Halftime Sports US Games – Saturday Can’t Miss Guys
EMERSON, GA – The folks at Halftime Sports put on their annual US Games tournament at LakePoint, and once again talent from a variety of parts of the country both boys and girls came in to compete.
I wanted to use my time at the event to zero in on some of the Georgia teams represented, and from Saturday I got a chance to see some really strong rising Peach State talent.
By: Keith Agran
Taj Saragba | PF | 2027 | Woodstock
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (GRAVES)
On what was probably the most purely talented team I saw all day and these were just all incoming freshmen, this was Round 2 for Saragba after he was also pretty dominant in June at OTR/SH Report’s team camp at NextPlay 360, so strong already and so tough to deal with around the basket, hovering around 6-7 and this youngster has all the makings of a high major future talent and I don’t just throw that stuff around lightly.
Two top 2027s featured for Georgia (Graves), Taj Saragba (left) of @WoodstockBball is so physical around the basket already, while Brock Bass-Bonner from @ncchoops looking taller than when I last saw him 😏, can guard the whole floor and will likely play 4 positions this fall pic.twitter.com/KQQKIeKvm0
— Keith Agran (@BracketSage) August 5, 2023
Brock Bass-Bonner | SG/SF | 2027 | North Cobb Christian
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (GRAVES)
Speaking of physically dominating Bass-Bonner displayed the kind of versatility that he briefly put on display this summer when I saw him at June’s KSU Team Camp, has the all-around skills to play 4 spots from 1 to 4 and showed bits of all of them Saturday, the size for the backcourt is a real problem if he’s off the wing but he’s built like a Mack truck already so taking his game inside or above the rim at 6-7 should be a fast adjustment at the HS level.
In the 2024s at @Halftime_Sportz US Games, Isaac Rorey and Byrd Carter are familiar names for Georgia (Rorey) in a tight one with Oklahoma (Guy), but it's been hard to ignore PG Justin Payne's play, super soft touch as a perimeter shooter and I like his controlled but swift pace pic.twitter.com/PjN9guSE1b
— Keith Agran (@BracketSage) August 5, 2023
Justin Payne | PG | 2024 | North Oconee
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (ROREY)
Entertaining group together with his NOHS teammate Byrd Carter and Athens Academy CG Isaac Rorey, Payne impressed with his controlled pace as he can get out and go but was never out of control, the perimeter stroke in particular was smooth and efficient, with definite next-level talent Carter alongside it’s a backcourt worth taking the trip to see in Bogart.
King Jones | SF | 2026 | Kell
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (DAVIS)
Definitely one of the next in line for the Longhorns is Jones, had some impressive moments during this past travel scene when I saw him on the OTR circuit, another young SF/PF type who plays the bullish game and can impose his will from the open court and all the way down to the cup, soft touch from 15 ft and in adds to the options.
A pair of 2026s for Georgia (Davis) easily poppin here at @Halftime_Sportz US Games, King Jones (left) of @kell_hoops much like in 15U this summer is such a powerful presence to handle, while Kingston Whitty and his cool modern PG game will look good in Lovett blue pic.twitter.com/dTra3feuKD
— Keith Agran (@BracketSage) August 5, 2023
Kingston Whitty | PG | 2026 | Lovett
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (DAVIS)
Quickly getting on this wagon as I’ve seen him a bunch in the last month or so and his cool and calm modern-PG game is growing on me for sure, the Lions say goodbye to dynamic Christian Anderson Jr and say hello to Whitty as he should take the ball and be an instant impact guy running the show, a name to get to know rapidly.
Rocking what looks like a size 15 shoe or better, 2027 Niko Bratton of Georgia (Graves) has good size and could be headed northward to 6-8 or more, shown some face-up work using the bounce that's interesting, you can see glimpses with more mileage and reps of what it can be pic.twitter.com/mx2XErjYk4
— Keith Agran (@BracketSage) August 5, 2023
Niko Bratton | SF | 2027 | Wheeler
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (GRAVES)
A third impressive member of the Graves roster and there were even more that stood out both in the frontcourt and backcourt, Bratton’s feet were huge and genetics generally tells us if he’s around 6-5 right now that he’s headed northward in the height department, that’s scary because his game is a lot to handle now especially using the bounce and as the shot gets more productive the inside-out combo could be fun to watch.
Rare to see such willing post play from a 2027, but Jason Hill of Georgia (Cross) has been finding his way to the low block and warding off defenders well with a target hand and wise use of the derriere, good height for a frosh and as he gets even taller those skills will harden pic.twitter.com/LJB3DHkjmp
— Keith Agran (@BracketSage) August 5, 2023
Jason Hill | PF | 2027 | Grace Christian Academy
PLAYED WITH: GEORGIA (CROSS)
The 2027 division had some real intrigue and Hill stood out for his refined low post work and willingness to plant himself down there and get to work, a lot of young bigs want to handle it toom much and would be better off staking a claim to the block and learning to catch and finish, he used good leverage and understood putting up a good target hand, about 6-3 now and if he gets to 6-6 or so things could really get a bump.
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 also spent 3 years as a sports writer at two newspapers in New Jersey. After a championship-coaching background on the HS-level also in NJ, he accepted the Girl’s Basketball Head Coaching position in May 2022 at Mt Bethel Christian Academy and now balances scouting and coaching still with a keen eye on talent around the region. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.
