Ayden-Grifton High School: Open Gym Tour
Ayden-Grifton High School is a nice sleeper team in eastern North Carolina to keep an eye out for. Their open gym session was filled with a nice influx of talent at every position.
At first glance, 6’8” junior power forward Josiah Shackleford immediately stands out with his size and ability to run the floor. Throughout the course of the day, his imposing size allowed him to bully most of his opposition inside. Appears to have a pretty good motor as well. Colleges will be checking in with him regularly as the season nears.
6’1” junior point guard James Richardson (pictured above) is about as athletic as they come. He’s always a threat to blow by a defender and tear the rim down in transition. Really tough to guard once he gets downhill and makes up in his mind that he’s going to score. Defensively, he made it an issue to pressure the ball full-court and made life miserable for the majority of the ball-handlers in attendance. Colleges on the east coast should definitely become familiar with his name.
6’0” junior guard Jordan Atkinson was pretty solid and showed a nice ability to get into the paint. He does a good job getting shots near the basket and is a deceptive ball-handler. He’s a transfer for nearby Oakwood School who averaged right around 19 points per game as a sophomore. 6’3” senior wing Justice Barber was all over the place. He displayed a high motor, an ability to get to the cup and a willingness to defend.
It was also several other players in attendance who could in time prove themselves to be legitimate college prospects but time will tell.
Several notable players who weren’t in attendance this go around were 6’6” freshman forward Leontae Moye (lanky lefty), 6’6” junior forward Jakael Gay (athletic do everything forward).