HoopSeen Tipoff Classic – Friday Notebook
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Was able to drop by Suwanee Sports Academy Friday night to take in Day 1 of HoopSeen’s Tipoff Classic, and got a look at several players who we should expect to be hearing more about as the summer wears on.…
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Continue ReadingWas able to drop by Suwanee Sports Academy Friday night to take in Day 1 of HoopSeen’s Tipoff Classic, and got a look at several players who we should expect to be hearing more about as the summer wears on.
Jay King, 6-2, CG, Atlanta Xpress (2022, FPD Macon, pictured above)
Showed a nice, balanced game playing both with the ball in his hands and off the ball, good stroke from distance and showed a variety of moves to put it in the cup including getting to the basket, great energy getting up and down the floor, contributed on the glass and was stout on defense.
Zion Odoms, 6-5, PF, Atlanta Xpress (2022, Northeast Macon)
A good mover with high activity on the glass and of defense guarding the rim, showed good feet and a soft touch near the basket, his length is an advantage now but his game takes another step in my view when he adds a little more bulk to that.
Dre Pettigrew, 6-3, SF, Atlanta Xpress (2022, Northeast Macon)
Hard worker who generally beats you to the glass with effort over pure athleticism, not to say he can’t move as he uses a solid frame to win the ball, a polished finisher near the basket he was too much to handle in close for a smaller overall ATL Select bunch.
Jared Waddell, 6-0, CG, ATL Select (2021, Dutchtown)
Another tough, versatile DHS product from a top-flight program, showed nice touch from beyond the arc, equally comfortable off the ball as well as handling the point, plays hard at both ends.
Emmanuel Wilkins, 6-0, PG, ATL Select (2021, Lithonia)
Tough and versatile describes Wilkins as well also coming out of the highly competitive LHS program, more of a pure point, he was calm and poised and distributed well and ran the break with confidence, excellent on-ball defender.
Christopher Gooden, 6-5, PF, ATL Select (2021, Cristo Rey)
Fought hard against a bigger Xpress bunch, no back down as a rebounder and saw his share of touches in O sets or working hard on the O-glass, good frame and an efficient finisher in close.
Brady Tillman Brady Tillman 6'0" | SF East Coweta | 2023 State GA , 6-0, CG, Newnan Elite (2023, East Coweta)
Looked the best I’ve seen him since he burst onto my radar last June when things began re-heating up in town, so versatile at both guard posts he got downhill from the 2-spot and both scored hard with his physicality and knocked down deep treys, then switched over and handled the point and slashed and dished his way to an excellent all-around game vs TNBASouth Red out of FL.
Austen Colton Austen Colton 5'9" | PG East Coweta | 2023 State GA , 5-10, PG, Newnan Elite (2023, East Coweta)
Playing on a gimpy ankle took a little bit to get rolling but when he did his inside-out combo game looked like the Colton we’ve come to know, still showed great quickness off the bounce and when his 3-ball heated up they began to pull away, among the state’s top rising PG prospects.
London Johnson London Johnson 6'4" | PG G-League | 2023 State #39 Nation GA , 6-3, PG, Game Elite 3SSB (2023, Norcross)
Looked all the part of the top 10 player in the class he is, got better as the year rolled on for the Blue Devils and should thrive on a Game Elite team where the ball will be his a lot, all of it was there Friday with the smooth jumper, the quick burst off the bounce and the lengthy defending which leads to turnovers and offense at the other end.
Jase McCullough Jase McCullough 6'2" | CG Pebblebrook | 2023 State GA , 6-2, CG, Game Elite 3SSB (2023, Roswell)
So physical and so strong he can either bull through you or run past you with that rare combination of power and speed that you can’t teach, looked like a monster combo in the making when he slid off the ball and played alongside Johnson, the two should wreak havoc and McCullough’s scoring chops from multiple levels and in your face defense will be tough to match against this squad.