A-Town Showdown: Day 2 Standouts
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The A-Town Showdown wrapped up on Sunday at the LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville, Georgia. Games started at 8 a.m. ET and ran through until 4:45 p.m. ET as there was plenty of talent on the floor. Here is a…
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Continue ReadingThe A-Town Showdown wrapped up on Sunday at the LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville, Georgia.
Games started at 8 a.m. ET and ran through until 4:45 p.m. ET as there was plenty of talent on the floor.
Here is a look at the top standouts I saw on Day 2.
ICYMI:
A-Town Showdown: Day 1 Standouts
17U
Tarence Guinyard Tarence Guinyard 6'1" | CG Bay Shore Christian | 2021 State FL , Dean Gabrelcik Dean Gabrelcik 6'4" | CG East Lake | 2021 State FL & Michael Phillips Michael Phillips 6'3" | PF Surge Christian | 2021 FL | Team Speights
Team Speights won the Passion Region bracket, finishing 4-0 on the weekend as 2021 6-3 Lee guard Tarence Guinyard Tarence Guinyard 6'1" | CG Bay Shore Christian | 2021 State FL was consistently really good. After having 27 points on Saturday afternoon and followed that up with a 19-point game in the finals win over the Alabama Celtics. He can shoot it well, loves to attack the rim and is highly athletic.
…As for Gabrelcik, the 6-4 guard had 22 points and 12 points on Sunday and was in his groove from long range, hitting key shots. Phillips is a 6-8 forward is in for a postgrad year in the fall. He was really good in the morning win over North Metro Elite with 15 points as he scrapped inside for boards and buckets.
Zyhir Sims Zyhir Sims 6'3" | CG Fletcher | 2021 State FL | 6-3 | Star Ready Athletes
In its last game of the weekend, the Star Ready Athletes won in overtime against the MVA Outlawz behind a 28-point outing from 2021 6-3 Fletcher guard Zyhir Sims Zyhir Sims 6'3" | CG Fletcher | 2021 State FL . A long and speedy athlete, there is so much to like in his game. He was hitting jumpers, getting out on the break and finishing lay-ins and most importantly being a vocal leader. He is maturing right before our eyes.
Bryce Johnson Bryce Johnson 6'3" | SG Oldsmar Christian School | 2021 State FL & Jakare Newton-Carroll | Tampa Bayhawks
The Tampa Bayhawks earned a nice one-two punch game from 2021 pair Bryce Johnson Bryce Johnson 6'3" | SG Oldsmar Christian School | 2021 State FL and Jakare Newton-Carroll. Johnson, a 6-3 guard had a team-best 23 points in a loss to SOH Elite. He is a superb outside shooter and his attack is coming along nicely. He will see a bump in confidence at Oldsmar Christian in the SIAA. Newton-Carroll is a long body who plays at Boca Ciega and I loved his resourcefulness and slashing ability.
Bobby Moore Bobby Moore 6'5" | SF McEachern | 2021 State GA , Darwin Randolph Darwin Randolph 6'0" | PG East Hamilton | 2021 State TN & Marcus Long | North Metro Elite
North Metro Elite is a gifted group. Falling to Team Speights in the morning tilt, 2021 6-5 McEachern guard/forward Bobby Moore Bobby Moore 6'5" | SF McEachern | 2021 State GA had 23 points in that matchup. He was a man amongst boys and played with endless confidence and strength. A pair of Tennessee East Hamilton guards Darwin Randolph Darwin Randolph 6'0" | PG East Hamilton | 2021 State TN and Marcus Long were steady both days. Randolph, a 6-0 guard had 14 points in that game and continues to get inside and finish with finesse. Long is a similar player at 6-2 but he does a lot on the boards as well.
Jordan Cooke Jordan Cooke 6'0" | CG Miami Country Day | 2021 State FL , Reggie Luis Reggie Luis 6'5" | CG Colombus | 2021 State FL , Raphael Houssou Raphael Houssou 6'2" | CG Sagemont | 2021 State FL & Craig Starks Craig Starks 6'6" | PF Mater Lakes | 2021 State FL | SOH Elite
SOH Elite won a classic matchup behind Jordan Cooke Jordan Cooke 6'0" | CG Miami Country Day | 2021 State FL ‘s game winning 3-pointer with less than a second left on the clock. The 2021 5-10 Miami Country Day guard saved his best for last as he punched in 17 points. A lead guard and smooth one at that, Cooke does plenty on both ends of the floor and if left open, he can shoot from anywhere. 2021 6-5 Colombus guard Reggie Luis Reggie Luis 6'5" | CG Colombus | 2021 State FL scrapped his way to 17 points and continues to show more and more upside. 2021 6-2 Sagemont guard Raphael Houssou Raphael Houssou 6'2" | CG Sagemont | 2021 State FL (12 points) plays with purpose and is a good passer/finisher. 2021 6-7 Miami Beach forward Craig Starks Craig Starks 6'6" | PF Mater Lakes | 2021 State FL is a strong worker inside and had a steady 11 points working down low.
Jamal Mott Jamal Mott 6'0" | PG Huffman | 2020 State AL | 6-1 | Alabama Celtics
In his team’s final game against Team Speights, 2021 6-1 Huffman guard Jamal Mott Jamal Mott 6'0" | PG Huffman | 2020 State AL came up clutch often in the second half, dropping all of his team-high 18 points. He was knocking down 3’s right in front of defenders and scoring at will at times. Mott is a gifted athlete who plays with very good pace and energy.
16U
Gabriel Pastrana, Will Biven & Trey Morrow | Tennessee Fury Gold
Hats off to Tennessee Fury Gold who went 4-0 and clipped the Iron City Huskies in the Passion Region Bracket final 87-85. 2022 6-0 West High Knoxville guard Gabriel Pastrana rained in 20 points in a win earlier in the day over Tampa Bayhawks. He is a very instinctive athlete with smarts and a reliable shot. As for Will Biven, a 6-3 West High Knoxville guard, he had 16 points and did work inside and out in the final with his pure athleticism. Trey Morrow, a 6-3 guard from Scott County did more of the same and is full of instincts and a true jumper. This is a well put together group right here.
Demarcus Lacey & CJ Blount CJ Blount 6'0" | NA lbs | PG Huffman | 2022 State #NA Nation AL | Iron City Huskies
The Iron City Huskies have athletes all over the place. In the Passion Region Bracket loss to Tennessee Fury Gold, Demarcus Lacey (21 points) and CJ Blount CJ Blount 6'0" | NA lbs | PG Huffman | 2022 State #NA Nation AL (19 points) were really good from start to finish. Lacey, a 6-2 Pleasant Grove guard has wide receiver like speed and can get up and down the floor in the blink of an eye. He has a variety of finishes. Blount, a 6-1 Carver Birmingham guard was hitting some important outside shots late and was getting to the cup when he needed to.
Jesse Taylor & Ahmed Soumahoro | Quiet Storm
Quiet Storm plays so hard and it showed on Sunday. 2021 6-1 North Carolina Butler guard Jesse Taylor was the top playmaker with 18 points in a win over the Atlanta Nets. He is a fancy finisher and a very talented lead guard. Taylor had 16 points in a night loss to SOH Elite. Ahmed Soumahoro, a 6-2 Berkmar guard had 16 and 9 points in two games and showed a lot of grit as a driver to the hoop.
…Two other names from this program that performed well: 2021 6-2 guard Malik Scipio (13 and 12 points) as he was hitting shots and being aggressive while 2022 5-10 Covington Academy guard Jaylin Houlder had 7 and 9 points respectively and does a lot as a scrappy rebounder and quick twitch defender.
Cristian Willis Cristian Willis 5'11" | PG Lithia Springs | 2022 State GA & Khalil Porter | Atlanta Nets
I enjoyed watching the Atlanta Nets hang around and battle with Quiet Storm. 2022 6-1 Lithia Springs guard Cristian Willis Cristian Willis 5'11" | PG Lithia Springs | 2022 State GA flashed his smooth jumper and confident guard play with 13 points. He kept staying aggressive all game long. As for Khalil Porter, the 2022 6-3 Pebblebrook guard is more of a hybrid player who can really dig in down low. He had 13 points and finished strong often.
15U
Keith Floyd & Juwan Boggs | Georgia Ignites
In the Grind Region Bracket final, the Georgia Ignites held off We Get Buckets in overtime behind very fine guard play from 2023 pair Keith Floyd and Juwan Boggs. Starting with Floyd, the 6-0 Robert W. Groves guard had 22 points which included five in overtime allowed to put the game on ice. He was tough for the defense to slow down all game long. Boggs, a 6-1 guard from Herschel V. Jenkins paced him with 19 points and was connecting on big shots all over the floor. There might not be a better guard duo in the 15U division than Floyd and Boggs. They are fun to watch.
Jamichael Davis | 6-1 | We Get Buckets
We Get Buckets started the day winning in overtime against JSI Elite and ended it by losing a close one in overtime to Georgia Ignites. 2023 6-1 Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe guard Jamicheal Davis had consecutive lay-ins in the game against JSI Elite included the winning bucket under a minute left. He followed that up with another strong 14-point outing against Georgia Ignites in the final and impressed me with his pure ability to finish through contact.
…A few other names from We Get Buckets: Nemiah Bloodsaw, 2023 6-1 Tyner guard and 2023 5-8 Brainerd guard Dennis Lewis Jr. Bloodsaw is a commanding lead guard and Lewis plays so quick and hard and hurts you with transition points.
Dylan James Dylan James 6'8" | SF The Rock | 2023 State #48 Nation FL , Joel Harrison Joel Harrison 5'11" | CG Wharton | 2023 State FL & Chandler Davis Chandler Davis 6'3" | CG Wharton | 2023 State FL | Team Speights
Team Speights won the 15U Passion Bracket over Team Forrest and went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend. The 2023 standouts for this young group were Dylan James Dylan James 6'8" | SF The Rock | 2023 State #48 Nation FL , a 6-8 forward who transferred to The Rock from Winter Haven earlier this summer. He is still raw, but his length is endless and once he becomes more aggressive, he will be dangerous. He has good footwork and speed.
… Joel Harrison Joel Harrison 5'11" | CG Wharton | 2023 State FL , a 5-11 guard turned heads with his jumper and his flashy handles. Once he becomes more vocal, he will be a dangerous point guard. 6-5 Wharton guard Chandler Davis Chandler Davis 6'3" | CG Wharton | 2023 State FL is an intriguing prospect with so much length. He can shoot it well but when he puts his head and down and draws contact is when he is at his best.
John Broom John Broom 6'5" | SG Jacksonville | 2023 State AL | 6-0 | JSI Elite
In the back and forth loss to We Get Buckets on Sunday morning, 2023 6-0 Alabama Jacksonville guard John Broom John Broom 6'5" | SG Jacksonville | 2023 State AL came to play. He is a bonafide floor pusher and lead man. Time and time again, he hit mid-range shots and got inside to finish with lay-ins. Twins Camren and Caden Johnson, also from Alabama Jacksonville did plenty as well showing their athleticness and high flying ability.
The first day in Atlanta was packed with talent ????????????#ATownShowdown@bama_celtics @Mospeights16 @LakePointSports pic.twitter.com/eL0uPvDWBL
— Prep Hoops Circuit (@PHCircuit) July 19, 2020