GBA National Hoops Series IV: Top Bigs
Guards always dominate the day, but there were some nice posts and skilled forwards on hand at the GBA National Hoops Series IV tournament over Memorial Day weekend at Cobb Galleria. Damien Horton, 6-10, C, Rome Elite, 2022 (pictured above,…
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Continue ReadingGuards always dominate the day, but there were some nice posts and skilled forwards on hand at the GBA National Hoops Series IV tournament over Memorial Day weekend at Cobb Galleria.
Damien Horton, 6-10, C, Rome Elite, 2022 (pictured above, Rockmart)
A top weekend big who showed off tremendous rim protection backed up by nimble movement and quickness off the deck and up the floor, a real threat for the alley-oop anytime he gets near the basket, nice hands make him a good glass cleaner at this size and his offensive game is on the come with some more work moving forward on the jump hook and short J, running under the radar of most ATL-Metro scouts and could be in line for a monster breakout and recruitment with his natural set of gifts.
Holden Cardon Holden Cardon 6'3" | SG North Cobb Christian | 2024 State GA , 6-3, PF, SBT, 2024 (North Cobb Christian)
Nice array of moves around the basket, almost old-school in the way he catches and uses ball fakes and a clever post IQ to score in close, seriously hard-worker who doesn’t take a possession off on the glass or on defense, has plenty of face-up skill to knock down J’s all the way out to the arc, what that means is if he stays around 6-3 he can make the transition to guard with continued work, but if he grows to 6-5 or more he’s got a really sound understanding of the low post game which could develop into something really special.
Michael Phillips, 6-2, PF, Milton Spurs JH, 2024 (Milton)
Sneaky athleticism and a motor that runs for days highlighted Phillips play when I saw the Spurs against SBT, was nearly automatic when he made the catch inside 8 feet and he was a glass-eater at both ends with putbacks on the O-end with regularity, good instincts as a defender often having to match up with guys taller, another young, skilled and polished addition coming up for the Eagles program.
Theron Nixon, 6-4, PF, Mid-State Magic, 2023 (Pope)
We’re going to see a lot of new faces emerge at Pope as they turnover from the success of the last two years and Nixon could be one to them on the interior, he’ll pair nicely with 2022 studs Jack Dempsey and Cam Bleshoy as he’s an athletic mover down there with a nose for the goal, great motor and a glass-eater he has a ton of upside with that frame and energy level, Mid-State was impressive and deep my seeing them for the first time with the likes of Nixon, Dominic Parks (Tri-Cities), Nathan Watson (Walton) and Ricky Trowbridge (Pope).
Mac Barnette, 6-3, PF, Inspire ATL, 2024 (Pace)
In the All-Hustle category falls Barnette who shined with his endless effort battling at both ends on the glass and defending with vigor, add a skilled game on the block to that effort and you’ve got an intriguing youing post presence who showed an ability to step out and knock down the mid-range jumper as well, Pace will be really good again with their returnees but Barnette has a chance to be a contributor this winter with that stellar effort-level.
Jeremias Heard, 6-9, C, NWGA Raptors, 2023 (Model)
With the frame of an NFL offensive lineman Heard stood out but not just because of the stout frame, he showed off surprisingly nimble feet off the catch and moved both in the open floor and defensively really well, excellent timing off the deck as a shot-blocker and after the catch in close he’s an absolute load to stop as you’d expect, love the enthusiasm he plays with as well as he keeps rolling and doesn’t do a ton of griping despite having men draped all over him most of the game, one to watch for sure out of Northwest GA.
Cameron Keith, 6-4, SF, NWGA Raptors, 2023 (Rome)
Silky smooth and polished scorer, loved the glide he plays with and the control with which he attacks, never seems out of sorts with the ball in his hands and can slice up a defense with a long-striding dribble-drive or coming off the wing on the break, versatile defender at a wiry 6-4 and as good a rebounding guard as there was on hand all weekend, more talent off this Raptors roster from Northwest GA to be aware of.
Inigo Ibanez, 6-4, PF, Team Impact, 2022 (Furtah Prep)
First look at Team Impact this summer and there are many pieces to like on the roster, Ibanez showed me really nice activity at both ends with an ability to get off the deck nicely both as a finisher and shot-blocker, the length is notable as it makes him a versatile defender who’s athletic enough to guard out on the perimeter but can be a shot-eraser in close to the basket, the offensive game is on the come as he can catch and be quick to the rim with the jumper still a bit in development, still this was someone who stood out.