Atlanta Jam Superlatives: Part 1
The first live period is officially over and it was quite a busy one in Atlanta. I took in a full slate of games Friday-Sunday at the HoopSeen Atlanta Jam and there was plenty of talent to scout. Here is…
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Continue ReadingThe first live period is officially over and it was quite a busy one in Atlanta.
I took in a full slate of games Friday-Sunday at the HoopSeen Atlanta Jam and there was plenty of talent to scout.
Here is a look at the first part of the top performer list.
Dionte Blanch (East Lake/Team Speights)
With college coaches watching him throughout the weekend, 2020 6’3″ East Lake guard Dionte Blanch didn’t shy away from the attention. He was consistent as they come and the hardest working athlete for the Team Speights 17U group. In the final game on Sunday against Team Parsons 17U, Blanch was attacking the cup, pushing the tempo and hitting 3’s with defenders in his face. The groundwork has been made for him to continue his breakout summer.
Yussif Basa-Ama (St. Andrew’s/Team Parsons)
One of the most intriguing bigs in the event, 2020 6’9″ St. Andrew’s forward Yussif Basa-Ama was active on the boards and elusive near the rim. His length is a true advantage and he’s not afraid to mix it up against just about anyone. Once Basa-Ama develops a more consistent jumper, his stock will push even higher. Current offers FGCU, USF and Oklahoma were among the Division I programs there watching him.
Kario Oquendo (Astronaut/Team Parsons)
You want a pure athlete to watch and be entertained throughout a game? Then look no further than 2020 6’4″ Astronaut guard Kario Oquendo. He made the ESPN Top 10 on Sportscenter this past season for one of his in-game high school dunks. He added a couple more high flying slams this weekend for Team Parsons 17U. More than just his dunking ability, Oquendo is tough to slow down since he’s strong in his upper and lower body and truly developed. TCU offered him after his game on Sunday.
Jah Nze (Hagerty/Team Parsons)
Pretty soon everyone will know the name Jah Nze. The 2022 6’3″ Hagerty guard was insanely gritty in a Saturday morning win for the Atlanta Tapout with 25 points. Playing with the Team Parsons 15U group, Nze could easily be on the 16U team due to the mix of his strength, attacking ability and pure downhill power. Nze could have easily had 40 points in that game with a few misses at the rim, but he draws contact and wound up getting to the free throw line often. His upside is endless.
Harry Santiago (Miami Christian/Miami Tropics)
Used sparingly this past season for an upperclassmen-heavy Miami Christian team, 2021 5’11” guard Harry Santiago boost his value in college circles this weekend. Playing up with the Miami Tropics 17U team, the savvy guard flashed his veteran-like handles and shooting ability with a 17-point performance against Team Speights. If Santiago can grow a few inches and added upper body strength, he will be a top point man in Miami very shortly. He was certainly one of my most surprising performers of the whole weekend.
Darius Johnson (Virginia Episcopal/Team Parsons)
The glue of the Team Parsons 16U group, 2020 6’0″ Virginia Episcopal guard Darius Johnson is a dog on the court. He carried the load for a team that was playing up in the 17U field. He had a 20-point game earlier on Saturday in a loss to CPB. Johnson hit a long 3 right before the halftime buzzer and was making it look easy as an attacker with his strong floater game. This is a kid who will make many Division I coaches look smart once they offer.