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Analysis, GHSA Basketball

Best of the South: Friday Standouts

Jaxon Etter2019 6-4 SG Jaxon Etter (Etowah) and his uncanny ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stage stole the show yet again in the Atlanta All-Stars’ 75-55 mercy rule of Team Georgia Magic. With a packed house of college coaches in attendance ranging from Young Harris to Georgia College to Georgia State to Cincinnati and many, many more, it was Etter who unleashed a 26-point barrage, drilling 6 threes to silence critics that question the consistency of his jumper. Not only did Etter carry the All-Stars from deep, he drew the assignment of defending red-hot prospect 2019 6-5 SG Devin Butts and held the sharpshooter to 6 points and a scoreless second half. No one quite knows what level Etter will land at, but performances like these continue to grow the mystique surrounding Cherokee County’s finest.

2019 5-10 PG Matt Gonzalo (St. Pius X) expertly orchestrated the Atlanta All-Stars with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals. Gonzalo’s jitterbug quickness and activity on defense kept the Magic from ever finding a flow in consecutive possession. Offensively, Gonzalo made all the right reads as he usually tends to do and sank two early threes to keep the defense honest.

Middle Georgia Prep 2019 6-6 F Clarence Jackson brought great energy and effort – as he always does – in Team Georgia Magic’s loss to the Atlanta All-Stars. Jackson posted 16 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. His passion for the game shines through with his toughness and mindset to battle every possession. Coaches in attendance said they wouldn’t be surprised to see Jackson surface on a D-I roster in due time.

The 16U Georgia Stars backcourt of 2020 6-2 PG Christian Wright (Milton) and 2019 6-4 SG Nahiem Alleyne (Mountain View) drew a bevy of High Major head coaches throughout the day. The early start time at 8 AM didn’t affect the duo in an 83-57 route of Team Parsons North Florida. Wright had 18 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. Alleyne posted 17 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Marlon Lewis2018 6-4 W Marlon Lewis (Morrow) stood out in a Georgia Heat loss. The available senior that was a First Team All-Region 3-AAAAA performer turned in 19 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Lewis knocked down three deep balls and showcased nice athleticism. He averaged 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds his senior season. He could be a nice late pick up at the lower levels.

Tyrese PowersTeam ProVision showcased the type of small school guys that are a pleasure to discover. Friday afforded us the opportunity to see 2020 6-8 F Tyrese Powers (Fitzgerald) for the first time. The long lefty showed flashes of D-I level ability in his first impression, finishing with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Powers runs the floor well and can play positions 3 through 5. His jump shot extended out to 17-feet with the threat of a three-point shot possibly growing into his arsenal over the next two seasons. He could end up developing into a Rashun Williams type prospect if he decides to put more time into his perimeter training than his post game. Powers should have a monster season in South Georgia.

ProVision flaunted another blossoming big in 2020 6-8 C Amaree McGriff (Lanier County). McGriff is a good athlete with long arms and a knack for blocking shots. The defensive minded post had 7 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 blocks on Friday after tallying the exact same stat line: 7-10-1-3 the night before. McGriff doesn’t have a ton of back-to-the-basket post moves right now, but he is involved in every carom off the rim and if he gets two hands on it, you can be sure that he will try to power back up with a dunk. McGriff has a tendency to have bad body langue at times. When he is engaged and doesn’t worry about a lack of post touches or calls not going his way, he is an extremely effective player at the Class A-Public level and currently an interesting D-2/JUCO caliber player due to his size and mobility.

Keandre Graham2019 5-10 G Keandre Graham (Early County) impressed with his marksmanship from deep beyond the arc. The spunky shooter caught fire, hitting five threes en route to 21 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in a win over the College Park Rim Rockers. Graham is tough to corral in the half court with his ability to stretch the floor and then create for teammates.

ProVision had steady contributions from Middle Georgia Prep bound 6-1 SG Stantravious Smith (Sherwood Christian Academy). The GICAA scoring maestro averaged 29.1 points per game as a junior before finishing his career going for 34.4 points, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2 steals and 1.7 blocks on average. On Friday he dumped in a fine all-around game with 14 points (3 threes), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Thursday night, he tacked on 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.

The 2019 Rebels saw the dynamic Bradwell Institute duo do the heavy lifting in two nightcap wins.

Isaiah Scott
Isaiah Scott
Javonte Lecounte
Javonte Lecounte

6-5 W Javonte Lecounte and 6-4 W Isaiah Scott flourished under Coach Simon Steele. Lecounte had 22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in an 85-73 win over Team SC Red before scoring 21 points vs. Pro One Select Grey. Scott stuffed the stat sheet as well, finishing with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals at 4:10 PM then exploding for 30 points at 8:50. If you’re a fan of big guards, Lecounte and Scott fit the mold as off-ball options. Lecounte is a strong downhill finisher. Scott has packed on muscle to his wiry frame and can score within the arc in a variety of ways, highlighted by a poster And-1 dunk against Team SC Red.

The Atlanta Timberwolves buried 12 threes in a big 85-74 win over the Nike Elite Stars.

2019 6-4 F Jon Morgan (Combine Academy) dropped in 20 points, drilling three threes to open with before using his supreme athleticism to get to the basket. The recent LaFayette graduate collected 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks as well. Morgan has turned himself from just a nice North Georgia player into a statewide known producer and a national prospect.

2019 6-7 F Austin Sloan (Houston County) had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Sloan, much like Morgan, is an explosive athlete that bounces high above the rim. His leaping ability helps him score around the basket. Sloan’s range extends close to the three-point line with a high release point. He still needs to get stronger to survive the rigors of a long grinding season. His post physicality and defense can improve. Sloan can block shots but working on his stationary defending and preventing deep post catches will be an area to focus on.

2020 6-2 G Jack Kostel (Mill Creek) has nice size, sharp mechanics and some wiggle in his game. He tossed in 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Kostel sank two three-pointers and did the rest of his damage getting to the foul line, going 6-of-8. Kostel looks like a very nice option come his senior season as he continues to progress.

The human microwave, 2019 6-0 PG DaMarcus Johnson (Tri-Cities) pumped in 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals in a loss to the Georgia Kings. Johnson hit 5 three-pointers, scoring 18 in the second half. Johnson is wired to score. I would like to see him stay aggressive throughout the course of the game. He can be a 20-point scorer and may need to be for Tri-Cities to repeat the success they had last season. As good of a scorer as Johnson is, give him credit for trying to stay true to his point guard position and rarely forcing bad shots. Johnson is content to get his in the flow of the game instead of constantly being on the hunt to find points.

Zeff Felton2019 6-6 F Zeff Felton (Dooly County) is a great sleeper in South Georgia. After growing two more inches since the end of last season, the double-double machine is primed to breakout. While he may not ever average 20 points per game, Felton knows where his strengths are: provide energy and attack the glass. Felton averaged 11.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as a junior. You can pencil him in to average another double-double. Felton is always crashing the boards and has a quick second leap to clean up misses. Felton should be a collegiate player. It’s up to him to determine what level.

Analysis, GHSA Basketball

On the Radar Hoops Elite 32

Hops

The best bounce in Georgia? It hands down belongs 2019 6-2 SG AJ Jackson of Westover. Jackson transfers in for his senior year and will bring toughness from Father Lopez High School in Daytona Beach. Jackson is the state’s best dunker and easily possesses a vertical over 40 inches. He has provided highlights all summer long with Georgia South.

Middle Georgia Sleepers

Jordan Stephens
Jordan Stephens

The Macon Bucks were led by 2019 6-1 PG Darius Dunn (Northeast-Macon) and 2019 6-5 W Jordan Stephens (Rutland). Dunn, a known commodity in Class AA, averaged 15.8 points per game as a junior and has a 16.4 career average as a three-year starter. He pumped in 15 points and 11 rebounds as a sparkplug. Stephens’ mix of size and diverse skill was intriguing. He produced 16 points (2 threes), 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 blocks. Stephens drifts from position to position, playing anywhere from 2 through 5 with the Bucks. His versatility, activity defensively and his court vision makes him a next level option for Non-D-I’s.

Westover

The trio of seniors Jordan Brown, Mike Isler and AJ Jackson is going to win Westover a lot of games in Class AAAA. They might be ready to take a run into the Final 4. Brown’s three-point shooting, Isler’s all-around hustle and rebounding along with Jackson’s tenacious athleticism composes a strong core.

Sniper

2019 6-3 SG Malik Battle (Alexander) is simply wired to score. He came off the bench for Infinite Skillz and was immediate offense, sinking two threes and finishing with 16 points. Battle is a great shooter from the mid-range and three-point line. He has performed like a future D-I player all offseason. Low-Majors and Mid-Majors will want a front row seat if they are looking for a fiery off guard that knows how to score.

Ballin Blazers

The Ballin Blazers backcourt of seniors Myles Todd (Pace Academy), Rodney Smith (Chamblee) and Darius Garcia (Shiloh) has been relentless this offseason. Todd and Smith have been efficient scorers. Both able to hit open jumpers and finish in the paint. Smith had 16 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block against the Georgia Canes while Todd added 15 points and 2 blocks. Garcia is an aggressive guard that can play bully ball with his gritty mindset. Not afraid to mix it up, Garcia had 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Inside, the story of 6-8 C Solomon Ray (Grayson) continues to unfold. The defensive anchor had 6 rebounds and 4 blocks off the bench. Having played basketball for only one year, Ray’s defensive instincts are well above average. He should be a redshirt option for a Low Major/D-II looking for some long term defensive help.

Analysis, GHSA Basketball

Battle For Georgia 17U Notes

Game Elite Gold (Champions)

6-8 F Jaylin Williams (Brantley County) was instrumental in Game Elite Gold capturing the Battle For Georgia 17U Championship. He and Louisville-commit Josh Nickelberry composed a devastating inside-outside punch. Williams averaged 16.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 blocks over the event and put up 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in a thrilling title game victory over Atlanta Xpress, 68-67. Game Elite wouldn’t have made it there if it wasn’t for a late Williams And-1 that beat the Atlanta Celtics, 79-78. Williams is a smooth elite athlete that ignites his own fastbreaks and glides to the basket. He displayed very good court vision and found open men in tight spaces. His overall consistency was impressive against Georgia’s elite. Continuing to develop his outside shot will be an area of focus.

6-2 PG Hunter McIntosh (GAC) came off the bench and supplied Game Elite Gold with exactly what they needed: a true point guard. With Ashton Hagans gone, McIntosh’s impact was apparent. While he didn’t play the same scoring role in the offense, McIntosh did what a great point guard does – he organized the troops, got his teammates in the right position both offensively and defensively and distributed the ball. McIntosh supplied a spark in Game Elite Gold’s tournament opening win over Team AJ Bouye, finishing with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. In the title game, McIntosh chipped in 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

Atlanta Xpress (Runner-Up)

6-5 SG Anthony Edwards (Holy Spirit Prep) looked every bit of the next NBA Lottery pick from Georgia before he landed hard on his wrist after a thunderous dunk and had to miss the championship game. Edwards had a modest beginning to the Xpress’ 65-55 win over Game Elite Black, scoring just 3 points in the first quarter, but he exploded for 27 over the next three periods for a game-high 30 points to go with his 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Edwards is a wrecking ball when getting to the basket, combining power and grace with his smooth and at times unstoppable eurostep. He knocked down 2 threes and got buckets whenever his team needed him the most, especially in the fourth quarter as he played closer with 13 points.

6-7 F Jordan Smalls (ELCA) didn’t make a major dent in the box score, but the growing junior playing up an age group provided key minutes throughout the tournament off the bench. Smalls was wet behind the ears last year at ELCA, at times looking out of place. But with the Atlanta Xpress there was no pressure on Smalls to provide anything more than energy and a quality breather for the starters. His rebounding stood out the most, finishing with 4 points and 7 rebounds against Game Elite Black and in the title game, hitting a three and collecting 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.

Team AJ Bouye

6-4 W Asher McGee (Drew Charter) has made me a fan with his play this summer. McGee is a steady scorer and a good overall player. He can score off the dribble, hit open threes and finish at the rim. He had 9 points in a 72-55 loss to Game Elite Gold. McGee has enough size to help on the glass and rotate quickly on defense. He is a nice player with good small school value.

6-7 F Nate Ogbu (Tucker) supplied Team AJ Bouye with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. He hit a nice three-pointer creating for himself. Ogbu has a really nice touch as a stretch-4 that can pound the glass and score inside. He’s not quite quick enough to stay on the perimeter as a swingman, but he can certainly space the floor. He has a well-rounded skillset and never forces up bad shots.

6-5 W Devin Gordon (McEachern) was extremely impressive with his effort, knowledge of the game and his ability to be in the right place at the right time. The thick combo forward dropped in 18 points (4 threes), 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. His play was paramount in Team AJ Bouye’s early success against Game Elite Gold.

6-6 F Kendall Lewis (Shiloh) is a bouncy combo forward with a good motor. He hangs his hat on the defensive side of the floor and sparks his team with his battling mindset on the boards. He had 5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Lewis needs some refinement offensively and with his three-point shot.

Game Elite Black

6-5 SG Charles Smith IV (Wheeler) has a sweet jump shot that he hunts from the mid-range out to the three-point line. The Cal-commit can attack the rim and finish through contact. He needs to remain aggressive and be a little selfish at times when it betters his team. He had a nice 13-point, 3-steal performance against the Atlanta Xpress.

Analysis, GHSA Basketball

Battle For Georgia 16U Notes

Atlanta Xpress (Champions)

6-1 PG Eric Gaines (Lithonia) was named 16U Most Valuable Player and rightfully so. The svelte springy guard came up big down the stretch in the Xpress’ 72-68 championship victory over Game Elite Black, hitting 3 threes in the second half including scoring six crucial points in the fourth quarter. Gaines had 14 points in both the finals and the semifinals and used his electric athleticism to keep defenses on their heels.

6-5 F Jamaine Mann (ELCA) did his usual work in the paint. Too powerful to stop inside, Mann converted tough hoops up close. Right now, Mann is best suited to play inside as a power forward, but his athleticism and bloodlines may help him find an eventual future as a swingman. His quickness and explosion as a face-up 4 causes matchup problems. He had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block against Infinite Skillz before totaling 15 points – 9 in the fourth – in the 16U title game.

6-2 SG Deandre Brown (Holy Spirit Prep) found buckets on the perimeter as he did all season long at Therrell. The lefty drilled 3 threes en route to 11 points and 4 rebounds against Infinite Skillz before scoring 7 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter in the championship. Brown is a crafty scorer that can find the bottom of the net in a variety of ways.

Game Elite Black (Runner-Up)

6-1 PG KD Johnson (Southwest DeKalb) was hands down by far and away the best 16U player in attendance and he was rewarded by receiving Most Outstanding Player and an offer from Seton Hall. Johnson was brilliant to open up the tournament, pouring in 37 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 2 blocks. Johnson was the epitome of a “man among boys”, doing whatever he wanted in a 99-71 win over ATL Hoops. Most impressively, Johnson drilled 6 three-pointers, hardly hitting the rim on his first four attempts. After a 5-point first half in the championship game, Johnson revved it up in a losing effort to finish with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. Johnson was outstanding all day long. As he matures, he will need to learn when to take his foot off the throttle and change speeds. Johnson can tend to be an emotional player as well, usually for the good, but when adversity hits with a bad call or an off night, he must respond appropriately. Johnson is a sure-fire High Major prospect.

6-6 F Sam Hines (Wheeler) is a winning player that does both the little things and the big things. He is a consistent threat to reach double figures offensively while still providing tough rebounding and good ball movement. He posted 10 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal against ATL Hoops. In the championship game, Hines tallied 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block. Hines’ value is as a stretch-4. He is skilled enough to provide minutes on the wing and his versatility as a guy that can do a little bit of everything makes him a piece that can play multiple positions. He reminds me of former St. Francis standout Chance Anderson who signed with San Francisco, who served a similar role and put up comparable numbers in Coach Drew Catlett’s system. Now at Wheeler, Hines doesn’t need to try to do too much or try to prove himself. He just needs to play his game and continue to make winning plays.

6-7 C Darius Gaddy (Wheeler) is a space eating post with soft hands. He is ambidextrous, shooting almost exclusively with his left hand in the paint while jumpers and free throws are delivered with his right hand. Gaddy is big and physical. He can carve out space and uses the glass well on baby hooks. He had 8 points and 5 rebounds against ATL Hoops. Gaddy dominated in the first half of the title game, scoring all 8 of his points before Game Elite went away from getting him touches in the second half. He gobbled up 8 rebounds to boot. Defensively, Gaddy has to move his feet more and focus on blocking out. Right now his offense is ahead of his defense.

Infinite Skillz

5-7 PG DJ Wright (Greene County) did it again. If you listened to last week’s Spielin’ & Dealin’, it should come to no surprise that Wright carried over his outstanding play from Georgia State Team Camp into the Battle For Georgia. In a semi-final loss, the dynmo poured in 29 points, hitting 4 threes. Wright is such a tough cover with his quickness and shot making. He is one of the best undersized guards in the state, regardless of class.

6-4 W Demetrius Rives (Tri-Cities) deserves more statewide publicity coming off of a sophomore season in which he was named Clayton County Underclassman of the Year, All-Clayton County First Team and Region 4-AAAAAA Third Team after averaging 15 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Rives has a strong body on the perimeter and a nose for the ball. He finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the semifinals against the Atlanta Xpress, showcasing his versatility.

6-3 G Tyler Johnson (Cedar Shoals) is a big guard that can do it all. Since seeing him for the first time two years ago, you can always count on Johnson to produce on both ends of the floor. Johnson is a true stat sheet stuffer and he didn’t disappoint at the Battle For Georgia. In their tournament ending loss to the Atlanta Xpress, Johnson collected 13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Even when Johnson has an off-shooting night, he knows how to find a way to affect the game in a positive manner.

ATL Hoops

6-1 PG Rod Jones (Dougherty) led the Trojans in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 14.9 points per game. With an overmatched ATL Hoops team at Battle For Georgia, Jones was fearless and played end-to-end, trying to provide a spark which never came in a 99-71 loss to Game Elite Black. Jones brought great energy, finishing with 9 points, 4 assists, 5 steals and 1 block. He plays bigger than his listed height and has the trademark South Georgia toughness. He will be a player to keep tabs on.

6-7 C Jared Ivey (North Gwinnett) had a couple nice moments down low, throwing down three dunks and finishing with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Ivey is a naturally strong athlete that plays defensive end on the football team. On the hardwood he is still a little raw with his footwork and balance. If he can run rim to rim, he should be able to give the Bulldogs a couple easy hoops per game and be a nuisance on the glass.

GHSA Basketball, Spielin' & Dealin' Podcast

Spielin’ & Dealin’ Ep. 54: Georgia State Team Camp Session II

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