Tip-Off Classic 16U Stock Risers
Analysis

Tip-Off Classic: 16U Stock Risers

D-Favors Celtics

Mason Lockhart2022 6-6 F Mason Lockhart – Carver-Atlanta
Double-double threat Mason Lockhart has some old school toughness to his game. He finds bodies and seals them off as he fights for post position. He understands angles and how to best engage defenders so he can catch lob passes. Lockhart has a nice touch from the mid-range and can take advantage of defenders who don’t respect his shot. He put up 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks in a blowout of Double Trouble.

Mitchell Taylor2022 6-2 CG Mitchell Taylor – Carver-Atlanta
The outside portion of Carver-Atlanta’s nice inside-out duo, Mitchell Taylor profiled as a slasher and solid all-around scorer. Taylor got to the basket in a variety of ways, using eurosteps and hesitations to get past defenders. He had an array of finishes at the rim and even cashed in on a handful of three-balls. He had an easy 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal vs. Double Trouble.

Hollywood Stars

2022 6-3 G Khristian Clark – Southeast Bulloch
A big thick football player with grown-man strength, Clark looks like a power forward at first glance but in fact he is a very skilled guard that can play almost any position. Clark handles the ball well and has quick zip passes that teammates have to be ready for. He’s an interesting piece that can be moved around based on matchups.

2022 6-4 F Tyler Griffin – Southeast Bulloch
Coming off a big game against the Atlanta Celtics which I didn’t get to catch, Griffin was silent with 2 points vs. Georgia Shock, but as they say, silence can be deafening as his two points came on the loudest play of the game, a posterizing dunk on the fast break. A two-sport star, Griffin is a strong forward that doubles as a standout wide receiver. He missed out on basketball season last year after transferring in from Effingham County and should immediately make the Yellow Jackets a better team with his physical play.

MaKaleb McBride2022 6-2 SG MaKaleb McBride – Robert Toombs Christian
I don’t dabble in the GISA often due to the unfamiliar level of competition, but MK McBride showed some flashes of his All-State pedigree in a 48-42 win over the Georgia Shock. Quiet in the first half, McBride turned it on in the second and carried his team to the finish line accounting for 14 of his team’s 18 points over the final 16 minutes. McBride was slick getting into the lane, playing slow but then in a blink turning on the burners to get where he wanted to go. He hung in the air and had a handful of difficult finishes while avoiding shot blockers. The lefty finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks. He’s a nice little sleeper to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.

Double Trouble Elite

2022 6-1 PG Jameel Rideout – South Cobb
The little things add up. Court vision, on-ball defense and a three-point stroke formulated a strong showing against Scoot Henderson. Rideout ran the offense well as the head man for a team that instinctively likes to make the extra pass. He knew when to push the pace and when to slow it down. He knocked down two threes, but it was his defense that was most impressive. He contested every jump shot in his area and did a nice job one-on-one with Henderson. Though it didn’t result in a win, Rideout’s performance is what coaches need out of their lead guard. He finished with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

2022 6-6 W Thomas Allard – North Gwinnett
Double Trouble Elite’s upset bid of Game Elite was fueled by the outside shooting of Thomas Allard. The big wing ran corner to corner along the baseline as he took advantage of a stale zone. When Allard was able to find cracks in the defense and get his feet set, he made them pay. He knocked down three threes en route to 9 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. Expect the 4.0 student to see a much bigger role with North Gwinnett this season.

Georgia Legacy

Dylan Wolle2022 6-2 SG Dylan Wolle – Sequoyah
Ready to burst out of the shadows and play a predominant role at Sequoyah, Wolle showed an offensive versatility that I hadn’t yet seen from him at the high school level. Wolle poured in 20 points, 1 assist and 4 steals as Georgia Legacy blew past the Georgia Shock 60-45. Known for his three-point stroke, Wolle proved that he is more than just a floor spacer. While he did hit two threes, what was most impressive was his aggressiveness getting to the basket and even his willingness to go into the post. Wolle looked confident in his dribble and stayed in attack mode getting to the rim. When he had a smaller defender on him, he instinctively went straight to the block and demanded the ball and hit short turnarounds in the lane. It was a strong all-around performance and a good indicator that he will be ready to be a leading scorer for the Chiefs this year.

2022 6-6 F Alex Acosta – North Cobb
The high academic forward showed versatility and mobility. More of a power forward but capable of stealing minutes at the wing from time to time, Acosta provided energy and effort on Saturday. He went for 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 1 block vs. Georgia Shock. Acosta scored around the rim and had a strong drive baseline that left an impression. Acosta is a capable shooter and has enough diversity to score inside and out. While he may not have one elite skill, Acosta is a smart well-rounded player that is the perfect piece on a winning team.

One for the future…

Micah Smith2024 6-7 W Micah Smith – Atlanta Celtics – Sandy Creek
At 6-foot-7, Micah Smith does not look or play like a rising freshman. Joining an already loaded Sandy Creek team, it is tough to envision him not earning some quality minutes from Day 1. At his age, most players that tall are still filling into their body – often gangly and maybe even a bit clumsy. Not Smith. He really is a true wing and has tremendous control of his body and moves like a guard. Smith slashes into the lane and throws down dunks. He also is a physical rebounder that can get the carom in a crowd. Smith finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks in a win over LBE and showed a steady motor. His story is far from being written, but I expect his first chapter to be a memorable one playing alongside consensus top five recruit Jabari Smith.