#AtlantaInvitational – The Future – June 15, 2015

 

 Georgia Red Storm battled back after being down each game to move on to the championship. Photo Cred: Kemi Griffin

Stackhouse Elite

 Jamir Chaplin & Kyle Sturdivaint are the heart & soul of this team with their scoring ability and leadership, but let’s not forget the supporting cast in twin brothers Matthew & Brian Gonzalo. The two brothers put pressure on defenses and open the floor up with their shooting ability and deceptive speed with the ball. Stackhouse Elite will be a dominant force the rest of this summer, keep an eye out for these future college prospects.

Georgia Red Storm

 The Georgia Red Storm always find a way to pull off wins. This team found themselves down several times late in the second half but continued to find a way to win the game. This group is led by wing Brandon Green. Green, at 6’2, is versatile player with ability to hurt you inside and out. He can rebound the ball offensively and score or create his own shot off the dribble. Point guard Chris Smalls, played well all weekend , the left guard shot the 3-ball at a high level and defended his position efficiently. Arturo Varela was the anchor in the middle of the zone and rebounded defensively. Opposite Varela was forward  Kameron King. King held a presence in the paint on both ends.

Atlanta Xpress

 This team has size that resembles a 16U team with 6-foot-8 post Sammy Mike anchoring the paint and 6-foot-6 wing TJ Bickerstaff  beside him. The guard play of the Xpress plus the inside presence from Sammy is a tough combo for teams to overcome. Point guard Cameron Rowland has great court vision and handles that make it hard for teams to stay in front.

Game Elite

Coach Reco Hallman has a very talented team as displayed at the Atlanta Invitational. Lead by strong guard play with a core group that features Anthony Edwards, Jordan Yates, Reco Hallman, and Ian Hardy.  These guards were able to control the tempo as they pushed the ball on the offensive end of the floor and terrorized the opposition defensively.

Player Watch

Brandon Stroud – Atlanta South Knights – 2020

Stroud is scoring guard that can also play the point when needed. He is an excellent ball handler and passer with good speed and quickness with the ball.  He showed the ability to break down defenders in transition, from the top of the key or the wing and get into the lane to finish at the rim.

Javyen Brown – Dream Chasers Academy – 2020

Brown is a physical and muscular point guard that has size and quickness. He is extremely explosive and can overpower most point guards. Love plays the game with great energy as he pushes the ball with speed in transition, attacking the basket. His primary strength in scoring comes from his strong penetration as he has a quick first step and the body to finish through contact at the rim.

Jamari Jones – Orlando Jayhawks – 2021

Jones was the most consistent point guard throughout the event. He is a pleasure to watch because his mental approach to the game is exceptional.  He is very difficult to stop off the bounce because of his quickness and physical strength. Once he gets by defenders he can either get to the rim or distribute to an open teammate. He plays hard at both ends and is a good defender with very quick feet.

Kevon Eskridge – Atlanta Volt – 2020

He is a true leader, and has the proper mentality to play the point and run a team. He can really push the ball down the court and he gets wherever he wants with it. He gets into the paint at will and can get it to the rim with his athleticism and explosion.

Joshua Taylor – Atlanta Volt – 2020

This 6-foot-6 forward made his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor as he did a good job of blocking and altering shots. Taylor showed the ability to finish around the basket on the offensive end of the floor.

Exposure & Showcase Opportunities

Willie Evans is a player evaluator & youth director for On the Radar Hoops.