Celtics South
2021 6-3 G Jaeden Marshall – Richmond Hill
Good basketball is played all over Georgia and Celtics South proved that. Workhorse guard Jaeden Marshall made his presence felt in Suwanee. After guiding the Wildcats to the Class 6A Sweet 16, Marshall is back with a strong cast that should rack up the wins again. Marshall himself is a strong athlete. He looks like he could double as a running back on the football team. Marshall is a downhill attacker that has a strong explosion to the hoop. He’s not just brute strength however. He’s got a sharp eurostep that he breaks out at full speed. He put up 24 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block in a 49-42 win over the MVA Outlawz. Marshall averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal as a junior. If he adds a three-point shot that he can get off the dribble, he could really pop up on college radars. He has a respectable jumper to work with considering he went 23-71 (32%) from downtown last season and is a career 33% shooter. Right now, Marshall is at his beast around the tin. He’s got the strength to score on the low block and power through defenders. He will be one to watch on December 5th at South Paulding High School in the CTC Classic presented by Sandy’s Spiel.
2021 6-5 PF JaHeim Robinson – Johnson-Savannah
Another player that will be at the CTC Classic, JaHeim Robinson made a strong first impression alongside Marshall. At first glance, Robinson is a big thick bruiser, but after watching him play you can see that there is skill and finesse as well. Robinson can handle the ball some when needed and is a good option at the high post. He can knock down the mid-range shot and has some playmaking abilities with his sharp zip passes. Robinson has some sneaky bounce as well for a player his size. He finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block and went 6-7 from the line. For an Atomsmasher team known for its strong guard play, Robinson gives first-year Head Coach Chuck Campbell a solid option inside.
Team S.M.A.S.H.
2021 6-8 F Jordan Brown – Northside-Warner Robins
Brown is a bit of a curious case. Undeniably there is a ton of talent and seemingly a high ceiling, but whether or not Brown will become a household name remains to be seen. I would think he would be by now but for whatever reason, he hasn’t gotten a ton of publicity. He has however picked up offers from Maryville, Shaw and Xavier University of Louisiana, so it could just be heating up now. Brown jumps out on tape with his length and tremendous shot blocking ability. According to Head Coach Matthew Simon, he averaged over 11 blocks per game which would make him one of the best rim protectors in the nation. Brown moves well and can slide in on the wing as he holds a well-balanced skill set. But watching him play on Saturday left me wanting more which is both a good thing and maybe a bad thing. For a player of his stature, Brown was hardly utilized. Whether it be the offense, his own preference or just a one-game aberration is something I don’t know with the limited sample size. With that being said, Brown scored 1 point and never really touched the ball in the paint. He has point-forward skills but I needed to see him be more assertive and look for his offense. Other than his minuscule offensive impact, he was great defensively as advertised. He had 6 rebounds and 6 blocks. Stating the obvious, Brown’s senior season will be huge. I still think he can be a great late steal for a program just on his agility and shot blocking alone. If he’s able to showcase his offensive game which includes range out to the three-point line as well, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him gain traction quickly. There’s too much potential for Brown to not end up being a very valuable piece at some level.
North Atlanta Orangemen
2021 6-6 F Jatarion Warren – Tift County
Though Tift County has fallen off from the state championship level for the time being, Jatarion Warren is still a legitimate prospect that makes the Blue Devils dangerous. He averaged 13.6 points and 6.8 rebounds and on Saturday he wreaked havoc with his springy legs. In a tough loss to ATL Timberwolves (Green), Warren put up 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 blocks. Warren’s high-flying act led to highlight blocks and a few slams. He has a lightning quick first step and burst to the rim when he attacks from the perimeter and face-up opportunities.
Savannah Select
2021 6-6 F Deandre Smart – New Hampstead
A big strong forward coming off a season in which he averaged 15 points per game, Smart had a good weekend with Savannah Select. He double-doubled with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist in a controversial 45-44 loss to Team S.M.A.S.H. Smart has quick feet for his size and moves very well. He has nimble footwork when getting to the basket and can spin off defenders to do so. Smart excels at rebounding in traffic and can do the dirty work inside. He can also space the floor and beat his man off the dribble. Smart maintains a 3.6 GPA and 990 SAT.