A-Town Showdown: GA 16U Players “On the Verge”
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The 16U division at this past weekend’s A-Town Showdown produced both fascinating and entertaining game play, but also a slew of Georgia players who perhaps aren’t household names but showed their mettle and skill. Below we look at a group…
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Continue ReadingThe 16U division at this past weekend’s A-Town Showdown produced both fascinating and entertaining game play, but also a slew of Georgia players who perhaps aren’t household names but showed their mettle and skill. Below we look at a group of home-state 2023’s on the verge of making significant jumps in their progression, and thus an emergence onto next-level program radar screens.
Kael Cotton Kael Cotton 6'0" | CG McEachern | 2023 GA | PG | 6-0 | NME | 2023| McEachern
He and his mates didn’t have perhaps the overall weekend they had forecast, but there are pieces there nonetheless and Cotton can be the engine when he has it going, physical with the ball and quick getting up the floor he’s got a varied game at the point that has so much room to expand, excellent defender and a good shooter it will be interesting to see how he fits with the new Indians regime.
Preston Parker | SG | 6-3 | Wood Elite | Sequoyah (pictured above)
One of the weekend’s perimeter stars without question, minutes with this Wood group should increase with some roster change, had a lights out shooting game against Auburn Raptors Saturday with five 3s, has a very quick and pretty release and is always ready to shoot, good size for the wing at 6-3, can put the ball on the floor and isn’t afraid to attack the goal, love the upside.
Dastin Hart Dastin Hart 6'5" | PF Cherokee | 2023 State GA | 6-5 | PF | Wood Elite | Cherokee
Each time I see him he seemingly gets better, seems more sure of himself under the superior Wood tutelage he’s receiving, fan of his catch and finish with authority and he’s seeking out his own O as well facing the basket, good frame and moves really well, an exciting leaper around the rim or even more so coming off the fast break, a tenacious rebounder and active defender, this is a player that has “massive riser” written all over him this next 7 months.
Garrett Ledford | SF | 6-4 | Georgia Express | Brookwood School
Grew on me as the weekend wore on, has some nice variety in how the lefty looks for and then executes his offense, good size and length and he’s a battler around the glass despite not being as athletic as many of his opponents, playing is the smaller GISA league means he can slip under radars but his moxie and savvy as a ball player gives him an edge to be seen, superb in the mid-range from 15 feet in with a soft touch, looked as if the deep shooting game is a work in progress but forward movement there takes him up a notch.
Daveon Henderson Daveon Henderson 6'0" | CG Westside-Macon | 2023 State GA | SG | 6-1 | Georgia Express | Westside (Macon)
Looks and plays bigger than 6-1, most of that is due to a fearlessness and aggressiveness that is a lot to handle for defenses, great burst off the dribble and a strong finisher near the basket, was a terrific complement to star PG Jaylen Priester Jaylen Priester 5'9" | CG Creekside Christian | 2023 State GA as he wisely took advantage of gaps and open looks from 3.
Cole Weaver | SF | 6-5 | Atlanta All-Stars | Blessed Trinity
Saw him this past regular season and was intrigued, he’s already improved in a lot of areas to go with his exciting explosiveness off the deck, uses that exceptional athletic ability as both a shot eraser and glass cleaner, a menace off the fast break and getting putbacks in close, as his shooting range expands and converts at a higher percentage he can enter elite territory in this class.
Dylan Faulkner Dylan Faulkner 6'8" | PF Calhoun | 2023 State GA | PF | 6-8 | Atlanta All-Stars | Calhoun
Love what I saw from him this weekend, has the look and feel of a classic stretch-4 but the long-range shooting is still in development, that said he’s a terrific catch and finish guy near the basket and was one of the weekend’s top rebounders, has shot-blocking instincts at a long 6-8 and is strong enough to body up opposing posts on the defensive end, a good-looking prospect.
Kyle Walters Kyle Walters 6'4" | SF Lovett School | 2023 State GA | SG | 6-4 | Atlanta All-Stars | Lovett
Another guy I saw back in December and really liked, he’s a devastating catch and shoot guy from the arc, super quick and pure release, loved seeing him put it on the floor against really athletic defenders and drive it into the teeth, has a quiet competitiveness about him that I know college coaches adore, a “bunches” type scorer who can change the momentum of a game.
James Connolly James Connolly 6'3" | SG Blessed Trinity | 2023 State GA | SG | 6-3 | Atlanta All-Stars | Blessed Trinity
This is a player I think is set to make a huge jump off this summer into next season, has jumping jack athletic skills that surprise everyone who guards him, has developed a very solid jump shot all the way to the arc but has shown a sweet willingness to stop and pop from 8-15 feet, hits the glass from the guard spot with serious energy and guards up to 3 spots, with multiple senior guards having left BT the door is open for Connolly and several other potential risers.
Dre Raven Dre Raven 5'11" | CG Gainesville | 2023 State GA | CG | 5-11 | GA Stars Select | Cherokee Bluff
Has come so far from this time last summer, taken his skilled package to another level with a ton of confidence and aggressiveness behind it, uses speed to get up the floor and love his willingness to attack the basket through the trees, an exceptional on-ball defender (along with teammate CJ Wallace CJ Wallace 5'11" | PG North Cobb Christian School | 2023 State GA among the tops at the tournament) he can play the 1 or slide over and has enough shooting to play off the ball, but appears much more comfortable in the open floor or getting into the paint off the wing.
Soloman Mustafa-Reid Soloman Mustafa-Reid 6'8" | PF Paideia | 2023 MD | PF | 6-7 | GA Stars Select | Paideia
Played only a handful of games due to Covid this past season so this summer is massive for the athletically-gifted forward, the activity and relentless nature of his game around the basket was fun to watch, he’s got a great body for the banging and physical endurance needed to excel under the basket, a top rebounder of the weekend and shot-blocker as well, big-time coming out party in my eyes.