Under Armour Hard In The Paint Classic: Day 1, Session 2 Player Impressions
After an opening afternoon session in the Under Armour “Hard In The Paint” Classic at Westlake HS which saw standout performances from multiple players and teams with high aspirations, Prep Hoops Georgia grabbed a snack and some hydration and strapped…
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Continue ReadingAfter an opening afternoon session in the Under Armour “Hard In The Paint” Classic at Westlake HS which saw standout performances from multiple players and teams with high aspirations, Prep Hoops Georgia grabbed a snack and some hydration and strapped in for a 3-game evening block which also showcased a slew of names from our rankings list and 6 more teams with serious postseason hopes.
Travon Smith (Decatur), PG – Just 5-8 but not short on fight and grit, Smith was very impressive for the 5A Bulldogs as they took down 6A Lakeside, who made the ride into Atlanta from the Augusta area. In the 66-56 win, Smith, a junior, was the consummate floor general, getting into the paint to set up teammates and adding several assists to his 13 points, 10 of which came in a first half that saw 4-1 Decatur build a 10-point lead they would never relinquish.
Sherard LucasSherard Lucas (Decatur), F – Matched up against a much taller Lakeside frontcourt, the 6-2 Lucas nevertheless shined in close to the basket, often out-leaping and out-hustling the Panther rebounders with a combination of good positioning and pure athletic ability. He essentially took the game over at points in the 2nd half, with 17 of his 22 coming in that second frame, firmly establishing the senior as a key component in Decatur’s 5A playoff chances.
Sam HinesSam Hines (Wheeler), PF – While not the late evening marquee matchup, Wheeler’s 72-66 win over Newton provided plenty of wow moments from two high level 7A teams, both with the capability to make a postseason run. Hines, a 6-6 senior checking at #34 in our player rankings, was an absolute beast underneath in totaling 12 points, showing strength and skill to burn and even drawing a key charge late in the game to stem a Newton comeback. Together with frontcourt mate 6-6 junior Jamill Giles, the Denver signee controlled the interior for the 4-1 Wildcats against a highly athletic but undersized Ram squad.
Prince Davies (Wheeler), SG – Long and lean but explosive, the 6-4 Davies was one of the night’s top performers, showing the kind of full-court game that I’m sure has his coaches salivating and opposing coaches rewinding the scout tape for a second look. He showed the ballhandling of a point man, the outside range of a bomber and the put-it-on-the-floor game of a slasher, all of which Newton simply had no answer for as the senior, also highlighted on our rankings list, finished the night with 17 points.
Prince DaviesIsaiah Collier (Wheeler), PG – Despite occupying a spot on our 2023 watchlist, it was perhaps a surprise to the crowd, and certainly a pleasant surprise to this writer, seeing the freshman Collier do just about everything to stand out on a floor full of upper-class talent on both sides. At 6-2 but more physical than your average 9th-grader, Collier showed impressive poise and skill doing it all coming off coach Larry Thompson’s bench, often outshining his more heralded teammates on the way to a team-high 19 points. He handled the rock at the point, got to the glass, and showed defensive chops beyond his years, converting a key late steal into a layup as a courageous Newton squad tried to draw inside 2 possessions.
Caleb ByrdCaleb Byrd (Newton), SG – Newton may have lacked size against Wheeler, but what they did have was Byrd, who was incredibly impressive, leading all the day’s scorers with 29, but also showing the crowd why his full game earns him a spot inside the top 20 of our 2020 player rankings. The 6-1 senior showed me everything – elite ballhandling, ball-hawking defensive ability, and a soft shooting touch, which the folks down in Statesboro will love about the Georgia Southern commit.
Shawn Smith (Newton), PG – Forming a lethal backcourt with Byrd was the 6-1 Smith, who faced the lion’s share of Wheeler’s defensive pressure as the point man, and showed a great handle to go with high-flying athletic ability. His 5 points in the game don’t highlight his full contribution, as it was his ballhandling and elite defense that stood out on the night, and it won’t be a surprise to see him post some big point nights as the season wears on.
Jamaine MannDutchtown (Hampton) vs. Westlake (Atlanta) Standouts – The night’s final and marquee matchup pitted the host 7A Lions against a 5A Dutchtown team brimming with veteran talent and future college players. Westlake, a talented group but clearly still growing with so many underclassmen, boasts one of the state’s best young backcourts in sophomores Dillon Hunter and Jalal McKie. The 6-3 pair showed why they’re so highly regarded, as Hunter weathered relentless Dutchtown pressure from the point while showing strength to the goal and plenty of outside range on his way to 13 hard-earned points. McKie used his strong safety build to muscle his way to a team-high 17 points, getting himself to the line but also showing dangerous 3-point ability. The Bulldogs, featuring 4 players from our rankings (and a 5th in senior guard Isaiah Placide who deserves mention), looked all the part of a loaded senior-laden team with serious postseason aspirations. Among those 8 seniors on the roster, Jamaine Mann, a bruising 6-5 wing headed to Gardner-Webb (17 points), Cam Bryant, a smooth 6-5 wing headed to East Tennessee State (12 points) and Kameron Hobbs, a lightning-quick 5-10 point guard who led the team with 19 points, all showed the crowd why the hype is justified, as the 4-1 Bulldogs used a combination of suffocating defense and explosive offense from the wing and on the interior to hold off Westlake by a final of 78-68.