Adidas Gauntlet ATL Standouts (Part 2)
It was the second live period of the spring, and after having their regional qualifier the first weekend, Adidas brought the entire Gauntlet to Atlanta this past weekend. There were games all over the Atlanta area, and as always there were hundreds of division one college coaches in attendance. We were able to watch teams from all over the country, and there were quite a few standouts throughout the event. Check it out, and let us know who we missed!
Mattia Acunzo | 6’7” F | ITPS 17U
An intriguing prospect with a good shooting stroke and a wide frame that allows him to play inside, Acunzo did a lot of little things, along with shoot the basketball, that would make him an effective player at the next level. He’s a physical guy in the paint that will help rebound and can use his frame to guard in the post, and on the offensive end he’s a highly skilled guy that can dribble, shoot and pass. The Kennedy Catholic wing isn’t the most explosive guy, but he can he’s an efficient stat sheet stuffer that plays hard and makes his team better in a number of ways.
Jordan Hairston | 6’0” PG | New World 17U
Hairston continues to be one of the more underrated and under recruited point guards in the Virginia area, as he’s shown not only does he belong on the Adidas Gauntlet, but he’s a legitimate starter and big time contributor. He had a 17 point game against NY Jayhawks where he was 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-7 from the deep, and he had 18 points in a win over Brookwood Elite. He finished up the big weekend with a 22 point game against Ohio Basketball Club, where he was 7-for-1 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. The multifaceted lead guard is averaging 12.7 points and 2.1 assists per game through two sessions.
Henry Coleman | 6’7” F | Team Loaded VA 17U
Coleman was called up from the 16U team this weekend, jumped into the starting lineup and didn’t miss a beat. While he’s playing up, he was able to be productive from the jump because he is big and strong, and he plays so hard when he’s on the court. He showed improved touch on his jump shot, and he simply got after it attacking the rim offensively and attacking the glass on both ends of the floor. He was arguably their best player this weekend, and he picked up another high major offer from TCU.
Earl Timberlake | 6’5” WG | Team Loaded VA 17U
Another 2020 playing up, Timberlake has taken a much more aggressive approach with this Loaded group and may be their most talented players on both ends of the floor. At 6’5”, he can dribble, shoot and pass on the offensive end, and he’s able to be effective both on and off the basketball. He has good length and moves his feet well defensively, crashes the glass for a two guard and has a good feel for a young wing. He has plenty of room to get better moving forward, and will benefit from playing up and being a go-to guy this summer.
James Franklin | 6’3” WG | Team Loaded NC 17U
An available senior from Tennesee, Franklin showed a mix of shot making ability and athleticism that should have teams interested who are in need of an off guard. He has a good frame despite being just 6’3”, but his explosiveness and ability to rebound and play above the rim are that of someone much bigger. He also got hot quickly in a couple of games, showing that he’s able to knock down shots from deep and score in bunches when he gets it going.
Pierre Cockrell II | 6’0” PG | Dream Vision 17U
A lead guard with great feel and change of pace to his game, Cockrell is the straw that stirs the Dream Vision squad that is undefeated so far in Gauntlet play. While they have a nationally ranked 2020 in Khyree Walker who’s very good, Cockrell sets the tone on both ends of the floor. He controls the pace offensively, picks up and hounds ball handlers defensively and he gets everyone easy buckets. He’s averaging 9.9 points while shooting 56% from the floor, and is averaging 5.7 assists per game to just 2.6 turnover per game so far.
Terrence Whitfield | 6’3” WG | Team Loaded 804 17U
Another available senior worth a look for coaches in need of a wing, Whitfield is a two way player that stuffs the stat sheet and plays with a good motor on both ends. He plays above the rim in transition, can make shots from the midrange and beyond the arc and rebounds with the best of them for a wing. He has a great frame and is a high level athlete, and the way he has improved over the past couple of seasons means he’s a guy that’s worth a late scholarship that could improve over time.