Hamilton Heights Christian Academy Evaluations
CHATTANOOGA —
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (HHCA) reloaded once again. After a diligent year of recruiting Head Coach Zach Ferrell assembled another top-flight squad. All of October @PrepHoopsTN will be introducing one by one of HHCA’s top roster members.
Thomasi Gilgeous–Alexander
You might recognize the last name. HHCA Class of 2019 guard Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander is the younger brother of Shai Alexander (Kentucky freshman).
“He is very good at getting to the basket,” said Head Coach Ferrell. “Needs to be get work on his shooting ability. Both off the catch and off the bounce needs to be more confident in that.”
Judging by one preseason practice, HHCA plans to utilize Gilgeous-Alexander as a wing or secondary ball-handler this fall. The rock will probably be given to Jordan Rawls and/or KeVaughn Ellis. While Gilgeous-Alexander might aspire to play point guard he is not mobile enough to defend that position just yet.
With two years to go until college Thomasi Gilgeous Alexander has some nice skills and instincts.
“He gets to the basket very well, uses his body, got great size for a wing guard,” said Coach Ferrell. Gilgeous-Alexander’s strength distinguishes him from most high school hoopers. He has a bizarrely thin waist with wide shoulders and more apparent brute strength than a young Shai showed.
Still Shai was quicker than Thomasi at the same stage. Shai would explode by very capable defenders and hint at a De’Aaron Fox future. Thomasi just isn’t that type of attacker.
“He is about the same (height as Shai)…he is not taller than him right now,” said Coach Ferrell. “But he is taller than him when Shai first got here. Not overly athletic. Shai is a little bit more athletic at this point.”
Look for Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander to improve his ball-handling and decision-making in the coming months. He can always lean on his power against high school guards. The true test will be his adaptation to smaller, quicker college guards.
What can he work on?
“I would just say continued improvement on his outside shot,” said Coach Ferrell. “And then making sure that he is locked in defensively.”