Garrett Tucker's Saturday Notebook from Atlanta Jam
SUWANEE, GA – Day two of the evaluation period tipped off on Saturday morning at Suwanee Sports Academy. It was a jam-packed day from start to finish with a number of talented players and teams under the roof at SSA.
With all that being said, here are the biggest storylines from Garrett Tucker’s point of view…
TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
You’ve gotta love those potent duos, right? Whether it’s the Ying and Yang or Jordan and Pippen, basketball duos are dangerous when paired carefully. There were several team duos that impressed on day two of the Atlanta Jam. Here’s a quick rundown of the Batman and Robin teams…
I really like 1 of 1 Elite. The North Carolina-based program is filled with guards and wings with a strong combination of size, length, and athleticism. When I saw them play during the morning session, 2024 wings Jayan Walker and Jalik Nicholls.
Walker, a strong power wing, was one of my favorite players from the day. The 6-foot-6 wing plays the role of jumbo playmaker for 1 of 1 with his ability to create. He scored the ball and created opportunities for his teammates in a simple, efficient fashion. There wasn’t any nonsense or extra fluff in his game or fluff.
Appalachian State and Presbyterian both had assistant coaches in attendance. Walker also claims interest from Richmond, VCU, Brown, and Yale.
Nicholls wasted no time showcasing his ability to play above the rim. In fact, he abused the rims from the jump, as he took advantage of his athleticism in transition. The 6-foot-7 forward is explosive off the bounce and had no issues getting to the rim. I also think he could be an elite defender at the next level with his length and quickness.
I’m buying stock in both Walker and Nicholls going forward. Donovan Rakotonahahary, Sebastian Akins, and JaJuan Nicholls are also names to know from this bunch.
Florida Pro Select got off to a nice start on Saturday with two close wins. In both games, they received strong contributions from 2024 guards Dwight Stephens and Guy Twitty.
Stephens, a 6-foot-2 combo guard with long arms, plays a smooth style of play with the ball in his hands. He seems to glide while dribbling the basketball, showing his ability to change direction and speed. The junior is comfortable with the ball in his hands and definitely one to watch going forward.
Twitty had no issue getting to the rim in either game. In fact, the 6-foot-5 wing got to the basket like his life depended on it. His combination of size, strength, and burst make him an awkward assignment for opposing defenders because he can beat you in a variety of ways.
SOME NOTEWORTHY BIGS
Big men are always at a premium, so who doesn’t love some sleepers? I thought these two post prospects were pretty good for their respective teams…
Kenneth Chime is no stranger to us at HoopSeen HQ. He and his Play with Heart squad have been extremely successful during Georgia Cup sessions, and nothing has been different this weekend.
The 6-foot-7 big man from Chattanooga (TN) McCallie School was dominant this morning, imposing his will and playing at the top of his game. The junior showed his ability to rebound at a high rate and be a successful defender. He’s been popular with college coaches all weekend.
Another big man that has been playing big and productive is none other than GOAT Hoops 6-foot-8 big man Orion Wilson. A native of Canada, Wilson is enrolled at Grace Baptist Academy in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The athletic forward was active in the paint on both ends of the floor, patrolling the lane for his team. Wilson also raised some eyebrows after knocking down two three-pointers in his last game of the day. He’s a consistent double-double threat that Division I programs should monitor going forward.
THE BEST GAME I SAW WAS…
Like I said previously, we’ve got several high-level teams in action this weekend. Fortunately for me, the best game I saw came from two pretty good teams in the field with the Tennessee Tigers and SW15H Elite from North Carolina.
It was refreshing to see a high-level basketball game with the coaching, execution, and game-play like this one. Both teams showed a lot of flow and made methodical decisions each time down the floor, usually leading to buckets on offense.
SW15H, coached by former NC State guard Scott Wood, has a team mixed with 2024 and 2025 players playing up in the 17U division. They easily fooled me because those young pups looked right at home playing against the 17U players.
Nathan Fife, Joseph McSweeney, and Isaac Ericksen are all young sophomores to keep an eye on in the Hoop State. They did a phenomenal job of battling and hanging in against a talented Tigers team with their skill and approach. A couple of young mistakes ultimately decided the game, but this is where mistakes are meant to be made. It will make this young group better going forward.
I’m probably going to sound like a broken record at some point, but Zundra Jackson and Jackson Routh led the way for the Tigers. Parker Robison was also big for his team, making some shots and controlling the tempo.
Coaches: go see both of these teams. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
ALL ABOUT THE GUARDS
Make no mistake about it, guards bust brackets and win games in March. There were several impressive backcourt prospects I liked today…
I thought 2024 Chattanooga (TN) Hamilton Heights guard Mathieu Nder-Kalombo had a nice showing in the 9 A.M. slot this morning with the Rocket City Suns. A strong, 6-foot-4 combo guard, Nder-Kalombo played with nice pace and was crafty with the ball in his hands. I think he’s a potential sleeper to watch going forward.
The Suns ultimately lost that 9 A.M. game to Chattanooga Elite and they were led by high-scoring guard Kendrick Lloyd. He was a ball magnet all game long and filled it up from all over the floor.
Pro One Select had an impressive showing during afternoon play and much of that was because of K.J. Kirk. An athletic, 6-foot-2 guard, Kirk is fearless on the floor. He’s active on both ends and caused a lot of problems on defense with his length. He also isn’t afraid to put another player in the rim on his drives – yes, he’s that kind of athlete. I really like Kirk going forward.
IV Redmond and Mason Smith both had quality showings for Classic City Ballers Blue this afternoon. Redmond, a slippery 6-foot combo guard, sliced up the defense with his quick first step and slick finishes around the rim. Smith was the ideal floor general for the team, as he controlled the pace and tempo. He eventually iced the game down the stretch with some free-throws. Covenant College and Piedmont were in attendance to see them, and I really like what those staffs are thinking this weekend.
You’re going to hear plenty about Johnathan Bradford (pictured above) this weekend. The 6-foot-4 guard has been one of the best players in attendance this weekend for The League out of Austin, Texas. He’s an unsigned senior that has gone under the radar to this point, but I think that will change before too long.
2024 guard Gavin Raath lived at the free-throw line for Iso Joe during the evening session. The thin guard had the ball on a string and took some bumps in the lane, earning each point he made.
I really like 2024 guard Elijah Thomas for GOAT Hoops. The 6-foot guard doesn’t blow you away by any means, but he makes the correct play each time and he can shoot the lights out. He’s going to make a college program happy at some point.
