By Kory Keys

Players in Northwest Georgia

Sometimes you go into an event with an open mind, hoping to stumble upon some players you hadn’t seen before. Day One at Best of the South was one of those instances with Atlanta Timberwolves’ Jon Morgan and Alex Kelehear. Both are 2019 prospects out of LaFayette, Georgia. 

Morgan is an athletic wing that flashes a perimeter jumper and an innate ability to finish at the rim. In terms of explosiveness, Morgan was one of the better prospects I saw on Thursday. 

Kelehear, on the other hand, is a heady point guard. He’s the type of prospect that simply knows how to play, whether it’s by scoring from the perimeter and distributing to his teammates. 

It was easy to see why Atlanta Timberwolves drew a bevy of college coaches to their Thursday evening game. I’ll more than likely be among them the rest of the weekend.

16U Combo Guards

I found a pair of versatile combo guards in the 16U division in Carolina Pressure’s Breon Lewis and Central Florida Rising Stars’ Ricardo Wright. The pair played in different games, but both flashed advanced skill sets for 2020 prospects.

Lewis made plays off the bounce to go along with a pull-up game, whereas Wright flashed a composed game with jump shooting and playmaking that set him apart in his age group. Keep both of these guys on your radar all weekend.

15U Playmaker

Go ahead and circle Brooks Barnhizer’s name. The 2021 combo guard for JSI Elite really stood out in his team’s Thursday night performance. Barnhizer is a skilled guard with good size, which lends itself well to being able to play on or off the ball. He’s definitely one I’ll be tracking going forward.

Hunter Cattoor Came On Strong

I was told by someone I trust to check out Hunter Cattoor of Team M.O.A.M. and he did not disappoint. The 2019 prospect out of Florida made plays with one of the better strokes in the field on Thursday. His toughness and build allow him to make difficult plays, which is why it was no surprise to see Division I programs tracking him on Thursday night.

First Time Seeing Devin Butts

2019 prospect Devin Butts had already been making a name for himself prior to Best of the South, so when I saw his team scheduled, I knew I needed to see him play. To keep it simple: He may be the best jump shooter I’ve seen this grassroots season. His feet and shoulders were consistently textbook, both off the bounce and running off staggers. It was only one game, so I want to see if he can do it the rest of the weekend. If he does, high-major programs will come calling.