SUWANEE, GA — The action began at the HoopSeen Atlanta Jam on a rainy Friday night at Suwanee Sports Academy and college coaches poured into the building with hopes of starting their spring off on the right foot. They didn’t need to wait long to get right into the action.

DAVIS TAKES THE STAGE

Alston Davis of the Charlotte Aces made basketball plays down the stretch in a highly competitive game against Team Speights Elite. The 6-foot-5 wing from New Hope Christian Academy 

Davis scored 16 points and made terrific defensive stops and hustle plays. The rising senior made plays that had college coaches circling his name in their packets and making mental notes to see later in the action. 

With the game close down the stretch, Davis delivered. He was a major storyline on opening night and started his story with a bang. There is a lot to like with him and Davis will be a guy that we watch closely the rest of the tournament. 

HI, MY NAME IS… 

One of the purposes of the Atlanta Jam is providing a stage for players to play their way into scholarship offers. There were a number of guys who took advantage of the stage. 

Lorenzo Jenkins of Team Speights Elite has a lot of positives with his game. He’s big (6-5), can shoot and is headed to a post-graduate year. That mixture of size and shot had a lot of coaches interested. 

You can never have enough size on a college roster and Charlotte Aces big man Bollo Gnhare has plenty to offer…now. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound cut-from-granite center is monster in the middle. The New Hope Christian (NC) paint filler is a class of 2015 prospect that could be a nice late score or a guy to watch at the post-grad level next season. 

Florida Tar Heels White have a good looking wing in the class of 2016 to watch. D-Juan Taylor Hodge caught our attention with his athleticism, speed and energy. He said Temple and Miami have shown interest early on. 

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT 

The Wellington Wolves have a bunch of winners on their roster. One player in particular caught our attention with his play on opening night. Point guard Trent Frazier went to work to the tune of 20 points, all coming off of speed and effort. The 6-foot-2 class of 2017 floor general was one of the nice underclassmen surprises of the night. We’ll get another view this weekend. The first impression was strong. 

Hailing all the way from Dickinson, Texas, the DSG Gators came the furtherest away from any team in the Atlanta Jam. The team full of youngsters lost in the opening game but their presence was certainly felt, especially from 2017 combo guard Damon Williams. 

The 6-foot-4 guard went for 21 points in defeat but made a strong first impression. He hit three three-pointers, attacked with the dribble from his off hand and has the size to create problems on both ends of the floor.

NOTES FROM JUSTIN’S NOTEPAD 

TJ Williams of Team Heat will be a guy to watch. The long 6-foot-8 forward caught our attention at the Georgia Cup and he had some positive moments on Friday night. The class of 2016 big man from Phenix City, Alabama could play his way onto recruiting lists for some low-majors this weekend. 

Loved how hard Team Speights Elite point guard DJ Bryant plays. He burned up the floors by diving on the hardwoods for loose balls and stepping up on the defensive end of the floor. Nice start for the Sarasota Riverview floor general. 

Team Speights Blue twins Avery and Anthony Brown are worth watching for schools looking for available guards in 2015. Anthony went for a cool 22 points in a win. Avery is a big-time athlete. 

Love the way Atlanta All-Stars forward Connor Mannion can step out and shoot. The 6-foot-7 forward from Lambert (GA) High School has good size and a confident shot.