Recapping the adidas Gauntlet Atlanta stop
The second stop of the Adidas Gauntlet in Atlanta brought forth several talented teams and prospects. With some of the top college programs in the country courtside, a handful of players were able to call it a successful weekend.
Here’s my recap from the Adidas Gauntlet in Atlanta…
WEATHERSPOON CONTINUES HIS ASCENSION
Without a doubt, the most impressive guy I saw over the weekend was 2017 MBA Hoops point guard Nick Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon started his story last spring at the Atlanta Jam with the SR1 Mississippi All-Stars and it’s safe to say he’s rolling now.
Jackson, MS
The ultra-athletic 6-foot-1 point guard is a rare breed. He has elite athleticism and has a knack for scoring the basketball. However, over the past year, Weatherspoon has been able to become more controlled with his game. His passing is underrated, too. Weatherspoon rolled in 33 points in a close loss Saturday afternoon, but, despite the loss, it was still a positive game for him.
North Carolina contacted Weatherspoon after the game. NC State and Louisville offered a scholarship following a strong weekend. Mississippi State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Iowa State, and Ohio State are heavily involved.
With schools like North Carolina and Louisville now beginning to recruit him, it is official: Weatherspoon is no longer a regional recruit. He’s a national guy, and we have him ranked No. 46 in the 2017 class.
TWO 2018’s STEAL THE SHOW
The top two prospects on the Adidas circuit may very well be underclassmen. Either way, both Romeo Langford and Zion Williamson are very high at the top of our list and college coaches’ lists, too.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari made a special one-game trip to Atlanta Saturday afternoon to see Langford, a 6-foot-5 wing man with a 6-foot-11 wing span. The No. 4 overall prospect in the 2018 HoopSeen National rankings played like an elite talent, as he finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Langford is a smooth operating scorer, as he can score from all three levels. He also is a great rebounder and one who will only get better in time.
The HoopSeen.com staff first saw 2018 forward Zion Williamson at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions last May with the South Carolina Hornets. We tabbed him as a top prospect then, but he’s had a massive spring with Game Elite and is rising to the top of the board in 2018.
Williamson justified our ranking of No. 10 this weekend, as the talented forward used his body and skills to punish the opposition. At 6-foot-7, the sophomore is a load to handle on the floor. He is at the top of the list in points and rebounds in the Adidas Gauntlet. From start to finish this weekend, Justin Young said he was the most valuable player of the event. It’s hard to argue with that statement.
Since the conclusion of the weekend, Texas A&M, LSU, Virginia, Mississippi State, Miami, NC State, and Georgia Tech have extended offers. Kentucky, North Carolina, and others are showing interest.
POINT GUARDS SHOW PROMISE WITH ADIDAS
As I mentioned before, Nick Weatherspoon was fantastic for MBA Hoops over the weekend. However, he wasn’t the only impressive point guard that I saw. There were several impressive floor generals within the Adidas circuit.
Baltimore, MD
Immanuel Quickley, a 6-foot-3 guard with Baltimore Elite, showed why he is known as one of the top floor generals in the 2018 class. Quickley has the ideal size and body for a high-major point guard, but he also possesses the IQ and feel for the game, too. The composed guard did a great job of controlling the game and facilitating for his teammates, as well as scoring when he needed to. It’s easy to see why he’s already a priority guy for several programs, including USC, Rhode Island, Cincinnati, Washington, and DePaul.
It’s easy to see why 2017 point guard Makai Ashton-Langford is so highly regarded. The Mass Rivals product showcased his entire repertoire over the weekend, whether it was controlling the game and facilitating or using his savvy scoring skills to get a bucket. He plays with tons of confidence and is an ideal point guard at the next level.
We first saw 2017 point guard Elijah Joiner with Team Rose last summer at BOTS. I liked his game there and he brought it back with him to Atlanta this weekend. The 6-foot-2 point guard is tough as nails and has the Chicago grit. He is a talented scorer and can make things happen on both ends of the floor. He isn’t as highly regarded as some of other top guards on the Adidas circuit, but I expect this guy to win games in the NCAA Tournament. He’s got that “it” factor about him.
Team Loaded (VA) is loaded (pun intended) with talented prospects. From David McCormack and Aamir Sims to Blake Harris, the roster is full of high-level guys from top to bottom. However, it was an underclassmen that caught my eye.
Rasir Bolton, a 2018 combo guard from the Carlisle School (VA), is a smooth operator. He can play both guard spots and is effective with both. He has great vision and a high IQ, but the most impressive aspect of his game is his shooting. Bolton is a pure shooter and will be one of the top guards in the country in his class – mark it down.
HIGH ACADEMIC KIDS TO KNOW
Over the past decade, we have seen high-academic Ivy League programs make leaps on the court and on the recruiting trail. Just like at how Tommy Amaker has transformed the program at Harvard, or how Yale made things work in the NCAA Tournament this year. They’ve gotten talented players, but they’ve had to find grades, too. I was able to run up on some talented high-academic kids this weekend.
Crown Point, IN
Sasha Stefanovich, a 6-foot-4 skilled shooter with Eric Gordon All-Stars, had a big weekend in Dallas and picked up where he left off when he arrived in Atlanta. Stefanovich has a textbook shot and is a sniper form downtown. With a 3.9 GPA, he already holds several offers from high-academic institutions. However, Xavier, TCU, and DePaul have noticed his ability and offered, while Florida, Ole Miss, Indiana, and Stanford are also interested.
Wisconsin Playground Warriors have plenty of high-academic players that will go on to find suitable homes at the next level. Owen Hamilton, a 7-footer, is hard to miss when he walks on the court. The big man is skilled and can score with his back to the basket over either shoulder. He holds a 3.4 GPA and a 2 on the ACT. Vermont is his only offer, but that will change in time. Hamilton has high-major size and will be a wanted man during the summer.
Another shot-maker that made a big impression over the weekend was Luke Loewe. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is a crafty ball-handler and lights out shooter. He got hot in the second half and helped guide his team to a big victory over MBA Hoops Saturday afternoon. With a 3.6 GPA and a 23 on the ACT, Loewe already holds scholarship offers from Milwaukee, Green Bay, IUPUI, Drake, Lehigh, and South Dakota State.
Tyree Eady, a 6-foot-5 wing, has yet to receive his first scholarship offer, but it is coming. The long wing is a great defender and will be a glue guy coaches want at the next level. He holds a 4.0 GPA and will receive a lot more interest going forward.
