Saturday’s wave of games brought plenty of different teams and coaches to Suwanee Sports Academy and surrounding gyms throughout the day. Here’s what caught Garrett Tucker’s day from the day filled with action.

HELLO, MY NAME IS…

2021 combo guard Caleb Willis (pictured above) woke up on the right side of the bed on Saturday morning and was impressive for the East Georgia Panthers during their 8 A.M. game to start the day. A long, 6-foot-4 guard that calls Lincoln County (GA) High School home, Willis played the role of playmaker and facilitator for his team. 

Willis was nearly unstoppable off the bounce and getting into the lane. He was able to rack up several assists and score for himself as he led his team to a narrow victory in the morning session. With his size and length, Willis is a prospect that should draw interest from regional low and mid-major programs.

Florida-based Rock United Commanders 17U squad is off to a nice start on Saturday with two wins. Much of that success was because of the duo of Marshaun West and Marcus Frazier. 

West, a versatile 6-foot-4 forward, did a little bit of everything in our first viewing. However, the most notable part of his game was his ability to play above the rim. West is the type of player that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire game waiting to see what he will do next. His mismatch and defensive capabilities make him a valuable asset at the next level. He’s a player Division II schools should prioritize. 

Frazier played limited minutes due to a lopsided victory but he showed just enough to intrigue our staff. The 6-foot-4 combo guard had a strong high school season scoring the basketball and it was no different on Saturday. The junior made a couple of 3’s and mixed in an explosive first step to the basket making him a nightmare for opposing players. However, he was able to showcase his feel for the game and passing ability the most. He made several savvy plays and is a guy that should warrant Division I interest. I’m excited to catch him again tomorrow. 

WALKIN’ IN MEMPHIS

We’ve had more and more teams from Memphis make the drive across the Southeast to suit up for the Atlanta Jam in recent years. This year was no different, as several teams from the 901 area code had successful days on Saturday.

Decorian Paytoncalls Mississippi home, but the athletic 6-foot-6 4 man suits up with the Bluff City Legends Gold team. In two viewings today, he showed some tools that were intriguing to college coaches. With a motor and the ability to move, the junior can be classified as a position-less prospect with the ability to guard multiple positions. Payton reports interest from a lot of the SWAC, including Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Grambling, James Madison, Wofford, and Southeastern Louisiana. 

Here are some more Memphis products that made some solid impressions:

Ragi Phillips, 2020 PG, Bluff City Legends Gold: A tough, hard-nosed guard, Phillips never shied away from getting into the action. He’s a battle-tested point guard that had some nice finishes at the rim.

Kylan Haywood, 2020 PF, Bluff City Legends Gold: Haywood is an undersized 4 man that was all over the floor in two games. He looks like a solid JUCO prospect at this point.

Marquon Dean, 2021 CG, Memphis Bulls Elite 17U:Dean was a nice underclassman find from the weekend. The sophomore needs to play harder all the time, but he definitely has talent. The 6-foot-2 guard made some nice finishes at the rim and has some upside to his game. 

ABC ELITE HAS RECRUITABLE KIDS

If I’m a JUCO coach or a lower level program still looking to fill out a roster, my priority would be to watch ABC Elite on Sunday at the Atlanta Jam. They have a roster full of guys that will make JUCO coaches lick their chops.

Headlined by lead guard Titus Hunter and big man Alex Bean, the Atlanta squad has some guys that could be difference makers at the next level. Hunter is extremely crafty with the ball in his hands and is wired to score, while Bean is an athletic 6-foot-7 big man that could be a nice project big. 

OTHER QUICK NOTES

It amazes me how 2019 forward Lior Berman is still looking for a home. The 6-foot-4 do-it-all forward has had another quality weekend with BJBC thus far, making plays at the rim and showing his versatility. He should be a priority player for Division II and Division III programs.

I really like some of the guys on Team Phoenix Elite. The North Carolina squad has several recruit-able kids for a variety of levels, but my favorite is big man Alex Holt. The 6-foot-7 center has good hands and a soft touch. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come away with some low-major interest after the weekend. 

2020 forward Redrick Hill is an intriguing option for East Coast United. The 6-foot-7 player hangs out on the perimeter a lot, but he knocked down some shots with regularity. He could be a sleeper prospect going forward.