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#ATLJAM: Garrett Tucker Saturday Notebook

Devin Butts
28, Apr 2018

#ATLJAM: Garrett Tucker Saturday Notebook

Saturday at the #ATLJAM brought out some of the top performances of the weekend with college coaches lining the baseline. A couple of big-name prospects continued their hot spring seasons, while a handful of new prospects also started their own stories.

 

DEVIN BUTTS CONTINUES HIS TORRID PACE

2019 Macon (GA) Stratford Academy shooting guard Devin Butts (pictured) has had a phenomenal spring this season so far at our HoopSeen events and this weekend is no different. In fact, the junior may have been the most impressive prospect in the building on Saturday.

At 6-foot-5, Butts is an intriguing prospect with his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting ability. He filled it up from outside throughout the day, including seven three-pointers in a 27-point performance during the afternoon.

Over the past two weekends Butts has become a priority recruit for many mid-major programs in the South. Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter watched him closely on Saturday, while Troy had three coaches dispatched to view him. Both schools have offered Butts a scholarship, along with Jacksonville State, Winthrop, Stetson, and Canisius. However, with the ability to shoot the ball, and with the way the game is focusing on the three-point shot, don’t be surprised if some high-major programs start putting in some phone calls heading into the summer.

PAIR OF TEAM POWER BIGS SHINE IN LOSS

The 17U morning matchup of EAB and Team Power may turn out to be one of the best and most entertaining games of the tournament. Much of that was because of the impressive performances from a pair of 2019 big men from Team Power in Harouna Sissoko and Johnny McFatten.

Sissoko, an athletic 6-foot-7 big man, showed flashes of what he can be at the next level. With a slender frame and the ability to get off his feet quickly, he was a nightmare for opposing players in the paint. The junior is an impressive shot-blocker, and with the ability to move his feet, he is a versatile defender that can guard the pick-and-roll efficiently. Sissoko caught the eyes of a variety of low and mid-major programs during the game.

Combo forward Johnny McFatten performed very well alongside Sissoko on Saturday. Another long and athletic 6-foot-7 big man, McFatten was virtually everywhere on the floor with his high motor and intensity. He sprints the floor from end-to-end and picked up several easy buckets, as well as some impressive defensive plays. Up until now, McFatten has been an unknown for college coaches but he left the gym Saturday as a hot name amongst Division I programs.

TEAM M.O.A.M IMPRESSES WITH BALANCED ROSTER

Team M.O.A.M has a rich history of talent dating back through the years, but this year’s team is really impressive. The best part about it? They have plenty of recruitable players at a variety of levels.

2019 Gotha (FL) Bishop Moore Catholic point guard Hunter Cattoor was the talk of the day on Saturday. A sturdy and reliable 6-foot-2 playmaker, the Sunshine state product is a shot-maker and tough finisher at the rim. He also makes the right play each time down the floor with his high basketball IQ. He’s a guy that would thrive in a system similar to Furman or Wofford where the guards are free to run their own show. Going forward, Cattoor is a serviceable point guard prospect for low to mid-major programs.

There are a handful of other guys that are definite college-level guys from the Florida-based squad. Six-foot-6 utility forward Kaleb Coleman is a quality mid-major prospect with his versatility and size. Nathan Louis is a valuable asset on the defensive end of the floor with his length, quickness, and versatility on the perimeter. Max Fiedler, a 6-foot-9 center, also showed some impressive qualities in the paint.

With dozens of college coaches on-hand for each of their games, Team M.O.A.M will be closely followed Sunday and on into the summer.

SLEEPERS BEGIN TO EMERGE AS THE WEEKEND GOES ON

A handful of quality players emerged from the dust on Saturday as potential college-level players. Here are a couple of my favorite lesser-known prospects from the day…

Javonte LeCounte, 2019 SF, 2019 Rebels: Need an intriguing wing that looks the part and can make shots? Look no further than LeCounte. The 6-foot-5 wing is a smooth, bouncy athlete that oozes potential and brings production to the table. He made some shots from outside but by far his most impressive attribute was his finishing ability with contact in the paint. LeCounte finished through several defenders throughout the day and is one to keep an eye on going forward.

Lior Berman, 2019 SF, BJBC: Berman had a nice showing at the #BAMAJAM last weekend and it has carried on into this weekend. The 6-foot-4 forward continues to make shots and show off his sneaky athleticism. He also showed his ability to pass the basketball, as shooters like Justin Webb filled it up from behind the arc. Division II and Division III programs should definitely keep an eye on Berman and his BJBC teammates.

Ajongo Unguec, 2018 PF, Florida Sons Select: An available unsigned senior, Unguec impressed with his ability to run the floor on Saturday. The 6-foot-8 big man is still a project at this point, but he can easily help a team on the defensive end of the floor. He played his way into the conversation as one of the best available prospects at the #ATLJAM. 


Garrett Tucker
State Editor

Garrett Tucker is a senior content producer for HoopSeen. He has been a member of HoopSeen.com since 2014. Specializing in basketball in the South, Garrett has helped grow the HoopSeen Alabama network from the ground up. He also provides stories and information from players all across the country. His GTuckerScouting recruiting service is a notorious product in the Southeast, as he has been in contact with numerous college programs across the country. You can follow Garrett on Twitter at @GTuckerHoops.

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