Day One of the 2021 Best of the South Showcase did not disappoint in any way, with players from around the country making the most of an opportunity to show off their skills. College coaches were dispersed around the 38 basketball courts placed within Atlanta’s “World Congress Center”—and they had almost TOO much talent to check out. Here are my three highlights from the day.

Georgia-Hooper Cayden Charles Erupts For 29 Points

The 6’5”, 2022 forward has only one offer from Maryville College, right now. But after playing his first game of the event with the SEBA Warriors (earning a two-point, come-from-behind win at that), Charles is destined to earn a few more by the end of it all.

This GA-Allatoona HS baller absolutely went off vs. the Q6 All-Stars to start the afternoon, notching 29 points and FIVE treys by game’s end. He scored 19 points and four of his treys in the second half and overtime.

Charles can splash the three over defenders with ease, attacks the basket without fear, and has great vision when passing to cutters.

The Citadel, Longwood, and North Georgia have shown some interest, but none have pulled the trigger just yet. Once they hear of his mentality behind the game, they might.

“I just want to win,” Charles said confidently. “Obviously my teammates helped me with that, can’t take the credit all for myself. … Gotta give it to my teammates for pushing back.”

At halftime, he was aware that he started off kind of slow. Charles said that he just wanted to “push through and keep finishing”, and credited his training program which allowed him to do so.

“Two workouts a day,” Charles said. “with my trainer Chuck Persons, some with coach Kelvin McConnell, or just training on my own and conditioning. I’m trying to stay sharp, work on my skill-work, and get shots up every day.”

Charles said that he wants to walk away from this event knowing he left it all on the court, and hustled every single play. Without a doubt, Cayden Charles is capable of doing JUST that.

Dallas-Duo Combines For 37 Points In Comeback Fashion

The spirit of comeback was apparently in the air, because Dallas Showtyme got a huge 65-62 win over Ball4Lyfe after trailing 33-16 at the half.

Two big reasons Showtyme was able to pull off the win? Caleb Jones & Charvis Jordan.

This guard-tandem played their hearts out in the second half, combining for 37 points and five threes by the end of regulation.

By the end of the first half… the duo only had NINE combined points.

Jordan, the 2022 TX-Mansfield Legacy HS guard who notched 18 points and three treys, acknowledged their lack of defense and committed to make a change.

“We were getting beat in transition a lot,” Jordan said. “We weren’t rebounding to the best of our abilities. So at halftime, I just encouraged them to pick your man up early & rebound.”

Jones, a 2022 TX-Duncanville HS guard who sank 19 points and two treys, referenced the team’s motor level.

“We got our energy, brought it up, and we started hitting shots,” Jones said. “That helped bring us back.”

Neither one of them have any offers or interest, but Jordan isn’t concerned about who’s sitting courtside to watch. He’s always more focused on the task at hand.

“I try not to think about that kind of stuff because it throws off my game if I’m worried about who’s here or not,” Jordan said. “I just try to keep my main focus, and try to play every game like it’s my last game. 110% effort.”

Jones feels that his notoriety will come from what he does non-offensively.

“I try to look good on the defensive side, people really don’t do defense like that,” Jones said.

When it comes to skill development, Jordan has been working on ball-handling more than anything, and also expanding his range. Knowing that he hit three treys in the win is growing his confidence. Jones is focusing on all the intangibles that make a great point guard.

When asked what it would take to earn their first offers, they both basically said the same thing:

“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing.”

(FL) Judah Nation Trio Goes Off For 52 Points

This is what we need to see from the 16U group: Fearlessness.

That is exactly what Ta’Veon Jones, Jake Easterling, and Blaise Wallace bring to the table.

Judah Nation’s trio went off for a combined 52 points vs. a tough and talented Georgia Stars squad, and these three definitely have the skill to do it again before BOTS is done.

“We started off slow and our coach really boosted us,” said Jones, the extremely crafty 2024 guard from Central Florida Christian Academy who finished with 18 points. “Those boys came out hard, but we had to come back and finish it.”

Easterling, a 2023 sharp-shooter from Tallahassee-Chiles who hit 18 points off six treys, said that becoming non-stagnant with the ball while figuring out the Stars offense was key to the win. Wallace has been taking offensive pieces of the game to heart as of late.

The 2023 forward from Tallahassee-Maclay, who put up 16 points in the win, has been working hard to get his jumpshot more in-tune, as well as his slashing and ball-handling ability. Wallace also wants to be better at getting to the basket from the triple-threat position.

Jones & Easterling voiced that their midrange jumper-game both need attention.

Wallace said that Western Michigan, the University of Detroit, and Dartmouth have all expressed interest, but none have offered just yet. Jones has garnered interest from Western Michigan as well, in addition to FAMU & Auburn.

For Easterling, who’s searching for his first bite at an offer OR interest, said his shot at either will come down to one thing.

“I definitely need to get more aggressive off-the-dribble,” Easterling said. “I gotta start attacking bigs, more.”

He’s absolutely capable of that.