Cherokee vs. Forsyth Classic Recap – Dec. 15, 2020

Tailhand Owens came up big in a win for Cherokee Saturday night. 

Canton, Georgia, – With high school teams practicing and preparing for region play, our focus shifts to prospects and teams that are poised to make the most noise during the winter months. Cherokee High School hosted the Cherokee vs. Forsyth holiday classic featuring many teams in the Atlanta-Metro area. We take a look at several prospects who stood above the rest.

By – @Jr_OTRH – Willie Evans

Elijah Tucker – Cherokee High School – 2021

Tucker had the best performance over the weekend in a hard-fought contest. At 6’8, Tucker is a marksman from all areas of the floor. He hurt the Lambert zone over the top making several three pointers and short post jumpers over defenders. He’s a work horse on the glass using his length to get second chance points inside & has no problem flexing after and-1 finishes. Overall I think Tucker is one of the top Seniors in Georgia this year regardless of position. His versatility and shot making ability along with his size make him a nightmare for defenses. Xavier got a steal in Tucker, he’s got endless potential. 

James Tyre – Lambert High School – 2023

Instantly I noticed the speed of the sophomore guard with his dribble moves from end to end. He displayed a mature court presence and wasn’t rattled by pressure or the pace of the game. When he got downhill he made plays for himself, and he always knew where his teammates were for assists. He’s not the biggest in stature, but he makes up for it with speed and grit on both ends. He came up huge in the fourth quarter hitting free throws that would tie the game with only seconds left. Tyre and senior backcourt mate Mason Barnes are fun to watch together for Lambert. 

Taihland Owens – Cherokee High School – 2021

The Cherokee County senior was in a groove this weekend and it showed. He found success shooting the ball beyond the arc versus the Lambert zone. As the game went on Owens was able to hurt the Longhorns in transition using his strength. Known for his outside shooting, Owens looked comfortable attacking off the bounce for jumpers or attempts at the rim. He and Elijah Tucker have a chance to lead their squad deep into the State tournament with their veteran experience and scoring ability. 

Ayden Watson – Sequoyah High School – 2021

This was my first time seeing the senior forward with his school team, I was impressed. He brings a lot to the floor at 6’6 and really good athletic ability. What stands out most about Watson is his versatile skillsets. He can guard pretty much any position on the floor & push the break once he has the ball in his hands off the glass. In the half court he attacked the rim from the perimeter and found pretty good looks. He doesn’t waste many dribbles and does a good job straight line driving the ball. Watson adds inside scoring, rebounding, and a versatile defensive presence that Sequoyah uses to be successful. 

Kyle Keener –Sequoyah High School – 2022

As far as quality guards go in Georgia, there is no shortage. It may be time to add Sequoyah junior Kyle Keener to the list. Keener was reliable controlling the pace and getting his team into the actions coach called. He moved well without the ball and hit some shots from deep as a result. Keener’s poise and understanding of possession basketball were fun to watch. He’s got a nice bag of moves and uses them to keep defenders off balance and breakdown defenses. Keener will definitely be one to watch the rest of the season and travel ball.

Aidan Kudlas – North Forsyth High School – 2022

When you watch Kudlas and his squad in action, you can tell he’s their guy. Kudlas scored or assists on most baskets for his squad and did so without many turnovers. He’s steady with the ball and defenses have to locate him on the wing or he’ll make them pay. At 6’3, Kudlas has a nice jumper and made several plays at the rim off the bounce. He broke full court pressure up the sideline and converted at the rim. Kudlas plays the right way and understands the game, which makes me believe he should be garnering some attention at lower levels.

Devin McGlockton – South Forsyth High School – 2021

McGlockton was really good for South Forsyth this past weekend. The 6’7 dual sport athlete was a man inside the lane and showed improved touch from beyond the three-point stripe. He was a one-man zone breaker after halftime either scoring or assisting on his teams’ first ten points of the half. He hit threes consistently from the corner and had nice hi-lo looks down low for assists. McGlockton dominated the game with scoring and without. He was a beast on the glass snatching everything in his area, and forced several tough shots over him defensively.