Top Performers at The Senior Showcase
NORCROSS, GA – At this time of year, high school seniors are still looking for opportunities to make a name for themselves in hopes of earning an opportunity to play at the next level. Some may have gone unnoticed, while others just took advantage of the stage an opportunity presented to them this weekend at the Hoopseen Senior Showcase powered by Suwanee Sports Academy on Sunday at Norcross High School.
This was the inaugural event and here is the list of players who separated themselves from the pack with their play.
Khalen Pinkett, Norcross – When you think of a relentless motor on a player, this senior guard may be the poster child for the word. KP, for short, was killing people in front of him at all times. He raced up and down the floor as opponents had trouble staying in front of him the entire afternoon. Pinkett never took it easy on anyone around. He just found scoring opportunities to make a difference. His explosive first step usually had defenders chasing him. He also is a lockdown defender, which is not common for players these days. Look for his stock to rise after this because you cannot teach motor and heart when it comes to this college prospect. - RA
Marc Moon and Jay Jay Moon, Elbert County - The Twin Towers of Northeast Georgia played well from tip to finish. The 6-foot-4 slashing wings were active, athletic and all over the floor. Marc rebounded very well and never seemed to take his foot off the pedal. A number of the top junior colleges that were in attendance were raving about how he could fit into a high-flying style of play. Jay Jay showed off a nice inside/outside skill set. Together, the Moon twins make up for a very good pair. They compliment each other well and could develop into very intriguing prospects in college. - JY
Trevor Shipes, Lambert – If there was a player who understood how to defend the post and extend the floor with his perimeter game, this was the one. The 6-foot-6 Shipes show his touch from 15-feet out, while also banging inside. He finished around the rim with both hands and cleaned up the boards outside of his are. Any school looking for a smart, physical and skilled forward this is one to take a look at this late in the game. - RA
Thomas Cameron, Norcross - With a stage to earn a scholarship, the 6-foot-6 Blue Devil went to his home floor and competed like a guy that knew how important Sunday was. Cameron was relentless on the glass, set up on the low-blocks with purpose and defended like a guy that had something to prove. Cameron emptied his tank for the 35 or so college coaches that came out to The Elite Preview. He entered camp with little options but left as a guy that would see his phone blow up. Coaches have already reached out to his high school coach to start the recruiting process. He earned his praise with his play. - JY
Ed Jones, Creekside – The premium for an interior presence is the focal point of a lot of college programs on the recruiting trail. They all are looking for one who can defend and give them something on the offensive end. The Creekside senior did more than do that, Jones dominated inside. At 6-foot-7, he manned the middle like an old school rejection machine. He made opponents think twice about coming inside or had them change the trajectory of their shots. On the offensive end, Jones finished above the rim with a number of thunderous dunks and showed his touch from 3-point range. He caught the eye of his fellow competitors and most certainly the college programs in the building. – RA
Rashad Lewis, Valdosta (pictured) - I'm not sure what else Lewis has to do to prove himself as one of the best available point guards in the South. He had a monster senior season, winning Co-Player of the Year with Georgia Tech bound guard Tadric Jackson. Lewis scored 35 points in his final game as a high school player. Paired against the other top point guards at The Senior Showcase, Lewis was a terrific assist man and made his team come together with his leadership and decision-making. Lewis did all of the things you want in a point guard. He limited turnovers, which isn't easy to do in a camp setting, and played like a guy that was ready to earn a scholarship. Lewis was a consensus pick as the top performer for The Senior Showcase. - JY
Logan McIntosh, McEachern – The mindset of entering this camp was simple, to put on the best performance possible and let everything fall where they may. McIntosh not only did that, he turned some heads in the process and had coaches searching for his information. The 6-foot-3 combo guard has a strong feel for the game. He handles the ball well and does not put himself in any bad situations. His stoic look reads of a calm confidence. McIntosh also displays a willingness to play defense regardless of which player he has switched off on. Size, skills and leadership are words that describe this guard. It will not be long before someone gives him a shot at the next level. - RA
Eric Sparks, Mount Vernon - Every time we looked up, Sparks was making a positive play in the post. He shot it well in the midrange, rebounded and didn't do anything outside of his comfort zone. With a lack of available players at the four spot at every level in college basketball, Sparks is a nice option for the non Division I schools to take a good look at. The 6-foot-5 forward knows what he is and will enter college with a nice foundation of skill. He proved that much on Sunday. - JY
Camryn Moye, Dacula - There wasn't a better shooter at The Senior Showcase (or The Elite Preview for that matter) than Moye. The one-time Georgia Southern commitment made the nets pop with his shooting touch. He scored from all three levels and tickled the twine with great confidence. Even with defenders draped on him, Moye skied for his jumper and knocked down threes at a high clip. Shooters come a premium this time of year and Moye opened a lot of eyes with his hot hand. - JY
Wiliam Gibbons, Norcross – Looking for a shooter with some athleticism to boot, Gibbons is a player to watch. The 6-foot-3 guard has a smooth stroke from all three levels of the floor. He can shoot over a zone and has a mid-range that causes issues for defenders. When Gibbons gets going he can fill up the nets. However, he will not just settle on being on the perimeter. Gibbons will get to the basket, collect a few rebounds and really just make sure he’s a problem on both ends of the floor. – RA