New Years Classic – January 5, 2021
Taihland Owens continues to be a bright spot for Cherokee High School.
Marietta, Georgia, – With high school teams practicing and preparing for region play, our focus shifts to prospects and teams that are poised to make the most noise during the winter months. Kell High School hosted the inaugural New Year’s Day Classic. We take a look at several prospects who stood above the rest.
By: Willie Evans – @Jr_OTRH
Elijah Tucker – Cherokee High School – 2021
Tucker has quietly become one of my favorite players in this class regardless of position. You can’t teach 6-foot-8 with natural shooting ability and versatility off the bounce like Tucker has. He can play with his back to the basket with post moves or jumpers off his face up in the mid-post. In my opinion, he’s just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. What I like about him most is his motor on the glass. He controls the offensive and defensive glass & can push the break for and-1 layups or dunks over defenders. I can’t name five other 2021 players I’d take over him right now just based off how tough he is to cover and his ability to do almost everything on the floor at 6-foot-8.
Taihland Owens – Cherokee High School – 2021
This past weekend was the most aggressive and efficient I’ve seen the Cherokee senior. Owens ran into some early foul trouble in the first quarter, but more than made up for it in the second half. After a quick 5-0 Dutchtown run, Owens went on a tear. He was in an offensive groove and scored from all three levels for the Indians. He attacked the lane with strength and even caught a poster left hand dunk over three defenders in the lane late in the 4th. Always ready to shoot, Owens connected on three big three pointers and scored multiple layups at the rim. He finished with 21 points, 19 of them in the second half.
Dylan Wolle – Sequoyah High School – 2022
Wolle is regarded as one of the best shooters in the 2022 class of Georgia & showed why this past weekend. He started the game with a baseline pull up jumper & a deep three for five straight points. Throughout the game Wolle was able to find quality looks from the three-point line & also the mid-range. Defenders close out to him and he does a good job finding open space to get his jumper off. Wolle finished with 29 points in a close win and made the defense pay for not locatinghim early in transition or off ball reversals.
Eric Howard – Marietta High School – 2022
This past weekend proved to be Eric Howard’s coming out party for Marietta. Against a long and deep Wheeler team, Howard was the main source of offense for Marietta from start to finish. He blew by defenders in the open floor & made some acrobatic finishes around outstretched arms of Wheeler forwards. In the second half, he weaved in and out of the defense and started hitting the three ball trimming the lead. He was able to score but wasn’t ever selfish. He made the right plays inside or on the move with the ball when the defense forced him to pass. Howard is deserving of attention from college coaches moving forward, he’s a well-kept secret over in Marietta that should have a strong end to the season leading into travel ball.
Jaheim Hudson – Wheeler High School – 2021
The FGCU commit has improved each year I’ve seen him along with physically getting his body into prime shape. Hudson shows a little more of his skillsets game after game. A force down town with his broad shoulders and long arms, Hudson finds success inside the paint but lately has been stepping out showing consistent shot making ability from the three-point line. Pair that with his motor & rebounding ability, Hudson will be an impact player in the ASUN sooner than later. Looking to repeat as state champions, Hudson will have a lot to do with that.
Bobby Moore – McEachern High School – 2021
By far this was one of the best performances the McEachern senior put together this season. Moore put his imprint on the game in many ways. He showed his slashing skills along the baseline with several finishes in traffic. In transition, he’s sprints and creates highlight dunk opportunities down the lane. He controlled the game down the stretch on the glass, and stepped out to hit a few three pointers in the second half to help secure the win.
Jameel Rideout – Berkmar High School – 2022
Every game this season, Rideout has continued to get better and his confidence is off the charts right now. He’s got a balanced way and approach to his game. He rarely forces and makes sound decisions. Patience and poise are buzzwords with his game. Rideout pushes the ball in transition, getting downhill to finish around the basket and also continues to make open shots when given time.
