Day three of “Atlanta Jam” gave players one last shot at showing what they were capable of on the hardwood. Some hooper did not let that opportunity go to waste. Here’s my Sunday notebook from the final day of action.

Anquan Boldin Jr. Is The Real Deal

When I asked him what one word he would use to describe his game, he replied with “electric.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Boldin Jr. went off for a combined 35 points between two games on Sunday, doing it by way of the midrange J, three-ball, and tough attacks to the rim.

None of those attacks were tougher than the two dunks he slammed home in a span of a couple of minutes vs. 17U Hawks Elite. The second one was a true poster. They gave the court new life. Something his father consistently advises him to try and do.

“I always try to come in with the energy,” Boldin, Jr. said. “That’s what my dad tells me, ‘always come in with a spark’.”

If you’re a football fan, then the name may ring a bell. Anquan Boldin Sr. was a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver during his NFL days. He lasted 14 seasons with four different teams, caught 1,076 balls for nearly 14,000 yards, and earned 82 touchdowns. In seven of those seasons, he notched over 1,000 receiving yards. 

For all of the physical gifts he and his son share, dad believes success comes from the mentality you approach the game, with.

“He’s always worked on the skill part of the game, but over the last year, his confidence has grown,” Boldin Sr. said. “He’s shown that he can play with some of the best in the country.”

According to Boldin, Jr., schools such as the University of Albany and St. Thomas University have shown interest, but have not pulled the trigger.

Still, dad always urges Boldin, Jr. to never become complacent and to always focus on the grind it takes to become great. He’s been doing just that. His jumper has improved over time, as well as his endurance and strength after becoming more committed to the weight room.

Boldin, Jr. feels that being with travel-team Ball 4 Lyfe has helped him become a better player.

“They’ve really helped me just be myself,” he said. “They encourage me just go out there and get buckets and not be scared.”=

The 2021-22 season will be his final H.S. run with Boca Raton-St. Andrews. The experiences he looks to have this summer will only help him become a better leader for his team when that time comes.

Until then, dad’s advice to son is simple:

“Don’t get caught up in anything around you, just continue to work.”

—————

Tucker Gambrill Is A Sleeper Of A Shooter

If you leave this man open, especially in the corner, he will drain it with ease.

17U Hawks Elite took home a 74-59 win over Ball 4 Lyfe on Sunday, largely due to the cold-blooded shooting of 2022 G Tucker Gambrill. The Alabama native finished with a team-high 22 points and sank six treys in the process.

What’s even crazier to see, is that 17 of his points and five of those threes came in the second half. He helped the Hawks blow the game open. Despite feeling like he started slow, he figured out how to gather himself.

“I just had to realize that I had to take a step back, review my role, and see what coach wanted me to do,” Gambrill said.

However, a few of the fans did not want him to do what he did.

Every time he launched a corner-three, Gambrill was heckled in an effort to throw his shot off—it didn’t work. He admitted that he’s doing a better job of tuning out the noise.

“I feel like I hear it more towards the end of the game than I do at the beginning,” Gambrill said of the courtside shouting. “I think it’s that feeling you get when you know you’re on. You just kind of block out everything and you do the best you can.”

Next season will be his final at AL-Coleman H.S. He’ll be making a last effort to garner as much interest and as many offers as possible. As of now, he has zero on both fronts.

Still, he is not discouraged. Gambrill is focused on putting in the time.

“I think I need to just keep shooting and get in the gym, more,” Gambrill said. “I just can’t be satisfied with how I play.”

—————

Two Tennessee Stars Combine For 40 Points

The Atlanta Jam was made pretty familiar with the work of Tennessee-Stars Basketball Club wingman Kristian Shaw. But his teammate Adler Kerr did enough damage in their final game to burst onto the scene.

The Stars blew out St. Augustine-FCE Elite 73-46 with both hoopers combining for a 40-piece. Shaw laced 16 points, while Kerr posted an insane 24-point, 19-rebound double-double.

Shaw said that regardless of the opponent, that’s just how those two are built.

“No matter what the competition’s going to be, you just got to go out and play hard,” Shaw said. “That’s what we did, and we got that dub.”

Shaw has been working on his strength, ball-handling skills, and overall quickness the most, as of late. He hasn’t received an official offer, but has earned interest from schools such as Virginia Tech, TSU, Lipscomb, Belmont, Middle Tennessee State, and Western Kentucky.

Shaw feels that if he continues to work on doing the little things, such as rebounding and get his teammates involved, he’ll be a success at the next level.

Kerr on the other hand, is basically starting from scratch.

He’s played at the AAU level before, but hasn’t had an experience similar to what the Stars are creating for him.

“They really look for me,” Kerr said. “Just being out here with this competition, it’s a big boost. My team’s really helping me.”

Kerr is committed to getting boards, helping get stops defensively, and scoring whenever necessary. He’s been working at becoming a better shot-creator, passer, and ball-handler, as well.

If he remains focused on all of those things, a college program will be sure to give him a chance.