OTRH “Alley-Oop” Standouts
In between the Nike EYBL Circuit and Adidas Gauntlet, Lake Point hosted Hoop Hustlers and On the Radar Hoops’ “Alley-Oop” showcase. Circuit teams such as Game Elite, Nightrydas Elite, and the Atlanta Celtics made their way to Emerson, Georgia to…
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Continue ReadingIn between the Nike EYBL Circuit and Adidas Gauntlet, Lake Point hosted Hoop Hustlers and On the Radar Hoops’ “Alley-Oop” showcase. Circuit teams such as Game Elite, Nightrydas Elite, and the Atlanta Celtics made their way to Emerson, Georgia to compete in the weekend long event. There was a nice balance of play from all positions on the floor and many of these prospects helped their status as we inch closer to high school team camp sessions and the July live period. Here are just a few of those standouts:
- 2020 G London Riley (Discovery HS / A.C. Georgia)
- Not many players had a better weekend shooting the basketball than the 6’2” off guard out of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Riley has a collegiate looking stroke from the perimeter and already does a great job of squaring his body to knock down shots from beyond the college line. He shot the ball efficiently, didn’t force anything within the offense, and added an extra three-point field goal via half court heave at the end of the first half on his way to a 28-point performance which included seven made three-point attempts. Riley has an offer from North Carolina A&T and interest from Morehead State, Georgia Southern, and Wofford.
- 2020 F Kelton Talford (Great Falls HS /
Carolina Pressure
)
- The forward from Great Falls, South Carolina was my favorite prospect over the weekend with his ability to consistently make productive plays for his team on both ends. He stands at a lanky 6’6” but with long arms that he used to block shots, keeping them in play for instant transition offense. He has the athleticism to play above the rim and has a nice back to the basket game offensiv
Kelton Talfard
ely as well. Talford is great on the glass and knocked down mid-range jump shots. I expect his recruitment to increase as he has already received offers from South Carolina State, USC-Upstate, and Presbyterian.
- The forward from Great Falls, South Carolina was my favorite prospect over the weekend with his ability to consistently make productive plays for his team on both ends. He stands at a lanky 6’6” but with long arms that he used to block shots, keeping them in play for instant transition offense. He has the athleticism to play above the rim and has a nice back to the basket game offensiv
- 2020 W Dillon Jones (Keenan HS / Upward Stars)
- A wing player with point guard habits is something coaches can utilize on the high school and collegiate level. Jones’ mindset with the ball in hands makes him such a hot commodity among Division I mid-majors. Standing at a stocky 6’6”, he does a good job of getting downhill and to the rim for some of the best finishes I saw at the “Alley-Oop” showcase at Lake Point. Offensively, you can put Jones in the middle of a zone defense and feel confident in his ability to operate from the free throw line area and make the game easier on teammates. College of Charleston, Appalachian State, and the University of Charlotte have offered the three star from Keenan high school.
- 2020 G Isaiah Caldwell (Heathwood Hall / Upward Stars)
- Of all of the prospects on this list, I believe Caldwell has the biggest upside with his frame, quickness, and decisions with the basketball at the point guard position. He stands 6’4” but has a stringy frame with long arms and made a habit of getting into the lane for good finishes or quick dump offs to teammates PJ Hall and Ja’Von Benson. Outside the lane, he continued to thread passes to cutting teammates in the half court and exudes confidence with the ball in his hands when running the offense. I believe at the next level, Caldwell can add on good weight and continue to put defenses in tough positions. Presbyterian and Army have pulled the trigger on offering the Heathwood Hall prospect.
- 2020 G Antwan Walker (Haines City / Tony Bradley Elite)
Antwan Walker- Tony Bradley Elite reminds me a lot of Team South Carolina in their ability to get after teams with full court pressure defensively. Both programs have scrappy guards that are undersized when going against shoe-sponsored opponents but never back down from the challenge and often times play well in those match-ups. Walker was one of those guards at the “Alley-Oop” showcase. Standing at 6′ even, the speedy guard got into the bodies of big men and knew how to finish through contact. He scored when points were hard to come by and did it on all three levels as well. As a junior with Haines City high school Walker averaged 14.2 ppg and 2.7 spg and those stats were backed up by his play on both ends this past weekend.
- 2020 F Chase McKey (Johns Creek / Game Elite Hubbard Blue)
- Like Caldwell, McKey is another prospect that has tremendous upside on the basketball court. He hasn’t been exposed to the type of talent he played against at the “Alley-Oop” showcase consistently but as the weekend went on, the game seemed to slow down for him. The Johns Creek forward stands at 6’7” and I’d be willing to bet that his wingspan is near if not right at 7′. He has soft touch on the low block but possesses a solid handle to break defenders down from the perimeter as well. Continuing to play with Game Elite Blue this AAU season will be pivotal for his development going into his senior campaign and he could be an interesting prospect this time next year with a productive summer and winter.
- 2020 G Joe Cooper (Sunrise Christian Academy / Nike Elite Stars)
- One of the most college ready point guards at the entire tournament came in the form of recent Olive Branch guard Zion “Joe” Cooper. He impressed with his quick first step and ability to make plays in the lane. He has that elite acrobatic ability to twist and turn around defenders to score or dish inside but has great overall vision as well. Cooper was able to pour in 30 points in one game over the weekend and did so without making a field goal outside the paint. Cooper lights up the scoring column by making a living at the free throw line where he shot a great percentage. He will do one year of prep school at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas but schools such as Ole Miss, Murray State, and Stephen F. Austin have already offered him.
Knute Wood
- One of the most college ready point guards at the entire tournament came in the form of recent Olive Branch guard Zion “Joe” Cooper. He impressed with his quick first step and ability to make plays in the lane. He has that elite acrobatic ability to twist and turn around defenders to score or dish inside but has great overall vision as well. Cooper was able to pour in 30 points in one game over the weekend and did so without making a field goal outside the paint. Cooper lights up the scoring column by making a living at the free throw line where he shot a great percentage. He will do one year of prep school at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas but schools such as Ole Miss, Murray State, and Stephen F. Austin have already offered him.
- 2022 G Knute Wood (Brooks HS / Nike Elite Stars)
- Playing up in age level during the AAU season can be challenging. Most players that choose to do so, play one grade up however Wood excelled at the “Alley-Oop” showcase playing two levels up and did so shooting the basketball from the outside. Wood, who already has good size at 6’2”, is an off guard that made defenses pay for leaving him open from three-point range. The Nike Elite Stars guard did a good job of spotting up and relocating along the arc and even stretched defenses out beyond the high school line to open up driving lanes. Wood can put the ball down and get to the rim but can keep defenders off balance with his ability to knock down shots off the dribble. Wood has a bright future ahead of him at Brooks high school and should be a strong representative of Alabama’s 2022 class down the road.