Five Things Friday with Josh Tec: 2023 Prospects to Watch at NHSBCA Live Camp
Welcome back to Five Things Friday!
It’s a big one in the Peach State because the second GBCA live period is now underway. While I’m following along remotely this weekend, I can assure you one thing, this will be one of the best events of the year in Georgia. How do I know that? Well, because last weekend was one of the best, so with a bunch of the same teams from Georgia mixed in with other out-of-state teams, there’s no way this won’t be a hit. I hate that I’m not there in person, but familial duties call from time to time. So it goes.
During weekends like this, it’s inevitable that coaches will be looking for sleepers. They want to find the guys they can get in on before anyone else. The sleepers, the steals. Since I can’t direct them in person, I’m going to use this Five Things Friday to get a little cheat sheet out there.
If you’re a college coach or just a fan looking for good hoops, here are some of the 2023 hidden gems to watch this weekend.
Boyce is a 6-foot-8 forward that’s been one of the best defensive leaders I’ve seen this spring. He’s an anchor on that end of the floor that’s always communicating with his guys and calling out assignments. On the other end, he’s a versatile scorer that can step out and reliably hit shots from the perimeter or make a play off the dribble. With PSB Atlanta, he’s been opening plenty of eyes and will continue to do so in July. Last weekend with WD Mohammad, he was outstanding in the frontcourt while Bilal Abdur-Rahman was electrifying in the backcourt. The pair makes WD Mohammad a must-see for coaches at the next level. Add them to your checklist.
The 6-foot-6 North Gwinett wing played really well last weekend and has been solid all spring with BCB. During the first GBCA weekend, he was one of the best players I saw. His confidence and assertiveness were at all-time highs. He’s shown flashes of what he can do in the past for the Bulldogs, but he played behind some tremendous players on talented North Gwinnett teams. His patience has paid off. He’s waited his turn, and now it looks like he’s ready to be one of the top dogs on this team. He shoots the ball well from the 3-point line, and he has sneaky athleticism and bounce. Don’t sleep on that part of his game, or he’ll put one on your head. I’ve seen it happen before. He got an offer from Maryville College after last weekend, and I think that’s just the beginning for Seitz.
If you’re one of the many coaches taking in a St. Pius X game to check out Spencer Elliott, well, first of all, good decision, but don’t sleep on their 6-foot-3 guard Blake Wilson. He was one of the breakout performers last weekend and is very much deserving of some next-level attention. The first thing that I would tell a coach about Wilson is that St. Pius is a program that prides itself on defense, so you’d be getting a disciplined, willing defender who will be able to make an impact on that end of the floor. He’s a guard that thrives both on and off the ball and can serve as a multi-level scoring threat and facilitator. Wilson’s a no-brainer prospect in my book. His recruitment should see an uptick sooner than later.
Jack Thomas has been productive for King’s Ridge and PSB Atlanta this spring and summer. Thomas is deadly from the 3-point line. That’s going to be one of the major strengths of this King’s Ridge team, and Thomas is a big reason why. He’s more than just a great shooter though. He can leave an impact on a game in a variety of ways. Thomas is an active rebounder and defender with a good feel for the game. To simplify it, he always does a lot of the little things that lead to wins at the end of the day, but then he can also add in a 25-point game in which he hits five 3-pointers. I’ve seen a lot out of this King’s Ridge team in June. They have pieces for every level of college basketball and should have sidelines filled with coaches. Thomas is certainly someone who deserves looks from the next level.
I’m just now noticing that there are three PSB Atlanta players on this list. I didn’t plan for that to be the case, but hey coaches, how about you take in a PSB Atlanta game in July too. They have some dudes that I clearly think are worth a look.
Alexander is a must-see team with multiple prospects, and Marvin McGhee is one of them. The 6-foot-6 wing was one of last weekend’s stockrisers. He had a great weekend from beyond the arc and showed plenty of ability as a floor spacer. His size and length are useful inside where he finishes well at the basket and rebounds consistently. He’s a double-double threat when he steps on the floor. With all of the tools he has, I have a hard time imagining him going into the high school season without having picked up some new offers and interests.
