#OTRHoopsReport: Championship Performances – February 12, 2018

Class of 2019 guard Kyle Sturvidant of Norcross HS delivered a win for the Blue Devils in the region championship game. Photo cred – Ty Freeman/Gwinnett County Media Day

The second week in February is the time where players can prove their mettle. Months of competition, talk and jockeying for post season position concludes with 3 games in a four day period to crown a region champion. Our #OTRHoopsReport team was out in force last weekend to track the top performances. As expected there were several familiar names that came upon the radar.

By:  @JLHemingwayPSB 

Game Time

Kyle Sturdivant – Norcross HS – 2019

It appeared, at least for a moment, that Sturdivant’s clutch second half performance would be for naught. After a slow first half, Sturdivant turned up his play-making abilities. He finished with 15 points and pierced the Meadowcreek defense at opportune times. The Mustangs built a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but behind the 6-2 point guard’s play they were able to keep the game close heading into the final seconds. Then Sturdivant hit a second game winner in the past two weeks…both being against Meadowcreek. Stanford assistant coach, Adam Cohen, sat courtside taking in the action. After taking home the Region 7-AAAAAAA player of the year award, Sturdivant should be considered one of the state’s top prospects heading into the spring recruiting period.

It’s not deja vu – Kyle Sturdivant steals another one from the Meadowcreek Mustangs at the buzzer. Norcross is your @Region_7AAAAAAA Champ.@NorcrossHoops @dr3amchasin @NHSBlueCrew @PackDT @samcrenshaw23 @GAHoopCircle @SCtop10 @Region_7AAAAAAA @OfficialGHSA @GDPSports#Clutch pic.twitter.com/W5XYLZkZPy

— SUVtv (@SUVtv) February 10, 2018

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Devin Vassell – Peachtree Ridge – 2018

The ascension of Vassell into one of the state’s top prospects is unique. Last high school season Vassell was a solid prospect, but certainly not one that could projected as an ACC player. This season has flipped that opinion on its’ head as he lead the county in scoring with 22.3 average heading into the Region 6-AAAAAAA tournament. Vassell dominated a match-up with Mountain View on both ends scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a championship win.

There is a parallel to draw between the development of Vassell and former Norcross guard, Jeremy Lamb. Both were late bloomers physically and did not hit the peak until their senior year of high school. Lamb even spent three years in Storrs, Connecticut, before eventually being drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.

Again, it is much too soon to predict the same about Vassell. However, there are some things in his favor. Vassell sports the same feathery touch from beyond the arc and in traffic that Lamb showed at the same age. He is also heading to Florida State this summer where the staff has success in developing scoring guards. Most notably Malik Beasley who had one of the most efficient seasons in recent ACC history.

Championship Effort

Jamir Chaplin – Meadowcreek – 2019

Chaplin’s team might have come up on the short end on the scoreboard in the region title game, but it was not because of a lack of production on his part. He posted a near double-double at 16 points and 9 rebounds to go with a couple of stunning block shots. Chaplin is a bouncy athlete who can score above the rim at any moment. While his jumpshot is not quite consistent, from beyond the arc, he is showing progression in that area.

Brenden Tucker – Dacula – 2019

Tucker’s second half offensive explosion versus Lanier in the region semi-final game is the reason why the Falcons pulled home a win. Tucker is one of the most explosive offensive players in the state. His explosiveness puts us in the mind of D’Marcus Simonds, who is currently a sophomore at Georgia State. He is dominant in transition and is terrific when he can create an angle to get downhill. He finished 19 points in the win, which included an efficient 7-8 shooting performance in the second half.

Adrian Martin – Lanier HS – 2018

One of the most under-recruited prospects in the Peach State is Martin. The 6-3 guard is one of the county’s best shooters…in Gwinnett County history. He will finish second to Mountain View’s Spencer Rodgers in most 3-pointers made in Gwinnett County history. Martin has evolved his game from being primarily a spot-shooter to a combo-guard who handles a high usage rate nightly for the Longhorns. He showed the ability to get downhill and use body control to finish in traffic in a semi-final match-up with the Falcons of Dacula. He finished with a game-high 24 points in the game. The Longhorns went on to clinch 3rd place on Saturday afternoon.

Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. Hemingway serves on the Board of Selectors for the Naismith Trophy. He is also the publisher of CoachHemi.com. He has been involved in the community since 1996 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at JonathanHemingway@PeachStateBasketball.com and follow him on  twitter @JLHemingwayPSB