SUWANEE, GA — The Atlanta Jam continued at Suwanee Sports academy on Sunday with a host of teams and programs looking to shine in front of college coaches and the HoopSeen staff.

During the day, a new face from a familiar program started his story, a North Carolina guard impressed, and a constant producer showed his worth.

Here are the biggest storylines from Garrett Tucker’s point of view… 

ELYJAH FREEMAN STARTS HIS STORY

Back in April of 2015, the Wellington Wolves made their way to Suwanee Sports Academy for the Atlanta Jam and a young guard named Trent Frazier dazzled in front of dozens of college coaches. He left Suwanee that weekend with multiple scholarship offers and plenty of interest, effectively starting his story as a prospect on our HoopSeen stage.

Since then, the HoopSeen staff has made it a point to watch the Wellington Wolves closely, because, well, they always have a guy. It never fails. This year, eight years after Frazier’s introduction, 2024 Wellington (FL) wing Elyjah Freeman started his story. 

Freeman, a smooth 6-foot-6 wing man, was extremely impressive in two viewings on Sunday. For starters, the junior showed exceptional ball skills and a polished scoring arsenal for a wing. He was comfortable with the ball in his hands and made plenty of plays off the bounce, whether it led to finishes at the rim or pull-up jumpers. 

He was also effective pulling down defensive rebounds and initiating the fast break on his own, where he did a nice job of passing with either hand and making quality decisions. As usual, the Wolves did well with their halfcourt sets, and some of those sets allowed Freeman to show off his athleticism with backdoor cuts towards the rim.

Up until Sunday, no college programs were showing interest in Freeman. However, after two 20-point performances to close out the Atlanta Jam, it’s safe to say that’s going to change going forward. A couple of college coaches caught the Wolves on Sunday, and a handful of programs have already started following Freeman on Twitter. I think he’ll be a popular guy next weekend in Louisville at the Grassroots Showdown for college coaches.

Coaches will also be interested to see Freeman’s backcourt mate, point guard Reggie Reinhardt. The strong, bowling ball guard also had a strong weekend for the Wellington Wolves, as he got to his spots on the floor whenever he wanted.

Reinhardt, a 6-foot guard, was one of the better players I saw that got downhill this weekend. He does a nice job of using his broad shoulders to get underneath defenders and gain leverage in situations. The Sunshine State product practically chose when he wanted to score – he had 25 points in their last game on Sunday – but he also did a nice job passing and creating for other teammates.

I think Reinhardt will be another popular player with college coaches going forward. He looks like someone that could thrive in the Atlantic Sun, OVC, and SoCon. 

CADEN BELL HAS STRONG SHOWING FOR TEAM WALL

Speaking of no problem getting downhill, I have to mention North Carolina guard Caden Bell. He was one of my favorite players that I saw over the weekend.

The shifty floor general was nearly unstoppable for Team Wall on Sunday afternoon, as he consistently got below the free-throw line on an assortment of drives, ranging from straight-line drives to spins and other counter-moves. 

But why do I like Bell? It’s an easy answer. The 6-foot-2 point guard is tough as nails and he shows it on the floor. He’s fearless and won’t back down from any competition.

If I’m betting on a guy, I’m betting on him going forward. I think mid-major programs should be all over Bell going forward.

SAM DUSKIN CONTINUES TO SHOW HIS WORTH

Duskin was an important piece for Cullman (AL) during the high school season and he started the spring on a high note last weekend at Bama Jam. Nothing was different this weekend, as the junior showed his worth in four games of action. 

At 6-foot-4, Duskin brings his hard hat on the floor each game. He has no problem doing the little things, whether it’s rebounding, defending, talking on defense, or just being a positive teammate. The junior is a perfect example of one of those ‘glue guys’ that you need to win games at any level.

Duskin also has the ability to stretch the floor with his shot-making ability. On Sunday morning, he made two three-pointers and had a put-back off an offensive rebound — all within the first few possessions of the game. 

I think Duskin is a valuable player and he will ultimately be a really good college player, whether it’s at the Division I or Division II level. 

KEEP AN EYE ON THIS ISO JOE GUARD

Former NBA great Joe Johnson was at Suwanee on Saturday to support his Iso Joe program that was playing in the Atlanta Jam. Several players and fans were requesting photo opportunities during the 17U game, but the real show came from 2024 guard Gavin Raath, as he embraced the physicality in a tough game against the Monarchs, an HSA team from Canada.

Despite being thin, the 6-foot-3 guard persevered and showed his overall toughness. The same could be said for Sunday, as he played another physical game and shined. With supreme ball skills and a knack for drawing fouls, Raath got to his spots on the floor when he wanted. He used some deception with his speed and quickness, also allowing the junior to get a step by defenders.

Raath was one of the best shooters I saw all weekend. He made shots when it mattered most, from a 27-point outing on Friday night to icing the game away with multiple free-throws down the stretch. 

I would encourage college coaches to mark Raath down on lists and track him going into the summer. With a little physical development and some work in the weight room, he could be a nice sleeper.