Baseline “Drive” Club Report – Norcross Heat 15U
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There are few teams I’ve seen in my recent road travels that drill as hard or as well as Director Marshawn Hampton’s Norcross Heat and his crop of 2023’s. That can certainly be traced in part to Hampton’s professional playing…
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Continue ReadingThere are few teams I’ve seen in my recent road travels that drill as hard or as well as Director Marshawn Hampton’s Norcross Heat and his crop of 2023’s. That can certainly be traced in part to Hampton’s professional playing background and his staff’s hard work, and the kids eat it up because it’s clear to anyone watching they are gaining critical skills.
In seeing them both workout and participate in last weekend’s Showcase of Champions at Suwanee Sports Academy against a very good Newnan Elite club, there was a lot to like about this deep group of prospects to watch.
Here are some:
Keishawn Hampton Keishawn Hampton 6'1" | PG Collins Hill | 2023 State GA (Meadowcreek, 2023, PG) – When I caught Meadowcreek over last Christmas at Wheeler’s tournament, it was clear the Mustangs were building for the future, and the 5-9 Hampton jumped into my notebook right off the bat with his mature play at the PG spot, he has a veterans handle, good feet, and sees the floor as well as any guard in the class, he has tremendous shooting range but is really at his most potent creating off the bounce both on the break and in the halfcourt, another vital cog who will surely have a chance to make waves this coming season with an eye-catching all-around game.
Eduardo Hendricks Eduardo Hendricks 6'7" | PF Stephenson | 2023 State GA (Meadowcreek, 2023, PF) – Physically Hendricks catches your eye the moment he enters the gym, stoutly built already at 6-6 he is a ton to handle for most opponents in the 15U age group, and he utilizes that physical presence and soft hands both to finish in close to the basket and gain space to beat you from mid-range, he is a terrific athlete who runs the floor, blocks shots and rebounds, and this winter he can be a massive riser and centerpiece as the Mustangs look to rebound from a rare down season.
Dayton Richardson (Meadowcreek, 2023, SF) – It’s a mistake to overlook Richardson when he’s on the floor with his touted Mustang compadres, a fluid mover at 6-5, Richardson’s upside is noticeable, he can already run, jump, play defense and rebound, and his offensive game has a sneaky goodness to it within the mid-range if slept on, with 3 seasons still to develop, it’ll be fascinating to watch Richardson raise his game to match the other two rising stars on that roster.
Nazir Griffin (Camp Jewell House, 2023, CG) – Both at practice as well as in the Showcase this past weekend, I couldn’t help but notice Griffin’s talents even while focusing on the more ballyhooed members of the Heat, he’s a physical guard at 6-0, with unreal athletic ability utilized as a tremendous on-ball defender and rebounding-guard, he has yet to unveil a true long-range bombers range, but eventually adding that to his powerful dribble-drive game will surely give him a chance to rise our rankings.
Landon “Zay” Wilson (Mountain View, 2023, PG) – With the exciting Hampton as a teammate, it might be easy to take your eyes off the floor and accidentally miss Wilson’s contributions when he comes on, but the opposite was true for me, he stood out much like Griffin with a physical presence also at 6-0, and after seeing him last Thanksgiving in the Lambert Holiday Tournament and then again this weekend, I was impressed with his calm and poise with the ball for a young player, as well as with his confident range out to the arc, a facet which makes for a lethal combo with his willingness to get into the paint and finish or create.
Austen Colton (Newnan Elite, East Coweta, 2023, PG) – I had shown up to the court to see the Heat, but got a tip about Colton from Director Hampton before the game: “Watch this kid”. Well, anyone there could hardly miss Colton, he was the best player on the floor for either side, and frankly was among the best 3 or 4 players I saw all weekend, an absolutely electric ballhandler and finisher with a sweet stroke and range anywhere over half court, there simply wasn’t anything he couldn’t do on the floor offensively, the Heat’s Griffin and he went at it at both ends in the 2nd half for some entertaining stuff, and Colton along with fellow 2023’s F Brady Tillman and SG Caleb Harris (also both very impressive) will be keys to help offset the loss of several talented players from the Indians roster.