SUWANEE, Ga—Oh man, what a day of basketball. Today was one of those days where I sat back and let myself recognize how fortunate I am to be in the position I’m in. Not only is the Final Four going on, but I also got to take in wall-to-wall action at Georgia Cup II. 

I’m starting to get into AAU shape too. Each Saturday is becoming easier to navigate through. I don’t hit the mid-afternoon wall as hard. I feel energized and ready for the Georgia Cup II championship Sunday. 

Here’s what went down on Saturday:

Grindin’

Team Grind is going to be one of the more difficult matchups in the 17U division this weekend. If I had to pick a winner after the first two days of action, I’d have to pick these guys. After watching two and a half of their game, I can’t find many holes in this roster. 

The blend size and athleticism with depth and balance. What’s even scarier about this team is that they have multiple shooters on the floor at all times. 

Austin Cross has been one of the most reliable shooters I’ve seen this weekend. When he gets a shot up, I automatically assume it’s going in. Kenny Brayboy and Marcel Bridges are multi-faceted forwards that do a little bit of everything for Grind. Then, MJ and Caleb Smith provide more firepower in the backcourt to boot. 

So far, Team Grind has dominated every team they’ve played, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. This team is for real. 

XPress Impress

Wow, this Atlanta Xpress team has flat-out dominated in the 16U division. They have the most impressive frontcourt I’ve so far this travel season, and it’s proving to be too much for the rest of the division to handle. 

With a frontline that runs 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-9, I don’t know that anyone else is going to be able to match up with them. What’s even more impressive is the versatility they provide as a unit. 

At 6-foot-7, Kameryn Fountain is the more typical bruising power forward that’s going to dominate inside with strength and athleticism. 

6-foot-8 Chane Bynum is a freshman with ridiculous upside. He’s long, mobile, and he has a jumper that looks like it’s going to emerge as a serious weapon with more reps. 

Then, there’s Tobias Rice, who’s about 6-foot-9 or so, and he has a college-ready body. He has all the physical attributes, and his game is like a mixture of the other two bigs on the team. 

I’m interested to see how this team fares against some of the other teams on the Under Armor circuit because what I saw on Saturday was mighty impressive. 

Playing Up: 

I’m always going to be a proponent of challenging one's self. Play a tough schedule, try new things, and get out of your comfort zone. It’s only going to be beneficial in the long run. 

That’s what TSF’s 2025 group is doing this weekend. They’re playing in the 17U division and looking every bit the part. This is a talented, high-upside group of freshmen that are undefeated playing up two age groups. 

They have Jacob Wilkins and Nigel Thomas who are two long, lanky forwards. They’re both disruptive on the defensive end of the floor and cab both score inside and out on the other end. Their fellow forward, Nigel Gist, is an absolute bulldog. His motor is revved up, and he’s strong. For example, up 20, Gist laid out to secure a loose ball like a shortstop fielding a ground ball up the middle. Coaches beg for players to give that kind of effort, and Gist does so on instinct. 

The big guys are great. They all have opportunities to be real deal prospects down the line, but my favorite player to watch is point guard Eric Chatfield. This guy is poised beyond his years. He’s a pure point guard, and I love it. He doesn’t waste dribbles, he moves the ball well, he distributes it well, and he can score from all over the floor. He’s good now, but he has a chance to be a great guard as he develops further.