#OTRHoopsReport: Sweet 16 Session I Wrap up – April 26, 2017

Several players saw their recruitment take off after a successful weekend at the Sweet 16 Session I.

By: @Hypesouth_

The first installment of the On the Radar Hoops Sweet 16 Tournament Series has reached its conclusion and there are plenty of hot topics to address. Kowacie Reeves delves deep into his notebook to give you the skinny on the weekend’s most intriguing storylines from the 17U ACC and SEC Divisions.

THE USUAL PROSPECTS

’18 Kalu Ezipke| 6’7” Forward | Discovery (GA) High School

AC Georgia (ACC Division)

Ezipke, a skilled beast, fits the description of the new era’s versatile forwards.  The 6-foot-7 junior from Discovery (GA) High School has the skill set to be effective from the low block as well as the mid-range area. He dominated down low all weekend, but what popped off the screen the most was his capacity in the mid-range area. The bruising forward consistently faced-up and knocked down the 15-foot jumper as well as created scoring opportunities from the triple threat position. He also effectively used his jab series to keep defenders off balance. With offers already in hand from the likes of Florida Gulf Coast, Texas Tech, Troy, Stetson, and UAB to name a few, Ezipke picked up an offer from Middle Tennessee State after an impressive weekend at the Sweet 16 Session I Tourney.

’18 Nelson Phillips | 6’5” Guard | Warner Robins (GA) High School

Team Georgia Magic (SEC Division)

With a bit of a buzz surrounding his name entering the tournament, Phillips did not disappoint. Whether it was shaking defenders off with his tight ball handling skills or pulling up from deep, the smooth combo guard displayed his entire offensive repertoire over a three day period. In the championship game versus MCW, he calmly knocked down a 3-pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime. Phillips had a couple of 20-point tournament performances en route to helping his Team Georgia Magic squad bring home the 17U SEC Division title. Coming into the tournament, he had an offer from Texas Tech, but after a strong showing this weekend, the 6-foot-5 junior picked up an offer from Georgia State.

’18 Tavias Fagan | 6’3” Guard | Upson-Lee (GA) High School

Middle Georgia Supersonics (ACC Division)

Right now, Fagan is one the hottest prospects in the state of Georgia. On day one of the evaluation period, he came out of the gates swinging. He dropped a cool 28-points on Gulf Coast Basketball in front of a full coach’s row section. Through four games, the 6-foot-3 two-guard averaged 19.5-points per game before being ousted by a solid Infinite Skillz team in the semifinals. Despite not being able to lead his team to a tournament championship, he did his due diligence in keeping a hot name on the recruiting trail. Already holding offers from Georgia State, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, and UGA, Fagan added to that list by picking up an offer from Troy following the tournament.

STOCK RISERS

’18 Dante Treacy | 6’0” Point Guard | Central Florida Christian Academy

Team M.O.A.M. (ACC Division)

Treacy didn’t waste any time turning heads during the first NCAA Live Period. He probably raised his stock more than any prospect on hand this weekend. The 6-foot lefty showed everything that coaches look for in a point guard. He does whatever his team needs on a game by game basis. In game one, he was called upon to settle his team down and control pace. No problem, Treacy calmly ran the show tallying in 9-points and 9-assists. However, with his team struggling on offense in game three versus a talented AC Georgia Team, he poured in 26-points to help lift his team to a 59-58 overtime victory. The floor general from CFCA has picked up significant interest from Furman following the Sweet 16 Session I Showcase.

’18 Willie Huzzie | 6’3” Guard | Duluth (GA) High School

EOTO Flagler (SEC Division)

In a tournament filled with HM D-1 talent, Huzzie was being severely overlook until he decided to change the narrative. On day three, the hardnosed wing began to harass opponents defensively, which ultimately put him into a great offensive rhythm. Once he got into a groove offensively, his confidence shot through the roof. The 6-foot-3 combo guard started championship Sunday off with a bang, nailing a buzzer beater 3-pointer to sink a scrappy Gulf Coast team. He finished the game with 23-points, followed by a 20-point performance against Team Marreese Speights (Blue). Huzzie showed the ability to defend, score, and rebound well from the guard position.

18’ Cameron Holden | 6’5” Guard |Mary Persons (GA) High School

Team Georgia Magic (SEC Division)

Holden is an intriguing prospect. While his game doesn’t wow you at first sight, upon further evaluation you will quickly realize that this kid is the REAL DEAL! Simply put, he can do it all. The 6-foot-5 guard showed that he can score at will from the perimeter and mid-post area. Playing on an undersized team, Holden flourished on the offensive and defensive interior against taller players. His 36-points, 9-rebounds, 4-assists, and 3-blocks in the 17U SEC Division championship game sparked conversation. Coaches raved about his potential. Add Furman to the list of suitors interested in the multi-talented junior following the travel season’s first evaluation period.

’18 Xavier Brewer | 6’8” Forward | Sandy Creek (GA) High School

Infinite Skillz (ACC Division)

Brewer is a long forward that has the ability to step out and consistently knock down the 3-ball. He connected on five 3-pointers and finished with 17-points and 11-rebounds in the 17U ACC Championship game. Defensively his length is a plus as it forces opponents to switch up their shots or think twice about penetrating to the basket. Right now, I consider Brewer a tweener player that isn’t physical enough to consistently play on the block and not quite skilled enough to effectively play out on the perimeter. However, if he adds ball handling skills to go along with his sweet shooting stroke, the 6-foot-8 project will instantly become a hot commodity on the recruiting trail.

’19 Devin Butts | 6’3” Shooting Guard | Stratford (GA) Academy

Team Georgia Magic (SEC Division)

Butts impressed with his confidence and smooth jump shot. The unknown sophomore out of Macon, Ga. took the tournament by storm with his unlimited shooting range. He is capable of shooting it off the dribble or spotting up. The 6-foot-3 marksman definitely began his story this weekend and will be one to monitor closely moving forward.

’18 Keon Ellis | 6’5” Forward | Leesburg (FL) High School

Team M.O.A.M. (ACC Division)

High rising wing players were a common theme this weekend and Keon Ellis was definitely part of the mix. The athletic forward had a couple of highlight reel worthy dunks. However, let’s not make any mistake about it, he is not just a dunker. The 6-foot-5 swingman has a tight handle on the ball and a respectable pull up game. As much as we like his offensive skillsets, the most impressive thing about this kid is his will to win. When the game is on the line, he wants the ball. Ellis is receiving major interest from Jacksonville, Troy, and Stetson. Expect this list to grow following his showing during the first live period.

Kowacie Reeves is a contributor to On the Radar Hoops.