OTRHoopsReport: Post Season Roundtable – Stock Risers – March 3, 2014
Class of 2016 guard D’Marcus Simonds of Buford, Ga. improved his game and his reputation this season. The 4-star guard has earned a number of scholarship offers this high school season.
***Photo Ty Freeman
The Post Season Roundtable will cover several topics from this year’s high school season in the state of Georgia. Our panel of writers from OntheRadarHoops.com has been in gym all across the state and will share what they have observed this year.
Who are the biggest stock risers in the state of Georgia this year, regardless of class?
D’Marcus Simonds of Buford, Ga., saw his stock skyrocket straight to the head of the class in the class of 2016. The 6-foot-4 scoring guard made his presence felt in front of multiple schools earning early scholarship offers from Mississippi State and UConn along the way. Simonds has led Buford HS back to the state Final Four after they failed to reach Macon in 2012-13. Simonds’ signature moment was a 29-point barrage against one of the state’s premier programs in Morgan County and their class of 2015 star Tookie Brown. Simonds caught UConn coach Kevin Ollie’s eye that night earning a scholarship offer on the spot through Simonds coach Allen Whitehart. We expect the future to hold even brighter things for the four-star prospect.
– Brandon Clay
Class of 2016 point guard Alterique Gilbert of Lithonia, Ga. is leading Miller Grove’s quest of a sixth straight state championship this year. The transition of Gilbert taking over the Wolverine’s lead guard position has been seamless. In fact, the 5-11 guard has even become the engine for much of the Wolverine’s success this season. Gilbert is impressive with his ability to make plays off the dribble, however the surprising part of his game has been his ability to shoot the basketball. He has had multiple games this season with six or more three-pointers. Gilbert has early offers from Cincinnati, Florida State, and Georgia Tech, which solidifies his place as a stock-riser this season.
– Shun Williams
Elijah Weems of Marietta, Ga. made a late push as the biggest stock riser of the 2013-14 season. The 6-3 shooting guard blazed opponents for multiple 30 point performances in the post season as he led his Walton High School team to a Sweet 16 appearance. The left-handed Weems scored 39 points in the region championship game versus Wheeler High School and their line-up of multiple 4-star prospects, which illustrates that his performances are legitimate. His ability to finish around the rim through traffic is an attribute that will instantly translate to the next level. Schools such as College of Charleston, UNC-Asheville, Winthrop and Wofford have all been actively recruiting the senior slasher.
— Jonathan Hemingway
Brandon Clay is the Director of Scouting for the OTRHoopsReport.com. Clay is also the owner of Peach State Basketball, Inc., and ProspectsNation.com. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001 as an evaluator, event operator and trainer. You can reach him at BrandonClay@PeachStateBasketball.com
Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. He is also the owner of Coach Hemingway Basketball. 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
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 and Power 24
