2023 Elite Preview: Top Performers
SUWANEE, Ga.—HoopSeen’s fall camp series ended on a high note with Sunday’s Elite Preview.
An invite-only event, the Elite Preview gathers some of the south’s most promising freshmen and sophomores together for an afternoon of high-level competition.
The 2023 edition of the camp saw plenty of future stars that are just starting their stories, but it also featured some well-established names that have already generated national attention.
We’ll spend the week going through each camp team and evaluating each player, but before we get to that, we need to start at the top with a handful of the top overall performers of the day.
This is no offense to any other players, but Diop was in a league of his own during the Elite Preview. The 6-foot-10 forward is known for his elite defense and he showed plenty of promise by blocking and altering shots. However, the thing that separates Diop from his peers is his skill-set. The lanky forward was more than comfortable with the ball in his hands and took advantage of other big men, as he was able to beat them off the dribble and convert finishes above the rim. Diop is already regarded as one of the top sophomores in the country and he did nothing but back that up on Sunday. - Garrett Tucker
It was showtime when Kevin Savage took the floor on Sunday. The Marietta (GA) Wheeler freshman put on a passing clinic that reminded of a very recent Wheeler point guard. Savage was a dazzle with the ball and commanded the floor well. He showed off his multi-level scoring when he wasn’t dishing elite-level dimes. Savage gets to where he wants to go with the ball. He’s already well known around the Peach, but that buzz will just amplify with time. - Josh Tec
The best guard I saw all day was Rideout. The scrappy, 6-foot guard competed on both ends of the floor throughout the day, but the most impressive aspect of his performance came on offense. The sophomore scored the ball in bunches each game, mixing things up and converting tough finishes going towards the rim or making shots from behind the arc. Rideout was dominant and one of the alpha dogs from the Elite Preview. - Garrett Tucker
Puckett was a consistent standout over the spring and summer with Lion Chaser U, but Sunday felt like a larger coming out party for him with some of Atlanta’s basketball luminaries roaming the gym. Puckett gained some new fans with his assertive pursuit of the basket and above-the-rim finishes. He’s an athletic guard that makes big plays, and he showed that he can knock down the outside shot. Look out for more of a rise from Puckett over the years. - Josh Tec
Goodlow was one of the most dominant guards in the gym on Sunday — and he didn’t even have to score a point. The slippery floor general was nearly impossible to stay in front of with his speed, shiftiness, and ability to change gears. The freshman kept opposing defenses on their heels with his ability to get downhill and get paint touches. He was one of the best lead guards I saw on the day. - Garrett Tucker
