HoopSeen Senior Showcase Notes
In one of the last opportunities for 2018 prospects, 80 unsigned Peach State seniors came to Pope on Sunday to showcase their talents. The gym was filled with impressive players at all positions and a host of college coaches were locked in to the action. Here are some of my thoughts from the day.
There was a pair of Miller Grove guards who had solid showings on Sunday. Both Lorenzo Anderson and TJ Stargell started the day well and did not slow down.
Anderson displayed a unique combination of smoothness and explosiveness that guys just could not handle. He was deceptive with the ball on the perimeter and then rose over defenders and made slick passes once he was in the lane. Anderson also showed nice anticipation on defense and had some athletic plays in transition.
Whenever Stargell got going downhill, it was trouble for the opposition. His speed and crafty handles allowed him to penetrate into the teeth of the defense often. Stargell is a pass-first player and had some nice finds in traffic, but can get his own shot also. He could end up being a nice fit for some of the D2 programs that are involved in his recruitment.
Some other guards who had nice performances at the camp were Troy Stephens (St. Pius), Jacolbey Owens (Warner Robins), Angelo Stuart (Lincoln Prep), and Brice Paster (Peach County).
Stephens was probably the best mid-range shooter in the whole camp. He is efficient, gets great elevation on his shot and has a really soft touch. Stephens just knows how to get to his spots and also moves well without the ball. His IQ and skill are valuable.
Owens made it clear early on that he was one of the best players in attendance. His aggressive, fearless approach gets him results every time he steps on the court. He is a great defender; his activity on that end creates electric fast break plays. Owens is dynamic with the ball in his hands and has continued to improve his overall game.
Stuart and Paster played similar roles for their teams on Sunday. Both were extremely active, scored in a variety of ways, and got teammates involved. Stuart may have shown more athleticism when slashing, but Paster has a strong build that helped him when going inside. Overall, both of these guys came to camp with the right mindset and it paid off.
Three wing prospects in attendance that caught some attention were Daniel Parrish (Aquinas), Eli Lawrence (Tri-Cities), and Terrence Taylor (West Forsyth).
Parrish was a threat to make a play every time he had the ball. At 6’4” with great length, Parrish’s ability to play PG was impressive. He has good vision off the dribble and makes smart decisions. Add in his defense and scoring and you have an attractive prospect.
Lawrence kept his production going after playing well at SEBA last weekend. He showed a lot of the same skills but was also more assertive in attacking the basket and drawing contact. I also noticed an increased focus on defense, as well as an effort to show his athleticism at the rim. There was a lot of buzz around his name from coaches.
An All-Region selection for West Forsyth, Taylor quietly put together a nice season for the Wolverines. He has a scorer’s mentality and is always in attack mode when he gets the ball. Taylor likes to use his lefty stroke in the mid-range area, but is not shy going inside either. His size, length, and knack for scoring are assets.
Let’s not forget about our bigger guys either. Bryce Brown (Archer), Terence Porter (Grayson), and Dajuan Hill (Aquinas) were all impressive on Sunday.
Like Lawrence, Brown continued his strong play from the SEBA camp. He was never hesitant to be physical on either end and kept a high level of energy throughout the day. Coaches like his ability to score inside or out; he does both effectively and plays with great confidence.
On a loaded Grayson team, Porter may have not been able to show all of his skills this year. On Sunday, he definitely showed what he is capable of. He has impressive length and athleticism at 6’8” that no one in the camp could match. What stood out most was how Porter made plays with the ball on the wing and in transition. A year at TSF will be great for him.
Hill brought an old-school post game to Pope, keeping it simple and just getting things done. The big lefty has a soft touch and makes quick decisions once he catches the ball. He was all over the offensive glass and proved to be a reliable finisher in traffic. His efficient production is always nice to see from a post player.