Sandy's Spiel Showdown Boys Top Performers
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Sandy’s Spiel Showdown Boys Top Performers


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Christian Hernandez2023 6-0 SG Christian Hernandez – North Cobb Christian
In what had to be a record-setting performance, Christian Hernandez put North Cobb Christian on his back in a tough 69-66 overtime loss to Chattooga. Hernandez was unconscious from deep nailing 10 threes including a game-tying buzzer beater that sent the game to overtime. Hernandez busted Chattooga’s zone, hitting threes from all over. His quick release and ultimate confidence as being the go-to guy with Albert Wilson III unavailable resulted in 32 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Small schools looking for an elite three-point specialist, Christian Hernandez could be your man.

Trey Smith2023 6-0 G Trey Smith – Chattooga
Chattooga’s endless cycle of scrappy guards saw Trey Smith become the latest to fill up the box score in their 69-66 overtime win. Smith scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half and collected 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Trey hit a pull-up jumper and a three but was mainly focused on slashing to the hoop, finding points downhill. Smith hurt his knee early in the fourth quarter but quickly returned to gut out the rest of the game. His energy on defense played a big role in helping the Indians come out on top in their seesaw battle.

Elijah Ford2023 5-11 PG Elijah Ford – Kennesaw Mountain
There wasn’t anything flashy about Elijah Ford’s productive performance against Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe in Kennesaw Mountain’s 50-26 win. Ford was steady and consistent, putting his fingerprints on the game on both ends of the floor. Elijah scored all his points on drives to the basket aside from going 4-4 from the foul line. Ford, a strong athlete that can elevate to the rim, was able to get his shoulders past defenders and finish with ease as LFO presented no hinderance at the rim. Ford led the Mustangs in scoring and overall created a majority of their points serving as a playmaker. In Coach Eric Blair’s offense, Ford is invaluable with how he’s able to organize the offense and execute so many plays in Blair’s set-heavy offense. Elijah finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

Braylin Giddens2023 5-11 PG Braylin Giddens – Cherokee
An unsung hero in Cherokee’s 6-0 start to the season, Braylin Giddens has become a keystone to the Warriors’ success. Not often will Giddens lead the Warriors in scoring as he has such high-octane scorers around him, but his ability to lubricate the offense and keep the well-oiled machine running smoothly is why Cherokee is so tough to defend with their guard-heavy lineup. The southpaw is capable of hitting shots and making plays downhill, but where he impresses me most is his unselfish ball movement and aggressive defense. Giddens is an efficient playmaker that can penetrate and kick to shooters. Cherokee netted all eight of their threes in the first half against Darlington to build a 35-21 halftime lead and coast to a 66-44 victory on Saturday. Braylin seems to always be in a position to makes plays defensively when guarding on the perimeter. He has active hands and good instincts, able to frustrate ball handlers with his pesky quickness leading to deflections and steals. Giddens tallied 11 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals, stepping up big time as Tayden Owens was lost for the game less than two minutes in.

Lawrence Sanford2025 6-1 G Lawrence Sanford – Cherokee
A certified scorer, Lawrence Sanford caught fire in the second quarter with three threes, part of his four on the game which ballooned Cherokee to an early double-digit that they would never relinquish. Sanford dropped in a game-high 16 points to go with his 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. The wiry guard can score in bunches with his jumper and provided a shot in the arm once Tayden Owens got hurt. If Owens misses any significant time, Lawrence is more than capable of sliding into a starting role and providing firepower from beyond the arc.

2023 6-3 SG Brent Bowman – Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Not much went right for LFO in their 50-26 loss to Kennesaw Mountain, only scoring nine points in the second half, but Brent Bowman was as dangerous as ever as he did all he could to keep the Warriors competitive. Bowman finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals, leading his team in every category. The elite jump shooter hit four pull-ups. Bowman loves to spin off of defenders off the dribble and likes to jump stop on drives and spin back with a low exaggerated sweep through which gets him into his turnaround fadeaway. While I knew his ability to get to his spots was his strong suit, it was Bowman’s passing that really impressed me. He has great zip on his passes and will leave the ground and make last-second split decisions in the air to make accurate passes, looking like a player in NBA 2K that decides to abort a jump shot and swing the ball instead. Brent also has some flash on his passing, able to hit teammates on the money with behind the back dishes. Bowman should be on Low Major and D-II radars. With the right fit, he could flourish at the next level.