Elite Preview: Team 1 Breakdown
The Elite Preview was a tremendous day of basketball at Suwanee Sports Academy Cobb. We had 80 of Georgia's best players from the class of 2016, 2017 and 2018. The camp was so good we decided to break down every player at camp. Here's an examination of Team 1 from our staff of evaluators and media.
Jalen Butler - JB
Kory Keys - KK
Winston Neal - WN
Carter Wilson - CW
Justin Young - JY
KJ Buffen, F, Gainesville, 2018: Buffen emerged on the scene this year as a big contributor to a good Gainesville team. The Elite Preview gave him the opportunity to take on some elite competition against other very good combo forwards. Buffen showed glimpses where he was able to use his length to his advantage for rebounds and on defense. Overall, the youngster held his own among some of the best players in the state, which says a lot for his future stock and potential. - CW |
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AJ Cheeseman, PF, Duluth, 2016: Cheeseman came into camp looking to establish himself among the best big men in the state, and he was very effective all day. Cheeseman showcased a number of skills in the post and rebounding as well as a soft touch in the midrange. One situation where he shined, however, was in drills against Georgia’s above-the-rim best finishers showing his sneaky athleticism and that he can protect the basket against bigger post players. - CW |
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Victor Enoh, PF, Greenforest Christian, 2017: Enoh was one of the players that really set the bar for the physicality of the Elite Preview in the morning drills. A well-built forward and one of the strongest players in camp, Enoh was able to showcase his rebounding and dunking abilities, two skills which have been well-publicized and known among Georgia hoop heads. However, he also gave us a glimpse of a handful of new post moves that could really make him a well-rounded, dangerous offensive threat. - CW |
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Lane Foster, PG, Berkmar, 2016: Foster earned his spot to the Elite Preview at the Fall Preview before the season tipped off. Effort and energy will never be in question for Foster. He stuck his nose into pressure situations on defense and powered to the rim with speed and burst. - JY |
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Grant Howard, PG, Alexander, 2018: After a stellar freshman year where he started for one of the best coaches in the state of Georgia, Howard had an opportunity to play at the highest level there is in Georgia. It was a good opportunity for the youngster to measure himself with the best in the Peach. Howard has good size for a first year varsity player and will be one to watch this travel season with Game Elite. - JY |
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Jalen Jordan, PG, Rockdale County, 2016:Terrific day's work for the floor general. He shot as well as any point guard in the camp and was confident in every attempt. As we move forward into the spring evaluation period, it wouldn't come as a big surprise to see Jordan become a priority guy for the mid-level programs. He's got the speed, shot and wherewithal to become a popular player with the coaches. - JY |
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Zach Kaminsky, SG/SF, Pace Academy, 2016:Kaminsky is one of the more interesting prospects we had at the Elite Preview. A teammate of Wendell Carter at Pace, he was sometimes overshadowed in the high school season. However, he came out and proved himself among the best wings in the state. At 6-foot-6, Kaminsky was one of the bigger wings we had in camp and with his size comes a good skill set. He was able to showcase good perimeter skills, being able to put the ball on the floor and shoot it from deep. That combination of size and skill will keep him on a lot of radars through the summer and into next season. - CW |
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Chuma Okeke, PF/SF, Langston Hughes, 2017: There's a lot to like about the Langston Hughes forward. For his age, both his bulk and length are exceptional. Add to that a skillset that includes the ability to handle the ball and step into 15-18-ft jumpers. As he continues to develop, Okeke looks like a guy that projects as a face-up 4 at the college level that can also defend the post. With his solid size, Okeke has deceptive athleticism which lends him the ability to rebound out of his area. No doubt high-majors will come calling in the future. - KK |
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Christian Turner, PG, Sandy Creek, 2016: He was one of the most coachable players at the Preview which makes a coach’s job so much easier. Turner is a smart, heady, intelligent player that will have an easy transition to learning college offenses, defenses, and scouting reports. The lefty is a strong, bowling ball type PG that can bull his way to the basket and finish with both hands. He is a threat to make open catch-and-shoot 3’s but is better breaking defenders down off the bounce. I would suspect A-Sun, OVC, Big South, and SoCon schools to be recruiting him the hardest this spring and summer. - WN |