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#Power24 – Weekend Emerging Names Pt 2

#Power24 - Weekend Emerging Names Pt 2
July 29, 2022

MARIETTA, GA – Another July Live Period event for OTR, another jaunt around the ATL-Metro for me, as once again with another terrific field of Southeast travel programs on hand I took my act to multiple locations to get a good flavor.

The coaching turnout was once again elite, as there just isn’t a platform in the Southeast region that combines the highest level of competition together with the highest number of coaches in attendance.

Here’s Part 2 with a mixed bag of guys many of whom you may already know but others not so much who emerged from the weekend as must-see talents to track going forward (Georgia high schools in parentheses)

By: Keith Agran

Noah Melson | SG | Atlanta All-Stars | 2023 (Alexander)

Far from an unknown commodity coming in particularly off a spring and summer with the All-Stars that has drawn consistent raves, catching him in spurts at Next Play 360 he was truly the dynamic force he has projected to be for some time now and took on the #Power24 “A” Pool competition with a fervor and motor that seemingly has found its true fuel in the All-Stars program, such an innate talent the requisite D1 (Winthrop, Chattanooga and Robert Morris among recent offers) attention for his high level of play is ratcheting up and if he can keep that rolling into next winter with an Alexander team again packed with studs he could be the force that carries them deep into the 6A playoffs.

Noah Melson

Matthew Able | SG | Team Huncho | 2024 (pictured at top)

The Sarasota FL product was among the better college-ready players I saw below 17U with some work still to be done for sure but a burgeoning skillset that was truly multi-level dangerous and filled with exciting potential, against one of the many excellent Stars Nashville teams on hand he put on a show with deep 3’s, high-flying work at the rim, and some really advanced mid-range variety that alone would have been impressive, one to track from Florida for sure.

Ernesto Almonte | SG | Atlanta All-Stars | 2024 (Trinity Christian)

Another 16U jack of all trades was Trinity Christian’s Almonte, became a fan of his obvious positional versatility last regular season when he had some nice moments when I caught him, a true multi-threat guy at both the guard and small forward spot at near 6-5 he can face you up as both a scorer and a facilitator out front or get into the mix inside as a turn and face guy or on the O-boards with enthusiasm, sleeper stuff on the South side of Atlanta but not for much longer.

Ernesto Almonte

Jayden Williams | SG | Champions Chance | 2023 

His ability to flat-out shoot the rock had several coaches tapping me on the shoulder about Williams at #Power24, will really be part of the featured mix at Collins Hill even with Keishawn Hampton coming in from Meadowcrrek and Amare Banks and Kai McCarthur back all populating an interesting backcourt mix, he can play the point for you with a level of composure that is notable but projects as a 2 because not getting him into positions to get off a sweet jumper seems a waste of material.

Randy Harris | SG | Georgia Stunners | 2023 (South Paulding)

Fellow 2023 Jeremiah Taylor grabs a bunch of well-deserved attention for his skills but in finally catching a Stunners program I had been hoping to see all spring it got me a closer look at Harris, like the legit size at 6-2 with some length and a nose for making the right play, can shoot it out to range as well as play some point for you, reminds me some of former Wheeler standout Kyle Burns and while he does not project as a Radford-level player like Burns he certainly has solid next-level credentials.

Jayquan Nelson | CG | Rome Elite | 2023 (Rome)

Dropped 41 on a Dixon Spain Elite team that was the highlight of the weekend for me coming over from Barcelona and entertaining the Kell gym all day Saturday, his head-to-head in that one with Dixon’s Pepe Isus (34 pts of his own) was as fun as it gets on the AAU level in a mano a mano matchup as Nelson and his mates simply “out-athleticized” the spunky Europeans, Nelson has been a steady scorer and contributor both with Rome HS and Rome Elite for 2 years now and is worth the drive up to Northwest GA to see how he can surely impact a next-level program in the backcourt.

Amir Green-Jones | PG | Club Orange | 2023 (Central Gwinnett)

Set to go with Coach Spivey and the Black Knights the former Walnut Grove and Wheeler up-and-comer had a good weekend with Club Orange, speed and creativity with the ball are hallmarks as much like fellow lefty and recent Club Orange standout Jaquez Thornton (off to JUCO program Western Texas College to play) he can really push pace and be dangerous in space, bunches scoring should benefit him and the rest of a CGHS team that welcomes in 2026 riser Malik Rideout and transfers Michael Pace and John Mark Avitabile as well.

Sam Gailey | CG | HoopAtlanta | 2023 (North Hall)

Habersham Central’s Bryce Pittman has been the stud star of this group with a ton of consistency and has seen the attention from evaluators that comes with it, Reese Gelsthorpe who I’ve dubbed “The Apartment Microwave” of George Walton Academy has been equally hard to miss as despite his under 6-foot status frankly screams to me a player that can play at the next level with his lights-out shooting and tremendous on-court awareness, but among all that I can’t ignore the impression Gaines has made on me as I’ve followed this HoopAtlanta group, so sound and so filled with a quiet fire and intensity it comes out in all facets, add to that a real ability to sniff out good opportunities for himself and others you have a guard that if he doesn’t make enough hay with North Hall this winter he’ll be one to jump on next spring as a quality unsigned available guy.

Sam Gailey

Keith Agran has lived in Georgia since 2011 and joined OTR as a National Evaluator in 2021. He previously scouted for Prep Hoops dating back to 2019 and has both a championship-coaching background on the HS-level and daily newspaper writing experience, both from New Jersey. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.


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