HoopSeen Tip-Off: Additional In-State Player Notes
Sam Hines- Every time I see Hines play, he produces. He might not do all the sexy stuff or get all the highlights, but he always gets the job done. Hines is a workhorse small forward who plays much bigger than a typical 6’5” high schooler would. He has a chiseled frame, rebounds in traffic, and possesses explosive leaping ability. Hines has made nice progressions as a ball-handler and is becoming a more confident shooter as well. He is most comfortable from 15 feet and in but also took some 3’s at the event. Hines may not have a true position but he’s going to do good things for you in almost any environment or situation.
Sola Adebisi- Adebisi has some great physical attributes that have to catch your attention when watching him play. He’s 6’6” with really long arms and is a fluid runner as well. Adebisi has pogo-stick like leaping ability which shows up in games fairly often. In the game I saw him at the Tip-Off, he had 3 or 4 blocks that were sent away with authority to nearly half-court. Adebisi also put home a huge off-the-backboard alley-oop that had everyone talking. He seems to be gaining a better feel for the game and looks to be more comfortable on the court as well. His progression from now until July will be interesting to track.
Sola AdebisiTeam Forrest- Team Forrest always seems to have guys who emerge from the shadows and see big boosts in their recruitment each year. I thought Trashawn Wilson and Melvin Edwards were both really good for the team this weekend. There might not be much talk surrounding either of their names currently, but they’re both worthy of recognition. Edwards always has a college-ready body and does a lot of things that coaches look for in wings. He is 6’5-6” and has skill to go with it. Edwards likes mid-range pull-ups, on which he gets great elevation, and comfortable as a ball-handler. His frame allows him to be effective as a slasher/finisher and he has the athleticism to rise over shot-blockers. I had not seen Wilson before this spring but he was impressive on consecutive weekends at SSA. He is a confident, aggressive scorer with length and versatility. Wilson is disruptive on defense, pushes in transition, and looks to score at all levels. He’s one I need to watch again soon. Christian Fussell continues to show strides as well. His shooting ability at 6’10” is uncommon and he has the build that shows the potential to be a force in the paint. If he gets hot from the outside it is trouble for the defense. Fussell rebounded and protected the rim well for Team Forrest at the event. He will be a popular watch throughout the travel circuit and if he continues to assert himself inside it’ll help him a ton.
Melvin EdwardsPhoenix 16U- I was able to see the 2021 AC GA team twice this week and they impressed both times. They have a well-rounded group with solid depth; their team is filled with under the radar guys who are out looking to prove themselves this spring. Mikey Moncrease and Jason Edwards make them go from the guard spots. Edwards is wired to score like his older brother Nick. He is small but doesn’t let his size hinder him a great deal. Edwards is quick, crafty, and comfortable with scoring from any area on the court. Moncrease can get his own points but is an effective distributor as well. He gets after it on defense and plays with a lot of energy and peskiness. AC Georgia also has 3 big, athletic bodies in Navaughn Maise, Milique Smith, and Jimaal Crump. All 3 are capable of making important contributions in each game and are not just confined to sitting around in the paint. In their win over EAB, Cam Shelton also stepped up for the team. He connected on 3 shots from behind the arc that really gave them a boost. This team has lots of options and should sneak up on people this rest of the spring.
Jason EdwardsMatt Cleveland– Cleveland has made things very interesting at the top of 2021 in Georgia. Considering his level of play lately and Chance Moore’s injury that’ll keep him out an extended period, the fight for the #1 spot will be between Cleveland and Jabari Smith. This past weekend, I saw the Hype team take on EAB in what ended up being a great battle. Hype went down 10-0 quickly; Cleveland and the entire team were really struggling. They didn’t quit though, fighting back and making it a neck and neck game in the 2nd half. Cleveland led the charge, going for 30 points in a variety of ways. His length and smooth scoring ability at 6’6” is so difficult to stop at the 16U level. He gets to the basket with ease, connects on mid-range shots and is a solid athlete. His rise has just started and isn’t showing any signs of stopping.
Cole Middleton- Middleton was huge alongside Cleveland in helping Hype mount a comeback against EAB. He contributed 20 points and 14 rebounds in addition to Cleveland’s 30 points, dominating an undersized EAB team on the interior in the 2nd half. After the aforementioned slow start, Middleton realized his clear advantage in the paint and went to work. He gobbled up every Hype miss and did not waste any time in going back up to convert on second chance baskets. The same went for when Hype fed Middleton on the block; he made quick, decisive moves while not rushing or being out of control. He may be considered undersized as a forward at the next level but his strength and activity inside help to negate that.
Robbie Armbrester, Ja’Heim Hudson- The Game Elite 2021 group started out the tournament with a bang, defeating EAB handedly. Armbrester and Hudson were a big part of that, forming a formidable post duo that overwhelmed EAB. I’ve always liked Hudson as a prospect because of his build and fearless approach, but he showed even more last weekend. His motor was on full-go, running the floor hard every possession, which got him some easy basket and nice dunks. He made a huge impact on defense, rebounded well, showed some vision, and even handled the ball on the break. Hudson is due for a significant bump in the next rankings update. I’ve talked about it a lot before, but I don’t see how you can’t love watching Armbrester play. He is almost a guaranteed double-double each game he plays. Armbrester is an imposing physical presence on both ends, plays with great energy, and has continued to expand his game. He is more effective as a ball-handler and is slashing from the wing often. Looking at some of the other 2021 players in the state and region that are being heavily recruited, Armbrester should be getting more traffic soon (Georgia State is his lone offer at the moment).