Adidas Gauntlet Finale Day 1 (Upward Stars vs Dallas Mustangs)
The July live period is here and PrepHoopsNC’s Justin Byerly was at The Adidas Gauntlet Finale at The Upward Stars Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina for Day 1.
The Upward Stars had a win over The Dallas Mustangs in the first game of the event, a big win in a game that was really never close. 2018 shooting guard/wing Vincent Cole led Upward with 13 points for the game. 2018 F Isaih Moore had 11 points and Connor Crabtree scored 11 points for Upward.
Cole has had a great summer/spring with Upward showing an ability to score from all over the floor, handle the basketball and defend.
I was really impressed with Isaih Moore, a 6-foot-8 forward out of Sumter High School. He is long, athletic and can score in the paint. He has good timing on rebounds and also with blocking shots.
Former UNC-Asheville commit Connor Crabtree was steady for Upward, making shots from the three-point line and finishing in transition with contact. He is strong and lean and will take it right at you.
Alex Caldwell and Jermaine Patterson were tough playing the guard position for Upward Stars. Both of the guys are tough, strong with the ball in their hands, can get up and down the floor in a hurry. Caldwell and Patterson doing a great job at creating off the dribble and getting into the lane to either dish the ball off or score. Patterson is built like a running back and can get downhill in a hurry with the ball in his hands.
A new face to Upward was Trey McGowens, the silky smooth shooting guard brings athleticism and a defensive presence to Upward. He can jump out of the gym and is a very good scorer off the dribble. McGowens had one drive down the lane and a leap with the ball that almost shut the gym down with a dunk.