TUCKER, GA -- The opening day at the Chick Fil A Invitational was all about the seniors. Several committed and several unsigned players were the headliners in a busy day of action at Tucker High School.

JENKINS ROLLS THROUGH M.L. KING

Jenkins sits at No. 14 in our current Power Poll (which will be updated after the holiday break) and the Warriors are off to a great start on their return trip back to the post-Christmas event in metro Atlanta. Coming into the match-up against ML King, Jenkins was 5-1 and chomping at the bit for a crack at a quality opponent. ML King was 10-1 entering the tournament but Jenkins was the tone-setting team in this first round match-up.

After being hand-cuffed with two early fouls, senior wing Malik Benlevi came out strong in the second quarter, scoring 11 of game-high 27 points in the win.

Jenkins used it's traditional hard-nosed defense to stymie ML King, winning 77-50 and in impressive fashion. Benlevi, a Georgia State signee, was the beneficiary of a strong game from senior point guard Eric Johnson. The 5-foot-8 point guard was terrific on defense and pushed the double digit mark for assists in the game. He controlled the pace in this one.

Jenkins continues to play the part of one of the best teams in AAA and a march to Macon is a legitimate thought i the Peach State.

BROWN SHINES IN TUCKER WIN

Paced by the shooting touch of Auburn bound senior Bryce Brown, Tucker turned on the defensive intensity to pick up a 65-49 win over a young and talented Oak Ridge team from Tennessee.

Brown scored an impressive 29 points for Tucker in the victory, hitting threes, jumping in the passing lanes for steals and shined in transition. Brown did what he always does and excited the packed home crowd.

Brown's outside shooting opened things up for the likes of Joshua Parker and Ayinde Russell. The trio combined for 54 of Tucker's 65 points.

Oak Ridge boasts a pair of sophomore guards that shined in the defeat. Tee Higgins dropped in 17 while E.J. Bush scored 16. Both are guys to watch in the 2017 class.

HENRY COMES UP HUGE FOR COLUMBIA

On quick glance at the Columbia roster and any Georgia hoop head will have to do a double take. The reset button has been pushed and a new wave of Eagles are ready for their turn at the historic Decatur basketball program.

The starting lineup consists of one senior, one junior, two sophomores and one freshmen. Things are different now at Columbia by the look and feel but one thing hasn't changed - these guys still know how to chalk up the victories.

In a back-and-forth game against Augusta (GA) Glenn Hills, Columbia big man Miciah Henry protected the rim and thwarted any attempt at a fourth quarter surge for victory. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks.

Henry was the biggest revelation of the day from an unsigned senior perspective. The 6-foot-8 post player blocked two shots in the closing minutes of a back-and-forth tussle. He snagged some tough rebounds in traffic and scored with both hands around the cup. As the search for talented big men continues for schools of all levels, Henry should see a spike in his recruitment.

YOUTH SHINES FOR CEDAR GROVE

Continuity. That's the foundation for the Cedar Grove Saints this season. With an impressive 76-57 win over Gainesville (FL), the Dekalb County school is now 9-0 on the season.

Getting here has been a work in progress. Cedar Grove has rolled out the same lineup for nearly three years. That continuity and familiarity will help serve the Saints well now that we are approaching the back half of the high school season.  

"It's all about execution," junior forward Jacara Cross said. "Coach just keeps preaching to us 'be a fundamental team.' He knows what it takes to get to the state championship game so we want to practice like that. If we have a hard practice, we know the games will come to us."

Cross finished with 20 points in the win. Kenneth Lewis scored 19 while Christopher Frederick added 18.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Trevion Lamar, SF, Jenkins, 2017 - Every time we see the tight-end look alike forward, he produces. Lamar uses his 6-foot-4 frame very well. He's good on the glass, tough around the cup and always finds a way to make a positive play. Lamar earned an invite to The Elite Preview back in November. Looking forward to seeing him at the invite-only camp in March.

De'Nigel Scruyggs, PF/C, Jackson-Olin (AL), 2017 - Hello! The long-armed 6-foot-6 post was the day's biggest revelation when it came to young prospects. He ripped down 21 rebounds and blocked six shots in a win over Stephenson and played well in the paint. Still quite young in the game, Scruyggs is a guy to watch over the next couple of years. His head coach, Cedric Lane, helped develop some talent when he was the head man at Wenonah. Scruyggs is Lane's new player project. That's a good thing.