The 2017 Norman Parker Showcase is in the books and there is a lot to sort through. Justin Young empties his notebook on the biggest lessons learned from the weekend at Suwanee Sports Academy.

If there was a theme in the 2017 Norman Parker Showcase it was this - Atlanta vs everyone. Looking down all of the brackets, there was a strong Middle and South Georgia surge playing the Atlanta shoe powers. If the GHSA state tournament was any indication, this should come as a big surprise. In the Gold bracket of the 17U division, there were four teams from Middle Georgia and four teams from the metro Atlanta area. Pretty impressive talent balance.

You could make an argument that Nelson Phillips was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player in the 17 and under division. The Warner Robins All-Stars wing had an epic performance in a Saturday night win over the Atlanta Xpress, scoring 28 points in the dramatic win. He was one of the top performers at our Elite Preview last month and his stock continues to rise. We can’t wait to have him back for the Atlanta Jam during the NCAA Live Period. 

Get ready to hear more about 2019 wing Jamir Chaplin of Stackhouse Elite. The 6-foot-4 prospect from Meadowcreek High School missed a good part of the year due to injury but he’s been on a mission this travel season. Chaplin was an easy pick for our 16 and under all-tournament team because of his competitive drive. 

Brandon Boston is one of the best overall prospects in all of Georgia. The class of 2020 do-everything player showed off his versatility for the 15 and under Georgia Stars as they played up an age group. The 6-foot-6 prospect from the class of 2020 was the most versatile player in the 16 and under age division. Boston, who plays at Norcross High School, has all of the tools to become one of the top dogs in his class nationally. 

My biggest breakout guy from the weekend? Khalyn Weekley of the Middle Georgia Raptors First Presbyterian Christian Academy. The 6-foot-3 guard from the class of 2018 was very impressive throughout the event. He shot well, handled the ball well, made the right passes and was a difficult player to defend from start to finish. Weekley made a big impression. 

The best prospect in the 17U division? Jarius Hamilton of the Georgia Stars. The Charlotte, North Carolina power wing was just too big and too strong to defend from the wing to the rim. We’ll have a full player profile story on him this week on HoopSeen.com. 

Atlanta Xpress 15U wing forward Toneari Lane reminds me a lot of Josh Okogie, Georgia Tech's stud freshman, at the same stage. Lane is a hard-playing and versatile wing that just wins. The 15U Xpress won the Gold bracket.