New Hanover vs Trinity Christian: Joe Miller Invitational Top Performers
In what turned out to be a very close and hard fought game in which the final score doesn’t quite indicate, New Hanover pulled out a tough 10 point win, 72 to 62 over visiting Trinity Christian out of Fayetteville, NC. Both teams had several surefire college level players, mostly underclassmen that really stood out. Such players were New Hanover guard Freddie Taylor (2018), Blake Smith (2017), Ramello Williams (2018) and Josh Aldrich (2018). Trinity Christian had several of their own, most notably Joey Baker (2019), Josh Nickelberry (2019) and Greg Gantt (2019). Below I wrote my thoughts on several of those players.
Freddie Taylor | 5’9” PG, Class of 2018| New Hanover
Freddie Taylor is a cat quick point guard that controls the flow of a basketball game. Against Trinity Christian, many would have assumed that he’d struggle against their back-court that stood 6’2” and 6’5”, but that was far from the case. He penetrated into the paint at will, was making shots, hounding on defense and was sharing the ball. Taylor has been playing some very strong basketball this season. Despite his stature, he is very much capable of coming into a college program in 2018 and running a team.
Blake Smith | 5’10” PG, Class of 2017 | New Hanover
Man, this kid can flat out shoot the ball! I first got a chance to watch him play over the summer in the ECI (East Coast Invitational) held every year in Jacksonville, NC and he was lights out then. In his contest versus Trinity Christian, Blake drilled a whopping 7 three-pointers in tune to a game high 23 points. He’s energetic, smart and picks his spots extremely well. Whatever college program gets him will have a steal that will make shots.
Josh Aldrich | 6’5” SF, Class of 2018 | New Hanover
Aldrich is one of those smooth wings that floats around while quietly making big impacts on the game. Defensively, his length bothers shooters and he’s able to snag a ton of rebounds out of position. He’s a candidate to surprise many defenders with a facial slam with his quiet demeanor, young face, length and hops. Only a junior, it could be only a matter of time before he really comes into his own as a wing prospect.
Ramello Williams | 6’2” G, Class of 2018 | New Hanover
Ramello is a workhorse. He gave Trinity Christian a hard time with his hustle and ability to affect the game with his intangibles. Very under the radar guard that flat out gets the job done on both ends. He can get up over the rim in a hurry, rebounds exceptionally well for a guard, pushes the ball in transition and defends at a high level. If you are a fan of a player that can literally do some of everything well, Ramello is your guy. Expect eye popping all around numbers from him all season long.
Josh Nickelberry | 6’5” SG, Class of 2019 | Trinity Christian
This kid is a primetime scoring threat. Has extremely deep 3 point range, solid moves off the dribble to create a shot and loads of potential to continue getting better. Despite the loss against New Hanover, he showed a ton of fight and skill. When he attacks, he typically gets to the rim very quickly and can rise up over defenders for a slam. Can also really get going from downtown. Definitely a high level prospect in the class of 2019.
Joey Baker | 6’7” SF, Class of 2019 | Trinity Christian
Joey has one of the smoothest games I’ve seen from a sophomore wing prospect. Uses an array of step-back moves, spins and reverse pivot techniques to score the ball. Has a very good looking jumper, especially from mid-range that usually hits nothing but the bottom of the net. Had his moments against New Hanover that made you nod your head and gave an understanding of why he is so highly regarded. With some added experience and continued work on his game, his future will become even brighter.
Greg Gantt | 6’7” SF, Class of 2019 | Trinity Christian
Greg looks the part and plays the part. A really bouncy wing prospect that has the potential to blow up should he put it all together. Possesses excellent length, timing, skill and potential. Against New Hanover, he did a solid job of using his size and athleticism to wreak havoc on both sides of the floor. Could definitely envision him long term as a high level wing that puts enormous pressure on opposition on both sides of the floor.
Honorable Mention:
Jahann Simmons | 6’3″ SF, Class of 2017 | New Hanover
Jahann was quite the surprise. A monster athlete that was all over the glass and had the highlight of the day with a MONSTER alley-oop catch from his teammate Freddie Taylor. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dominate athlete in multiple sports.