Top Friday Evening B.O.T.S. Performers (7/20)
Best of the South, presented by Hoopseen ramped in earnest Friday with hundreds of college coaches on hand. Players had settled in to their weekend residence and sleep was apparently restful. Many of the expected stars shone and a few new faces dotted the radar. Friday in the second LIVE period is wildly important and most of the evaluations are picking up. Take a look at which players played the best in the spotlight of Lakepoint Sports Complex.
2019 PG Isaiah Johnson (Cleveland High)
Senior point guard Isaiah Johnson is attracting D2 offers. At 5-foot-9 Johnson is a really evasive lead guard for the Tennessee Tigers. Johnson will play this winter with Dionte Ware (PHT #14) and Jacobi Wood.
2019 PG Shannon Walker (McCallie/Chattanooga Elite 17u Navy)
The way Shannon played Saturday he might be able to pull in some college interest and offers. The football star has trimmed down a little bit since December and his quickness improved accordingly. Walker has average speed, but separates himself with toughness and aggression.
2020 Wing Matthew Murrell (Team Thad 17u/Whitehaven)
Friday night Matthew Murrell played so well I took several minutes considering if he could overtake Keon Johnson in the 2020 player rankings. You can check the 2020 rankings release next week to see the end result. Murrell’s athleticism continues to improve, which is patently unfair. Murrell was already a dominating offensive player as a sophomore. His game demands attention.
2019 G Simmie Jones III (Memphis Prep 17u/Whitehaven)
The 49th best player in the 2019 class Simmie Jones III kind of confounds recruiters with his off-guard skillset. Jones III would be the ideal size as a college point guard. In a blowout over Team Ferg (AL), Jones III defended at an elite level. Can he attract D2-LM interest? He just needs the eyeballs on him to prove himself.
2020 PG Cade Purvine (Dickson County)
Cade Purvine is a holdover from WHBH 15u in 2017. When Head Coach J.P. Primm added elite newcomers he decided to hang on to Purvine and another player. Purvine makes the basketball go to where the ball needs to go. He really turns the key on the car, igniting the spark plugs of Jacobi Wood and DeArre McDonald.
2020 PG Jacobi Wood (Cleveland)
One of those aforementioned stars Coach Primm added was Jacobi Wood. There are Cleveland High players on both Tennessee Tigers 17u and WHBH Gold. Wood might have the most college potential of all of them. At 6-foot-2 the floor general boasts almost of the skills you want in a lead guard. He can break down most defenders with the dribble. He is willing to pass in transition or set up the halfcourt set. Outside shooting is not a problem either. Wood’s one area for improvement is definitely vocal leadership.