Garrett Tucker's #Gibbons Saturday Notebook
The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions continued on Saturday with the conclusion and pool play and the beginning of bracket play. As expected, some intriguing matchups surfaced and players produced.
Here are the main storylines from Saturday from Garrett Tucker...
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?
The Louisville Magic collectively put together a successful day on Saturday at #Gibbons. From start to finish, the gritty Kentucky-based program flexed its muscles and proved to be one of the top programs in the tournament.
2018 point guard Andrew Taylor (pictured above) put on a show in the first game of the day in a lopsided win for the 17U group. The 6-foot-2 floor general nailed nine 3’s en route to 31 points, one of the most impressive performances of #Gibbons.
With a high IQ and the ability to hit shots from the perimeter, it’s not a surprise to hear that many mid-major programs are hot on Taylor’s trail. The Corbin (KY) native lists scholarship offers from Davidson, Belmont, Furman, Wofford, Mercer, and a host of others. Read more on him in the next few days – you’ll be hearing plenty about him.
Louisville, KY
The Louisville Magic 16U squad is missing some key pieces but that didn’t stop them from winning in convincing fashion in the early afternoon session. 2019 Louisville (KY) Trinity guard David Johnson was impressive offensively against the South Carolina Hornets, as he showed the ability to make shots off the bounce as well as being an efficient scorer at the rim. Paired together, he and KyKy Tandy are a handful for opposing teams to handle in the backcourt.
Johnson, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, is already highly regarded nationally. He currently holds offers from Louisville, Xavier, and Cincinnati, but expect that list to grow exponentially before the summer concludes.
Johnson and Tandy will receive a load of the attention, but 6-foot-9 big man Arol Kacuol may have been the find of the day.
A native of Africa, the intriguing forward now calls Knoxville (TN) Christian home. With a decent skill-set, athleticism, and size, Kacuol brings different dimensions to the game than recent African imports. He has the ability to grab defensive rebounds and start the break and he even knocked down a deep 3. It will be interesting to continue to track him over the next few years.
CURRY COMES UP BIG FOR TEAM NLP
Cleveland, TN
Team NLP entered the weekend as one of the top teams in the 17U division. 2018 wing KK Curry was a major reason for that early recognition and he didn’t disappoint Saturday afternoon.
In a tight game against the Atlanta Lightning, Curry, an athletic 6-foot-5 slasher, kept the defense on its toes with his ability to get to the rim. He used his athleticism and length to get by defenders and make plays in the lane. He was also dangerous from behind the arc, as he knocked down several three-point attempts in the game. Curry finished with a game-high 26 points.
The Tennessee native currently lists offers from Middle Tennessee State, UAB, Murray State, East Tennessee State, and UT-Chattanooga.
DWON ODOM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE
It’s hard to fathom that 2020 Saint Francis (GA) guard Dwon Odom is only a freshman at times because of the way he impresses from game to game. He was extremely impressive for the Atlanta Celtics 15U group Saturday, as he dazzled with his athleticism and scoring ability.
With a lethal first step and endless explosiveness, the 6-foot-2 combo guard is nearly impossibly to keep out of the lane. He has a knack for getting by defenders and being a slithery slasher in the lane. Odom understands how to avoid contact and defenders, leading to some impressive finishes at the rim. He is also capable of changing the dynamic of a game with his ability – and excitement – to play above the rim.
His recruitment is just beginning, but it’s safe to say Odom will be one of Georgia’s most sought-after prospects in the 2020 class.
HELLO, MY NAME IS…
It didn’t take long to learn the name Jace Carter of Orlando Team Jayhawks. The long, 6-foot-4 wing was impressive as bracket play began Saturday night with his instant playmaking ability and intriguing upside.
Carter excelled at attacking the rim and converting on acrobatic finishes, including tough spins and euro-steps. The rising freshmen also has good size for a playmaking wing and will be one to watch in the Florida high school hoops ranks in the coming years.
