ELITE 32 Recap I – July 14, 2014
Harry Giles III went toe to toe with the nation’s top post player in 2015 at the OntheRadarHoops.com Elite 32.
*Photo by Jon Lopez Nike
Feature Match-up: Harry Giles vs. Diamond Stone
Rarely do you get a head to head match-up of big men that are considered in the top five of their respective classes outside of a camp setting in the month of July. However, on Saturday evening this is exactly what OntheRadarHoops.com provided for basketball fans with Diamond Stone of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Harry Giles III of Winston-Salem, N.C., facing off in the ELITE 32.
Although Giles got off to a quick start in this game as he hit several jump hooks and blocked several shots on the defensive end, it would be Stone who would have the more impressive second half in this match-up. The 6-foot-10 power forward showed why many say that he is considered the top post in the class of 2015. He scored the ball in conceivable fashion as he posted effectively and scored over either shoulder. Stone hit the trail three-pointer, hit the studder-step pull-up and attack the rack with the dribble. This performance was not unique to Saturday evening as he dominated nearly every time he stepped onto the floor at the ELITE 32. Giles would have the last laugh in the end. He and his Team CP3 teammates would get the win in hard fought contest.
The University of Connecticut sat on Stone’s game late Saturday night. Kentucky, Wisconsin and Tennessee have all been linked with Stone lately. It has also been documented that Stone and fellow class of 2015 guard Malik Newman of Jackson, Miss., could be a package deal. Regardless, Stone’s recruitment will be one of the most tracked story-lines of this year.
Watch the full game here complements of The SuvTV:
SPOTLIGHT PERFORMERS
Tommy Burton – (Montgomery, Ala.), – Alabama Challenge – 2015
Burton is a an athletic combo forward who showed his athletic ability in transition this weekend. At 6-8 he has the length to play in the paint, but as he showed on Sunday afternoon in a match-up versus Louisiana Elite, he can be used in isolation situations to attack the rim.
Kevon Harris – (Stockbridge, Ga.), – Georgia Tornadoes – 2015
One of the stock risers of the weekend had to be the local wing forward from the Atlanta metro area. The 6-5 wing caught a number of coaches attention earning him new scholarship offers coming out of the viewing period. His well built frame allows him to battle in the lane to rebound and score. However, it is his explosive first step that allows him to be a perimeter threat.
AROUND THE RIM
We have become very familiar with Ty Hudson of Austell, Ga., game over the past calendar year. He certainly did not change his performance after this weekend. The 6-foot guard played played off of the ball this weekend. His impact was just as great as he scored the ball in high volumes.
Become familiar with the Ronshad Allen-Shabazz of Raleigh, N.C., if you have not already. The 6-3 left-handed wing is a strong finisher in traffic. He has the athleticism to impact the game off of the bounce.
One of the more athletic guards in the building this weekend was Terrance Davis of Memphis, Tenn., from Team Thad. The 6-4 shooting guard showed his ability to bring the rim down on the break. Look for many programs to pursue him this fall.
It will not be long before many coaches know Shawn Kirk of Whiteville, N.C., very well. The class of 2016 forward has an ideal frame at 6-7 to play to play either forward position.
Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. 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
