Player Spotlight: Jaquez Gilbert
Player Spotlight
Jaquez Gilbert (c/o 2018)
School – Mt. Bethel Christian Academy
Travel Team – Infinite Skillz
Jaquez GilbertThis edition of Prep Hoops Georgia’s player spotlight focuses on a senior from Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in the form of combo guard Jaquez Gilbert. The team captain from Marietta, Georgia has been one of the primary scoring options for head coach Cal Boyd and he’s handled that role flawlessly. The Eagles are an independent school but possess the talent and discipline to compete with teams out of GHSA, regardless of classification. That competitiveness was evident Tuesday night as Mt. Bethel went on the road to take on 2017 4A state runner-up St. Pius X. The game was up and down and experienced several lead changes throughout the entire contest. It was tied at the end of regulation and it took two clutch free throws from St. Pius with 7 seconds left in overtime to ultimately decide the 71-70 score in favor of the Golden Lions. Even in defeat, Gilbert was the catalyst to his team’s second half comeback as his game high 27 points allowed the Eagles to even take a lead late in the fourth 4th quarter as well as overtime. Gilbert’s shooting ability is off the charts as he knocked down 3 from behind
the arc in the first half alone. His clutch baskets when the momentum swung in favor of the Golden Lions silenced the raucous crowd on a number of occasions and at one point the Eagles offense started with the ball in his hands at the point guard position. He was able to handle the full court pressure of St. Pius with limited turnovers and his mid-range floater gave Mt. Bethel their last lead of 70-69 in OT. Gilbert has sneaky athleticism and that showed more so on the glass and on the defensive end but when the Eagles needed a basket offensively, it was Gilbert who came through in the clutch. It will be interesting to see if the consistent play from Gilbert continues as Mt. Bethel will be taking part in the SEBA Showcase at Pope high school, Next Level Christmas Tournament in Nashville, and Wally Keller Classic in Charlotte over the next two months. This senior has proved his shooting ability as tops in Georgia’s 2018 class and should be a hot commodity for college coaches the rest of the season as well as live periods in the spring.