Best of the South Day 1 Notebook from Justin Byerly
The annual Best of the South travel basketball event is back but just at a new venue this year. After moving from downtown at The Georgia World Congress Center, we are now at Cobb Galleria near The Battery. It's a beautiful venue and lots to do for all of the parents and players that are in town. Day one is in the books and let's take a look at who stood out from The Best of the South.
Big Kountry
Jordan Smith was a monster for Kountry Wayne Elite in their opening game in the 17-and-under division. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward scored 44 points and grabbed north of 20 rebounds in their win over Triangle Offense Elite.
The big man showed a skill-set in the post and showed he can handle the ball out on the perimeter and in transition. I think Jordan Smith is going to be a name that we hear a lot over the next three days at The Best of the South. College coaches looking for a 2025 prospect that can score, has footwork and size, look no further than Smith.
Pro One Select Academic
This is one fun group to watch. They play like they have been together since grade-school and that might be the case but it is a fun brand of basketball and they get after it. The Huntsville, Alabama based program might be the best team that we see all weekend and I am fine with that because they play basketball in a way that makes it fun to watch.
Leading the way for Pro One Select Academic in their opening game was Lipscomb commit Joshua Scott. He knocked down five three-pointers and finished with 19 points in the win against a scrappy Norcross Heat program.
Like Father, Like Son
Hoop Atlanta 15-and-under team came into The Cobb Galleria and knocked off another team from the south that has had a lot of success coming into July, the Tennessee Tigers. Leading the way for Hoop Atlanta was Bobby Harping, son of NBA veteran and Georgia Tech royalty, Matt Harpring. The younger Harpring scored 18 points in a win and made some big shots in a game that ended up being closer in the second-half. The elder Harpring is an energetic enigma on the sideline and shows a lot of emotion when his team is playing good or when they are making mistakes.
Tigers Big Man Keeps Producing
Tennessee Tigers big man Cutter Sisk just keeps on producing at a high-level for his team. Today in thier first game of the event, Sisk showed he has footwork and a soft-touch around the basket that is going to lead to college coaches on the sideline for him this time next year.
Sisk finished with 15 points and double-digit rebounds in a win. He dives on the floor, he is always around the ball if it hits the rim and he is a skilled passer for a big man. I think there is a lot to like with Sisk and he is one thing that players struggle with at this age, consistency.
