SEBA Atlanta All-Star Shootout: New Names Emerging – September 20, 2023
For years now, SEBA has hosted some of the top exposure camps in Georgia and Saturday was no different. College coaches from all over the southeast lined the baselines as 100+ prospects battled it out. The camp was full of enticing talent, especially for the D2, NAIA, and D3 programs in attendance. Several lesser-known prospects also took the opportunity to make a name for themselves. Here are a few that stood out in particular.
By: Cam Rickers
Deniz Kimyoncuoglu – Furtah Prep – 2024 (Pictured Above)
Deniz Kimyoncuoglu arrived from Turkey only a month ago but he’s already stirred up some chatter within the scouting community. The 6’2 point guard was excellent on Saturday, racking up the points while frustrating opposing guards on the defensive end. His transition to the talent and style of play in America has been shockingly seamless and a big reason for that is his advanced feel for the game. He understands spacing and attack angles in a way that few high schoolers do. Furtah Prep will be worth the trip up to Acworth this year and Kimyoncuoglu is a must-see for local college programs.
Kaiyu Huffman – Kennesaw Mountain – 2025
Kennesaw Mountain will have a much new look under first year head coach Brian Fisher and Kaiyu Huffman looks to have stepped up as a leader of the new regime. He’s clearly grown up a lot this offseason and we saw a lot of toughness out of him on Saturday, not something he’d be known for a year ago. His outside shot remains the strongest part of his game and we’ve seen the added range a lot throughout the fall. Look for Huffman to take a major step forward this year with Kennesaw Mountain.
Chris Park – Mt. Paran – 2025
The last month has been huge for Chris Park and his exposure with multiple stellar camp performances but Saturday may have been his best. Park looked quite at home with the SEBA staff and while there’s always a sense of urgency to his game, the comfort and confidence take his game to another level. He’s an excellent shooter, capable of spotting up or knocking down pull-up jumpers on the move. Park doesn’t need to be the main guy to be effective and he finds ways to impact the game without the ball in his hands.
Carter McCarn – Georgia Force Christian – 2025
We don’t get to see Carter McCarn too often because of his homeschooling situation but when we do, it’s usually a treat. McCarn is a knockdown shooter with next level size at 6’6. He understands how to excel as an off-ball spot-up option, constantly hunting open looks and pulling the trigger with little to no hesitation. While McCarn will have eventually have to face tougher competition and improve defensively, he certainly has some traits that will translate to the college level.
Evan Chappell – Kennesaw Mountain – 2025
The Kennesaw Mountain presence was strong on Saturday and Evan Chappell used the opportunity to put his name out there. Chappell first caught my eye in June, showing bits and pieces of what he can do as a perimeter scoring option but Saturday provided a closer look at his full bag. He’s crafty on the drive, dissecting defenses and finding pockets of space to get his shot up. I expect Chappell to play a much larger role this season with Kennesaw Mountain and he’ll likely benefit from the high-energy culture that the new staff has brought in.
Cam Rickers has lived in Georgia his whole life and joined OTR as scout/evaluator this spring. He spent the year prior scouting for PrepHoops, working hard to make a name for himself within the grassroots scene. In addition to his work for OTR and PrepHoops, he is also the Recruiting & Scouting Director for Wood Elite. You can reach him at camrickers12@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @CamRickersHoops
