the dribble. He got on the offensive glass for putbacks and he knocked down threes. Law did whatever he wanted on offense against the Reach Higher Kings, dumping in 30 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Peyton played all over the floor. He spent time in the high post, the low post and on the perimeter. Law is a good athlete with a nose for the ball and overall toughness which leads to his physical play. Aside from his well-rounded offensive game, it was his passing that really stood out. He delivered assists on the money when passing out of the post or off the dribble. Peyton’s production wasn’t a mirage. He was utterly dominant the entire weekend averaging 24.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 blocks. Law is in line for a monster season at Calhoun, a team I think could be a nightmare matchup between he and 6-foot-8 Dylan Faulkner. Peyton is a no-brainer D-II prospect and someone that should at the very least be on Low Major D-I radars.
2022 6-3 G Kedar Bodie – Team Power – Butler
When Kedar Bodie revved it up, there was nothing the opposition could do. The hard-playing power guard provides major toughness on both sides of the ball. He’s got a junkyard dog mentality and can lock down on the perimeter. Bodie is a bit of a tweener at the guard position, but it serves him well as he can defend multiple positions. His aggressiveness lifted Team Power to an 84-81 overtime win over Atlanta Timberwolves Green. Team Power never led in regulation but rode Bodie in the second half to force the deciding extra quarter. Kedar used his energy to get on the offensive glass, scoring on putbacks. When he honed in his outside shot, the defense was in trouble. He began hitting pull-ups jumpers from the mid-range and then drained 3 threes. Bodie finished with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in front of South Georgia Tech. He should be one of Augusta’s most popular prospects this season.
2022 6-3 G Brasen James – Team Power – Evans
Every time I watch Brasen James play, I never come away disappointed. James always has his motor cranked all the way up. His floor game is diverse, able to do a little bit of everything. As a big guard with bounce, James can play 1-3. He’s strong enough to get to the basket but also has enough touch to pull-up from the mid-range or step outside and shoot the three. For a guard, he is a great rebounder. He is routinely able to earn second chance opportunities while crashing inside. Brasen finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. He is a plug-and-play type player that could immediately join a college rotation and provide productive minutes.
2022 6-0 PG Ethan Underwood – Atlanta Timberwolves Green – South Forsyth
It was a weekend of firsts for me, finally able to watch players that I had heard of but weren’t fortunate enough to watch play yet. I saw South Forsyth lose to Denmark in the regular season, one of just four rare losses, but Ethan Underwood did not play due to quarantine. Now I understand how much of a difference he must really make at South. Underwood was impressive throughout the tournament. He is a patient guard that lets plays develop. When he decides to make his move, is he uniquely shifty as he gets downhill. Underwood can sneak his way past defenders and hit shots from tough angles. It was quick to see that Ethan is a winning player. He hit timely shots all weekend long, drilling threes and finishing in traffic. I thought he did a nice job as a distributor as well and really understood how to pick and choose his spots. He sank 4 threes and finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in a narrow loss to Team Power, scoring 15 points in the second half.
2022 6-3 SG Caleb Lesch – Atlanta Timberwolves Green – West Forsyth
An off-guard with nice size, Caleb Lesch had a solid weekend and his best performance vs. Team Power. He drilled 4 threes and finished with 18 points. Lesch used his size when attacking the hoop, taking hard drives and spinning his way free. Where Caleb really added value was on the glass. He collected 11 rebounds and added 3 assists. Big guards that can shoot at a high level and produce in other areas when their shots aren’t falling are very hard to find. Lesch could be a sneaky good prospect for the right program.
2022 6-7 F Jake Mooney – Atlanta Timberwolves Green – West Forsyth
It was Jake Mooney’s coming out party as the big man averaged 18.8 points per game with highs of 29 and 26. He put up 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block vs. Team Power. Mooney is a reliable post presence. He is patient inside but decisive when making his moves. Jake has a strong drop step and can finish with either hand. What I really liked was his passing out of the post, able to play inside-out as he kicked out to open shooters. Mooney has stretch capabilities. He can put the ball on the floor and has to be guarded at the three-point line. Mooney looked comfortable playing in both half court settings and in transition. D-III programs have offered already but with more of the same production and a big senior season on the horizon, larger schools could come knocking.
2022 6-6 F Gabe Keene – Atlanta Timberwolves Green – Tallulah Falls
Tallulah Falls had a renaissance season as they flirted with the Top 10 – Gabe Keene was a big reason why. Keene is a skinny forward with a good feel. He found himself in the middle of everything on Saturday. He’s a solid rebounder and a real inside-out offensive threat. Keene is deceptively athletic. He can space the floor and get to the basket where he finishes with dunks. He also showed confidence in his three-point shot. Defensively, Keene has good timing and can meet opponents at the rim. Keene’s overall activity led to good things as he posted 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks vs. Team Power.
2022 6-4 CG Patrick Shelley – Hawks Elite – Darlington
I first saw Patrick Shelley back when he was a sophomore at Darlington, a relative unknown. I thought he had a chance to be a really good player and a college level recruit and after an All-State campaign as a junior, it seems like Shelley is fulfilling those prophecies. He is a big combo guard, capable of running the show but really effective off the ball as a slasher. Shelley is explosive when he decides to get to the bucket. He finishes drives with either hand and can tear down the rim if no one gets in his way. Patrick has a very good floor game. He routinely stuffs the stat sheet. He’s one of the better rebounding guards in the state and has the tools to be a lockdown perimeter defender. Developing a consistent outside shot will be the key to Shelley’s growth. If he can consistently knock down shots from the perimeter, Shelley could become something special.
2022 6-5 W Mekhi Mawdesley – BCB – Habersham Central
Down 23 points in the championship game, Mekhi Mawdesley caught fire. The lanky shooter has a lightning quick release and doesn’t need any space to fire accurately. He’s a microwave scorer that can heat up as soon as he sees one three drop. He moves well without the ball as he weaves his way around screens. He will need to add weight as defenders can sometimes try to get physical with him and bump him off course. Improving his game off the dribble and playing more compact will help him at the next level. Mawdesley has steadily been improving his athleticism, getting his first in-game dunk earlier in the spring. He is an interesting prospect that could really take off at the next level.