Sandy’s Spiel Fall League Midseason Takeaways
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Union Grove will be a Problem Union Grove has been a great surprise at the Fall League, racking up a 3-1 record at the Labor Day break. Coming from the southside, the Wolverines have made their weekly treks to Dallas…
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Continue ReadingUnion Grove will be a Problem
Union Grove has been a great surprise at the Fall League, racking up a 3-1 record at the Labor Day break. Coming from the southside, the Wolverines have made their weekly treks to Dallas a business trip, securing multiple impressive wins. Eric Garcia Eric Garcia 6'3" | PF Union Grove | 2023 State GA and Nile King Nile King 6'4" | SF Union Grove | 2024 State GA are double-double machines. Garcia has averaged 16.8 points and 13.3 rebounds while King has posted 14.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. Tony Colley is an X-Factor with his versatility on the perimeter as is Caleb Samples Caleb Samples 6'4" | SF Union Grove | 2025 State GA , an intriguing 2025 swingman with inside-out capabilities. The Wolverines are an athletic group that plays extremely hard. Their guard play is steady between Caleb Johnson Caleb Johnson 5'11" | SG UNION GROVE | 2023 GA , Chance Whitfield and Allen Suber. Brandon Simmons Brandon Simmons 6'0" | CG Creekside Christian | 2025 State GA figures to have a bright future as well as a 2025 guard.
Justin Mccarter Justin Mccarter 6'4" | SF Osborne | 2023 State GA has D-I Upside
At 6-foot-5, the stock riser is as smooth as they come in the Fall League. McCarter does so much well. He gets to his shots with ease, attacking off the dribble and stopping on a dime to rise and fire. He uses his length to finish at the rim and is an effective rebounder and defender. While McCarter’s three-level scoring is his calling card, especially his jump shooting, his court vision is quite impressive as well. Justin is a stat sheet stuffer that continues to get better every time I see him.
Don’t Sleep on Paulding County Guards
Javonne Williams Javonne Williams 5'11" | CG Paulding County | 2023 State GA of Paulding County has had a monster first half averaging 17.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals while South Paulding’s Jeremiah Taylor Jeremiah Taylor 6'2" | CG South Paulding | 2023 State GA has led a balanced attack posting 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game. What do both players have in common? They have both led their respective teams to 4-0 records and both play with a great motor. What’s most impressive about Williams is that he’s second in the League in scoring and hasn’t made a single three-pointer. Teams know he’s getting to the rack and all they can do is foul him. He poured in 27 points against Osborne, assaulting the rim and mixing in pull-ups when needed. Taylor is another slash-first guard, but he has hit a handful of threes to keep the defense honest. He’s a great offensive rebounder and a superior athlete to most.
Welcome to 7A, Carrollton
Last year’s magical run to the Elite 8 may be tough to replicate now up in 7A, but the Trojans will still be a difficult matchup thanks to their three-headed monster in the backcourt. O’Brien Watkins O’Brien Watkins 6'2" | PG Carrollton | 2024 State GA , Keshaun Pace Keshaun Pace 6'1" | CG Carrollton | 2023 State GA and Eli Pippins Eli Pippins 5'10" | CG Carrollton | 2024 State GA have combined to average 35.8 points per game over the first four weeks of Fall League. Watkins is the table setter, bursting through the holes of the defense like a running back when attacking the hoop. Pace does a little bit of everything while Pippins can be penciled in for two threes and two layups nightly. Once at full strength during the high school season, the Trojans will welcome blue chip football star Caleb Odom Caleb Odom 6'6" | SF Carrollton | 2024 GA to provide size and even more athleticism as a 6-foot-6 wing.
Know these Shooters
Isaac Plavich Isaac Plavich 5'10" | PG Christian Heritage | 2025 State GA leads the League in threes with 13 while Cole Smith Cole Smith 6'3" | SF Allatoona | 2023 State GA has hit 10. Don’t know them? You should get familiar for this upcoming season. Plavich, a sophomore, has emerged for Christian Heritage in the absence of Jax Abernathy Jax Abernathy 6'4" | SG Christian Heritage | 2024 State GA . The potent scorer is averaging 15.8 points per game, fourth in the League. He will see a major role in the offense this season. Smith has been the go-to guy for Allatoona this Fall dating back to Week 1 when he exploded for 29 points. The strong wing is averaging 15.5 points, 8 rebounds and 2.5 steals. He looks like the next breakout senior for Allatoona.