Adidas Gauntlet Spartanburg: Guards Galore
There were tons of excellent guards in action at the Adidas Gauntlet Regional Qualifier in Spartanburg this past weekend. The guard talent created a lot of good matchups, exciting games, and forced guys to challenge each other. Here are some…
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Continue ReadingThere were tons of excellent guards in action at the Adidas Gauntlet Regional Qualifier in Spartanburg this past weekend. The guard talent created a lot of good matchups, exciting games, and forced guys to challenge each other. Here are some of the backcourt players who had productive weekends.
Myles Tate (Upward SE 17U)- Tate has been one of my favorite players to watch for a while because of his competitive nature every time he steps on the court. It doesn’t matter what the setting is, he’s going to play like there’s a championship on the line. Two weeks ago, he was a defensive catalyst and found teammates time and time again when Upward took down SE United. This past weekend, he took over the game against Loaded NC with his shot-making ability, scoring 25 points and hitting numerous big shots. Tate has one of the nicest pull-up jumpers you’ll see. He gets it off quick and each shot looks like it’s going to drop. Tate thrives in big moments, doesn’t take plays off, and excels as a defender. He just received an offer from Clemson last night and should continue to see a boost in his recruitment.
Deivon Smith, Caleb Murphy (Atlanta Celtics 17U)- Smith and Murphy are going to give opponents headaches all summer long with their ability to penetrate and create with the ball in their hands. And this is without even mentioning Celtics teammate and Xavier commit Dwon Odom, who had a good weekend as well (12 PPG, 5.5 APG). I thought Smith and Murphy were especially good for the Celtics. Smith averaged 19 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 4.3 APG for the weekend while Murphy averaged 15.8 PPG, 2.8 APG, and shot 52.3% from the field. Smith is strong, explosive, intense, and does about everything you want to see in an elite PG prospect. He is continuing to show improvement in his shot, confidently shooting 3’s and mid-range pull-ups this weekend. Smith flies down the court and makes eye-popping plays in transition while still maintaining balance and control of his body. Murphy is such a fluid athlete who changes speeds very well. He slithers through the paint, hangs in the air, and finishes with creativity. Murphy is progressing as a shooter too, hitting multiple shots off the dribble and shooting 36.4% (4-11) from 3 on the weekend. They will go up against Nightrydas, AOT, and Game Elite FL this weekend at the Tip-Off Classic, providing them with another big stage to show and prove.
Peyton Daniels (SE United 16U)- The best individual performance I saw last weekend easily went to Daniels. Against PB Nation on Sunday, Daniels and the whole SE United team faced a huge 2nd half deficit of 20+ points. It looked like they were ready to call it a weekend and head home, but behind the play of Daniels they were able to come all the way back and win the game 69-66. Daniels finished with 36 points, 27 of which came in the 2nd half. He made a point to get to the FT line throughout the game, hitting 14 FT’s and seeking out contact each time down the court. Daniels made a reputation as a lights-out shooter during the HS season, but is showing a terrific all-around game as a PG so far this spring. He has a good body, can shoot off the catch or dribble, and maintains a balance of scoring and distributing when he gets into the lane. UGA just offered yesterday, making it his 2nd offer in addition to James Madison. That list will grow quickly if he continues to produce like this.
Caleb Byrd, Sion James (Game Elite JB 17U)- The one game I saw of Game Elite this weekend was a tough battle against Loaded VA. KD Johnson did not have his best game; Byrd and James both rose to the occasion and helped the team in different ways. Although Byrd is used to having the ball in his hands for his Rome team, he has proven to be comfortable and effective off the ball for this Game Elite team. Byrd is a confident shot-maker who gets good lift on his jumper and can attack the basket as well. He is pretty strong, competes on both ends, and displays his athleticism in space. James knows that he has lots of scorers on his team, and makes sure to find them where they are comfortable. He makes accurate passes frequently and has gotten better at not allowing smaller guards to speed him up. James uses his big frame to shield off pesky defenders, grabs rebounds, and can score when asked to. Byrd, James, and the entire Game Elite group seem to be making strides as a team. They have lots of weapons and will take on the Georgia Stars, Loaded NC, and Team Breakdown in pool play at the Tip-Off Classic.
Jayden Stone (Team Carroll 17U)- Stone might not be one of those loud, flashy players, but boy does he produce. He is a silent assassin who just goes about his business and gets the job done. Carroll’s first game of the weekend was against the Atlanta Celtics, which includes Xavier commit Dwon Odom and top 50 PG Deivon Smith. Stone had a great shooting game particularly, going 4/5 from 3-point range. He gets great elevation on his jumper, negating the impact of any contest. Stone plays under control and gets to the basket well also. He has some wiry strength and exceptional athleticism which allow him to be effective among the trees inside. Stone also uses those qualities to rebound at a high level; he averaged 7.3 RPG for the weekend. His business-like approach and impressive combination of skills will continue to make him a highly regarded prospect.
Danny Stubbs (Atlanta Celtics 16U)- You could tell quickly that Stubbs was out to prove something in Spartanburg. The Celtics had a big matchup against in-state foe Game Elite on Saturday afternoon; Stubbs set the tone early and made sure everyone felt his presence. He went right at his opponents the entire game, mixing outside shooting and slashing to the basket effectively. Stubbs plays with an edge and confidence to him that I liked, and for good reason. He has a lot of skill and knows the correct time to use each of his tools. Him and his talented Celtics team went 3-1 on the weekend and will be on another big stage this upcoming weekend at the Tip-Off Classic. Expect them to keep the momentum going.