#OTRHoopsReport: Sweet 16 Session II – Day One Recap – April 26, 2016

Georgia Stunners guard Kane Williams caught the attention of many coaches that were in attendance at the Sweet 16 Session II.

Powder Springs, Ga – Spring basketball is in full effect as teams from across the country packed into McEachern High School for the Sweet 16 Session II this past weekend. The April tournament gave us an early look at some of the top independent teams from around the country.

Kane Williams – South Paulding  (GA) – Georgia Stunners – 2017

He was very good in transition pushing the ball up the floor and is a great finisher at the rim. He had a good feel for using ball screens and also could create off the dribble. He was able to get into the paint for a midrange jump shot and did a nice job drawing the defense and kicking out to an open teammate. Defensively, he is a very good on-the-ball defender as he gets low in his stance, works to pressure the ball, and moves well laterally.

Josh Linder – Veterans (GA) Smyrna Stars – 2017

Linder has a nice looking frame with long arms and a good amount of athleticism. The game comes very easily to him and he has a variety of skills. Linder has a soft shooting touch out to the stripe, is an excellent passer, and he can finish with authority in transition. Linder draw the attention of Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Arkansas Little-Rock and others while participating in the Sweet 16 Session II.

Evan Cole – South Forsyth (GA) – Atlanta All-Stars – 2017

Cole is a long forward that has a good basketball IQ and hustles whenever he is on the floor. He has good skill level with range to the three-point line off the catch. Cole has a nice shooting form with a good release and follows through. He can post but seemed more comfortable on the perimeter in a pick and pop situation. He does a good job of rebounding inside and outside of his area.

Zackery Bryant – Providence (FL) – Jacksonville Magic – 2017

Bryant is a pure point guard who excels at pushing the ball down the court, penetrating and hitting open teammates with on-target passes in the half court. His passing skills overall are second to none. When he attacks the rim he can finish or dish it to welcome teammates. Clemson offered Bryant shortly after the Sweet 16 Session II.

Devontaye Buskey – Daphen (AL) – PCBC  – 2017

Buskey is a lead guard that is extremely quick off the dribble. He plays with great pace and has a terrific burst of speed to go by his defender. He attacks and beats defensive pressure without difficulty. He can get to the rim in transition as well as in the half court and finish with great touch and body control.

Malik Burnett – Lee-Huntsville (AL) – MC Warriors – 2017

He sprints the wing and can get to the rim with his speed and quickness where he is an above the rim finisher. In the half court Burnett displays good ball handling ability when he slashes to the rim or along the baseline using his extremely quick first step. Burnett dropped twenty plus multiple times over the weekend at the Sweet 16 Session II.

Day One Game Recaps

Vanguard Elite 75 Charlotte Aces Jackson 73

In a sudden death overtime, Rodney Pearson of the Vanguard Elite hit the game-winning baseline jumper to defeat the Charlotte Aces Jackson 75-73 in the opening game of the Sweet Sixteen II Showcase.

Vanguard Elite’s three-point shooting ability is what gave them the lead early in the game, and assisted their comeback in the end. The Aces had a clear height advantage with their forwards, but didn’t capitalize on their size until the second half.

On the opening possessions of the second half, both teams went straight to their strengths. Nick Cunningham hit his second three-pointer of the game and the Ace’s followed with a lob to their center Bryant Toomas for an easy lay-in.

Turnovers and missed shots allowed the Aces to take some of the momentum away from the Vanguard Elite. Trey Jackson led the team in scoring with 19. Teammates Jordan Ruth and Derrick Walker each had two big three-pointers that helped pad the Aces lead early in the second half.

Atlanta All-Stars 73 Infinite Skillz 60

A big second half gave the Atlanta All-Stars the separation they needed to defeat Infinite Skillz.

The teams played a tight first half in two very different ways. The  Atlanta All-Stars put together a solid half sharing the ball and scoring both inside and out. Meanwhile, Infinite Skillz guard Isaiah Miller scored 13 in the first half to keep his team close. It would have been just a two point game at the half if it weren’t for a last second three-pointer by Atlanta All-Stars forward Charlie O’ Bryant to make the score 34-39.

Infinite Skillz playing style didn’t change much at all in the second half. Only noticeable change was that the Avery Wilson took over the scoring duties while Miller only had 2 points. Even though Wilson had 18 second half points, the Allstars balanced attack continued to give the Infinite Skillz issues.

The Atlanta All-stars’s bigs outplayed their counterparts on Infinite Skillz and guard Javon Greene’s free throws sealed the game. The Atlanta All-Stars had three players finish with more than 10 points.

Charlotte Aces 67 Dallas Showtime 60

The Charlotte Aces defeated the Dallas Showtime 67-60 in the final Day 1 game on Court 1 at McEachern High school.

Both teams played a tight game from start to finish. Showtime had four players score in the double digits. They had a 33-30 lead going into the second half, but the Aces were able to swing just enough momentum to take control of the second half.

The Aces outscored Showtime 37-27 in the second half. The team was led in scoring by Christopher Martin with 19 points. Martin had 11 in the second half alone to help his team get the win.

Shun Williams is the owner of On the Radar Hoops, Inc. The On the Radar Hoops Report is picked up by Division I and II colleges and universities across the country. He serves as the director of the On the Radar Hoops Fall Showcase, On the Radar Hoops Spring Showcase, On the Radar Hoops Invitational, Elite 32 Session I, Elite 32 Session II, Power 24, and Super 6 Showcase Session I & II