2023 6-4 G Jakai Newton – Atlanta Xpress – Newton
It was a High Major performance out of Jakai Newton this weekend as the explosive guard averaged 19.7 points per game. Newton checks all the boxes. He has the size, the athleticism and the skill to warrant major offers. Jakai got to the rim whenever he felt like it, using a smooth assault. His footwork was elite, using a quick crossover then a nimble spin to get to the rim. Newton finished with highlight dunks and punished anyone who jumped with him. He consistently shot the three and was able to start his own fast breaks after clearing rebounds. He posted 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in an opening win over BCB Black.
2023 6-6 W Tycen McDaniels – Atlanta Xpress – Spencer
I liked Tycen McDaniels back at the CTC Classic and now it seems like he is on the verge of becoming a household name. McDaniels passes the eye test as a long and athletic 6-foot-6 swingman. He looked comfortable on the perimeter and could attack off the dribble. McDaniels used his wiry frame to finish through contact and play above the rim. Tycen stayed aggressive but never forced the issue. He knocked down a three en route to finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. McDaniels can be a good defender when he sits down in stance. A few times he got caught reaching in instead of moving his feet, but all-in-all McDaniels was impactful on both ends of the court.
2023 5-9 G Austen Colton – Newnan Elite – East Coweta
The prolific scorer has showed no signs of slowing down this offseason as he led the 16U division in scoring again at 26.8 points per game this weekend. He started out the tournament with 24 points off 5 threes in a loss to the Georgia Stars. Colton does the heavy lifting for his team and is a high-volume player. He has a quick trigger with elite range, able to get his shot off the dribble effortlessly. Austen showed toughness getting to the basket as well, living at the line as he attempted 31 free throws over 4 games. While his scoring always catches the headlines, I was most impressed by his vision. Colton lasered in assists to teammates with no-look passes from tough angles. Knowing that all the attention was on him to score, he used it to his advantage to get easy layups for others.
2023 6-1 G Jadon Yeh – BCB – White County
Jadon Yeh is rock-solid. I loved him back at the beginning of his sophomore season and that sentiment hasn’t changed. Yeh is mature beyond his years. He’s polished and smooth. He is the type of player that can score an easy 20 points without the defense even realizing they are getting torched. Jadon hits outside shots but is most lethal when getting to the hoop. He’s a crafty finisher with measured footwork. He is getting better and better as a playmaker, able to diagnosis the defense and exploit its weaknesses. Yeh opened eyes on Sunday with his subtle explosiveness, having sneaky bounce as he tried to punch a dunk on two defenders. Yeh tallied 15 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in an 84-83 loss to Hawks Elite. With one All-State selection already under his belt, expect more to follow in Class 3A.
2023 6-8 F Brigham Rogers – Atlanta All-Stars – Blessed Trinity
It’s been a while since I’ve last seen Brigham Rogers. The first thing I noticed was his physical development. He’s been in the weight room and has packed on muscle since last Summer. In my last viewing of him, I noted that it looked like he was playing with more confidence and freedom on offense. On Sunday, he impressed me with his poise in the post. Rogers used a patient pivot to maneuver his way around defenders inside. With his added mass, it clearly has helped him be able to finish through contact. Brigham is certainly trending in the right direction and with the graduation of key guards, I would expect Blessed Trinity to slowly start tailoring their offense around Rogers over his final two seasons.